I can't believe September is already here. And it is time for the latest features coming to your Oracle EPM instances in September. Let's check out what is coming in 26.09 (September 2026).
Here is a gentle reminder for the update schedule:
- Test: Friday, September 4, 2026
- Production: Friday, September 18, 2026
You can read Oracle's documentation here: EPM What's New September 2026 (26.09).
Ability to Attach Multiple Files
This feature is going to make many users happy. You will be able to attach multiple files simultaneously, either by browsing or using drag and drop, across several areas in Reconciliation Compliance. This includes:
- adding attachments
- comments
- multi-line attributes
- transactions to reconciliations
- when adding instructions to Alerts
The same feature is also available in EPCM, FCC, FreeForm, Planning, and Tax Reporting. You can expect the feature to be available in Task Manager, Supplemental Data Manager, Enterprise Journals, and Alerts.
Data Exchange: Support for SQL for Complex Target Mappings in Quick Mode
Data Integration will support SQL for complex target mappings in Quick Mode. You can use #SQL mappings and SQL target expressions to derive target dimension values by applying CASE logic, SQL character functions, and conditions based on multiple source columns.
You reference a source dimension included in the import format by enclosing its name in dollar signs, such as $ACCOUNT$, $ENTITY$, or $UD1$.
I don't like the fact that this feature is missing in Account Reconciliation.
Ability to Designate a Dashboard 2.0 as Default Landing Page
Users will be able to designate a Dashboard 2.0 dashboard as their default landing page. From the Dashboards card, locate the dashboard in the listing and select Actions, and then Set Default.
Note: This feature is only available for Dashboards 2.0.
First Name Is Optional for EPM Users
I am not sure why this is needed. But, hey, it is there!!
You can now create and update users in Cloud EPM without providing a First Name. The First Name field is optional and can be left blank when creating a new user or editing an existing user using the Identity Cloud Console user interface, IDCS API, EPM Automate command, or EPM Cloud REST API.
Consolidation Assistant
This was a feature that was showcased at KScope 26. I am glad to see it making it to the FCC application.
The Consolidation Assistant will help Service Administrators identify and diagnose system issues, provide detailed diagnostic findings, and recommend appropriate resolutions to address the detected problems. The biggest highlight for me is that the assistant will help administrators understand the likely causes of consolidation performance issues and system health issues through a guided chat experience.
Consolidation Approvals Assistant
Another assistant. Yup, you read it correct. You will now be able to retrieve approval unit status and perform approval actions, including updating the approval status for their assigned approval units.
Just like some of the other EPM assistants, it is packaged as a downloadable ZIP file on the Downloads page. Extracting the ZIP file provides access to these files:
FCCS_APPROVALS_AGENT.jsonFCCS_CURRENTPOV_AGENT.jsonFCCS_APPROVALS_AGENT_APP.json
These files are required for the complete setup in Oracle Fusion AI Agent Studio.
Change in FreeForm Application Creation
The FreeForm application type option has transitioned to be exclusively available through the FreeForm business process option on the EPM landing page. The FreeForm application type selection was earlier available in the Planning business process.
Other EPM Updates
- There are a ton of updates coming to EDM (Enterprise Data Management).
- The enhanced PCM Agent now supports Trace commands.
- All business process guides now include a chapter, "Administering AI," that highlights the AI features available for the business process, along with links to documentation for any required steps to enable, administer, set up, and configure the AI feature. You can read more about it here.
- Dashboards are now upgraded from Dashboard 1.0 to Dashboard 2.0 in Planning Modules (Capital, Financials, Workforce, Projects), Sales Planning, and Strategic Workforce Planning. The dashboards are converted automatically during application enablement and upgrade to 26.09.
Looking a Little Ahead (26.10 / 26.11 / 26.12)
The one section I never skip in the monthly updates documentation is "Important Actions and Considerations". This is the one section that helps you plan for the future.
- 26.10: ARCS Data Loads are renamed Balance Loads, Invalid Mappings are renamed Missing Profiles, and TM_AUDIT_TRAIL columns become numeric codes. If you have custom SQL queries on that table, they will break.
- 26.11: EPM Automate login and REST APIs stop accepting
accountName.userName. Use the email without the cloud account prefix. - 26.12: Starting with the December update, Cloud EPM environments will no longer support EPM Automate clients bundled with the 26.08 update or earlier.
- EPW file format: Beginning with the 26.09 update, EPM Automate will change the format of the encrypted password (
.epw) file to enhance its security. Starting with the 26.12 update, Cloud EPM environments will accept only the new.epwfile format generated by EPM Automate 26.09 or later.
Conclusion
You will notice a lot of Gen AI and AI Agent / Assistant features coming to Oracle EPM instances. This is exactly what Oracle shared at KScope 26.
Have you started using EPM Agents and Assistants? I am curious to know. Reach out and share your experience.
I will be attending the Oracle AI World conference in October. If you are there and want to catch up, message me. I love to exchange ideas and learn from you.
Need help planning for these changes? Whether it is the EPM Automate and .epw deprecations coming in 26.11 and 26.12, custom SQL that depends on the TM_AUDIT_TRAIL table, or getting the new FCC assistants set up in Fusion AI Agent Studio, Newarc Consulting works exclusively in Oracle EPM and Fusion and can help you get ahead of it. Reach out to us at sales@newarcconsultinginc.com for consulting and implementations, or training@newarcconsultinginc.com to book a training session.