Discover the latest enhancements in the HOPEX Aquila update, available in early October.
Throughout 2024, we've introduced AI-powered features to streamline tasks like data collection, categorization, and process modeling while providing more guidance for navigating HOPEX.
The newest update improves the user experience, boosting efficiency, autonomy, and value. It empowers users with greater control over reporting, platform customization, and large-scale data imports. We've also revamped the UI for key features like search, sketching, and HOPEX 360 for a smoother experience.
Learn more about these major advancements below to help you get the most out of your HOPEX platform.
Please note that to benefit from these enhancements, a simple update to your current Aquila instance is required – no complex migration projects are necessary!
Introducing new self-service capabilities
Reporting enhancements
Instant dendrogram and matrix reports are among the most popular tools for visualizing relationships between objects in the repository and performing impact analyses.
The creation process for these reports has been completely overhauled to offer a more intuitive and guided experience, eliminating the need for in-depth knowledge of the HOPEX metamodel.
Dendrogram Instant Report
From any list of objects, you can create a dendrogram report with just a few clicks by selecting the types of objects and their relationships.
Matrix Instant Report improvements
Creating Matrix reports is now easier than ever. After selecting the objects for the rows, you'll be guided through choosing the objects for the columns and defining the relationship between them.
You can also refine the matrix content by hiding empty rows
Customize HOPEX without writing a single line of code!
Our latest update allows you to tailor your HOPEX instance by adding custom fields to object property pages. No need to involve technical experts, you're in control!
Add existing attributes or define new ones to tailor the information displayed exactly to your needs.
Create custom Excel templates effortlessly
Our new feature provides a streamlined way to build Excel templates tailored to your specific needs. Add your desired objects and relationships easily and import your data in no time.
The Excel template-building wizard enables the creation of new templates or the editing of existing (standard or not) templates.
UX/UI improvements
Enhanced Search Capabilities
The HOPEX Aquila search engine has undergone significant improvements coming with this update, offering a more user-friendly and efficient experience. Key enhancements include:
- Streamlined Search: The search engine is now conveniently located in the application header for easy access.
- Instant Results: Simply enter a few characters to trigger a search and receive results in a flash.
- Flexible Viewing: Open search results in a new tab for easy reference or explore additional results beyond the initial 10.
- Advanced Search Options: Dive deeper into your search with advanced features like filtering by object type and viewing all results.
These enhancements make it easier than ever to find the information you need within HOPEX Aquila.
Rendering improvement for breakdown reports
Breakdown reports now feature a more advanced filtering option, conveniently located on the left side of the report. The Filters section is separated from the display criteria, allowing for greater flexibility. A new filter lets you select the top-level elements to be shown in the report, such as displaying specific business capabilities in a BC map.
Diagramming enhancement
Capability to transform a HOPEX method diagram into a sketching diagram
This feature empowers you to seamlessly import and transform key HOPEX method diagrams—like external flows, internal architecture, and deployment architecture—into dynamic sketch diagrams.
By generating an informal "copy" of these visuals, you can easily add additional information, comments, and notes on models and share them across your organization—all without impacting the original method repository.
This tool streamlines workflow while keeping your repository clean and organized, making it perfect for crafting communication views, delivering impactful presentations, or facilitating team collaboration.
Typed links for clearer sketch
The sketching diagram now supports typed links, allowing each link to have a specific shape based on its type. This enhancement ensures that links in your sketches visually reflect their purpose, improving clarity and communication within the diagrams.
HOPEX 360 Enhancements: A Visual and Accessibility Upgrade
HOPEX 360, as a valuable tool for exploring and analyzing HOPEX platform data, has received a significant visual overhaul to align with the HOPEX Aquila style.
Key Visual Improvements
All pages now share a unified visual style, enhancing the overall user experience.
Templates for homepages, object lists, tree lists, object details, the CIO dashboard, and the search engine have been redesigned for improved clarity and aesthetics.
Accessibility Enhancements
- Keyboard Navigation: HOPEX 360 now supports more intuitive keyboard navigation, making it easier for users with disabilities to access and interact with the tool.
- Screen Reader Compatibility: Improvements have been made to ensure compatibility with screen readers, allowing users with visual impairments to use HOPEX 360 effectively.
- Skip Links: "Skip links" have been added to allow users to quickly navigate to main content areas when using keyboard navigation.
These enhancements make HOPEX 360 even more accessible and user-friendly, providing a seamless experience for all users.
Enterprise Architecture
The latest Aquila release introduces two key enhancements for architects: new reports to support application rationalization and technology obsolescence management, along with automation features for diagramming that save time and boost modeling efficiency.
New reports
Timed capability map
Introducing the new Building Block Breakdown Report, now featuring an interactive timeline. This version includes a slider for tracking the evolution of application statuses on a capability map, along with a time comparison tool.
Enjoy an enhanced user interface and a smoother experience. All the information you need is conveniently located in one report, and you can use filters to customize your view and focus on what’s most relevant to you.
Obsolescence Management
Introducing a new report on application obsolescence status and remediation options. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the lifecycles of the software technologies used by your applications, allowing you to identify actionable plans and mitigate obsolescence risks. Please note that an IT-Pedia subscription is required to access the remediation proposals.
Application Removal Planification
This report offers a clear overview of the number of applications scheduled for decommissioning over the next four years, broken down by quarter and business capability. It ensures that your application rationalization strategy aligns with business priorities and that critical business areas receive the focus they need.
New diagrams can be initialized automatically
The assistant now supports the completion of flow diagrams with existing components and application flows, expanding beyond just environment diagrams. It suggests adding relevant application flows between components in the current diagram while giving users the choice of which to include. It also makes it easier to enhance current diagrams by leveraging previously completed work.
Create diagrams using Archimate notation
This allows you to access and create Archimate artifacts: properties, model tree views, and diagrams for Solution Architecture objects like Applications, Application Systems, etc. in the EA desktop.
Business Process Analysis
This new release of HOPEX Aquila introduces two new features: enhanced process revision management and improved validation workflow, both designed to bring structure and consistency to managing business processes.
Introducing process revision
Managing process revisions has never been easier with HOPEX BPA, ensuring a structured approach to updating and maintaining process descriptions.
Process designers can now manually or automatically create new revisions, which act as milestones, providing clear visibility of key updates in the process description lifecycle. Each revision is tagged with a version number for easy reference, enabling side-by-side comparison of changes, such as diagrams or attributes.
This system also allows rollback to previous versions, improving process management and control.
Improving process review validation
HOPEX BPA now features an enhanced validation workflow to ensure the secure validation of business processes.
During the process validation workflow, process components and diagrams are now locked to prevent changes, ensuring synchronization with the validation process.
Inventory objects like org-units or applications remain unlocked, as they may be used in other models.
When reverting to 'update in progress,' the process becomes editable again. This restrictive approach enhances consistency between modifications and validations.
Governance Risk and Compliance
This new release of HOPEX Aquila introduces a brand-new Cyber Resilience module designed to help organizations stay ahead of cyber disruptions in compliance with upcoming global regulations, including DORA (EU), Operational Resilience (UK, US), and CPS 230 (AU).
By integrating Enterprise Architecture with Governance, Risk, and Compliance on a single platform, this new module delivers a comprehensive solution that provides full visibility into critical IT assets supporting key business operations. This empowers teams to prioritize cybersecurity efforts effectively.
Ready to unite IT, security, risk, and compliance professionals under one platform to strengthen your cyber defense?
Please refer to the complete Release Note to explore comprehensive details about all the innovations and modifications introduced in HOPEX Aquila.
Looking to Migrate to HOPEX Aquila? Visit the HOPEX Aquila Upgrade page and the HOPEX Store.
