Support Data Modules for the Event Agent - CUG2026

With Cognos Analytics version 12.1.1 and higher, Data Modules have matured into a powerful and strategically central modeling layer. They enable fast, business-oriented, and low-maintenance modeling and are now the recommended foundation for reports, dashboards, and analytical applications.

The Event Agent (formerly Event Studio) remains a key enterprise feature of Cognos Analytics, especially for:

• event-driven notifications

• automation and monitoring

• bursting and personalized content delivery

• operational control and escalation scenarios

Currently, the Event Agent can only work with Framework Manager packages. This limitation contradicts the strategic direction of Cognos Analytics, where Framework Manager is increasingly de-emphasized and Data Modules represent the future-proof modeling approach.

Why Data Module support is necessary

• Data Modules are now functionally mature and suitable for enterprise use cases

• Relying on Framework Manager is, in many scenarios, a step backwards
  (higher complexity, longer development cycles, reduced business flexibility)

• Modern, data-module-based architectures cannot fully leverage Event Agent capabilities

• Customers are forced to maintain duplicate modeling layers or abandon proven automation features

Voices from the users

Over several years, customers have expressed a clear and consistent message:

• Event Studio / Event Agent is business-critical and widely used in production environments.

• The lack of Data Module support significantly slows down adoption of modern Cognos architectures.

• Event Studio has seen little functional evolution, without a modern replacement being introduced.

• Enterprise features such as triggers, automation, and bursting are key differentiators for Cognos Analytics.

• Without Data Module support, the Event Agent loses relevance in modern BI landscapes.

• Customers expect either a modernized Event Agent or a successor tool with equivalent or improved functionality built on Data Modules.

The overall message is clear: Customers want to adopt Data Modules without losing established enterprise capabilities.

Important note to the IBM team

Dear IBM team,
this request is not new. The need for Data Module support in the Event Agent has been raised multiple times and has now been open for more than four years.

Related existing ideas include e.g.:

• CA-I-4291

• CA-I-2728

Both clearly demonstrate long-standing customer demand and consistent feedback over multiple Cognos releases. Bringing the Event Agent in line with the Data Module strategy would address this gap decisively and reinforce confidence in Cognos Analytics as a modern enterprise BI platform.

Concrete request

The Event Agent should be able to work directly with Data Modules, including:

• Using Data Modules as a source for event conditions

• Supporting parameters and variables (e.g. for email subject lines, bursting, recipient logic)

• Feature parity with Framework Manager packages

Value for IBM and customers

• A consistent, future-proof Cognos architecture

• Strengthening Cognos Analytics as an enterprise BI platform

• Faster adoption of Data Modules without functional trade-offs

• Reduced technical debt and duplicated modeling efforts

Conclusion
Data Modules are the future of Cognos Analytics. The Event Agent should fully support this direction instead of forcing customers to rely on legacy modeling technologies.