Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI) Modern dashboards and analytics
Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI) is Oracle’s analytics and reporting platform that works with financial data to provide dashboards, visualizations, and insights that make information easier to access, understand, and use.
FDI at UC Davis
UC Davis is implementing Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI) to enhance financial analytics and reporting. FDI is intended to reduce the need to manually assemble and reconcile information from multiple sources by bringing relevant data together in interactive dashboards.
The project is a partnership between Finance, Operations and Administration (FOA) and the Joint Senate-Administration Task Force on Strengthening Research Administration. UC Davis is beginning with an initial implementation and assessment phase focused on high-priority finance and research reporting. This phase will establish the foundation for FDI, deliver initial dashboards and help inform priorities and opportunities for future expansion.
What to Expect
- Better Access
Intuitive, self-service dashboards are designed to help users find, understand, and explore information with less reliance on manually assembled reports or specialized reporting expertise. - Deeper Insights
Drill-through capabilities help users move from high-level information to supporting detail. - Greater Consistency
Common metrics, definitions, and reporting standards support a more consistent view of university data. - Built to Grow
A scalable foundation can incorporate additional data sources and analytics capabilities over time.
FDI will complement UC Davis’s broader reporting and data environment; existing reporting tools will not automatically be replaced.
Sponsored Projects Invoicing Dashboard
Designed to provide research and finance teams with a more comprehensive view of sponsored project financial activity and billing status, helping users identify items that may require attention.
Planned capabilities include:
- Visibility into billing status
- Identification of outstanding invoices
- Award- and project-level financial information
- Improved monitoring of Sponsored project receivables
Information to that supports earlier identification and resolution of billing issues
Faculty and PI Dashboard
Designed to provide faculty and principal investigators with a consolidated view of financial and sponsored project information, with interactive filtering and the ability to drill into supporting detail.
Planned capabilities include:
- Project and award information
- Budget and available balance information
- Expenditures, commitments and payroll information
- Easier navigation from summary information to supporting detail
Reduced reliance on multiple reports and manually assembled dashboards
Future Dashboards
Additional dashboards will be prioritized through governance, stakeholder engagement and user feedback. Future opportunities may expand reporting capabilities or incorporate additional data sources.
Implementation & Assessment Timeline
Dashboard development will be iterative, with cycles of building, testing, validating, and refining based on data review and user feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
About FDI
- What is FDI?
- Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI) is Oracle’s analytics and reporting platform that provides dashboards, visualizations, and insights designed to make information easier to access, understand, and use.
At UC Davis, FDI is being implemented initially to strengthen financial and research reporting, reduce reliance on manually assembled reports and data reconciliation, and support more informed decision-making. Initial dashboards will focus on high-priority reporting needs, with future capabilities informed by implementation experience and campus priorities. - How does FDI relate to Aggie Enterprise?
- Aggie Enterprise and FDI are closely connected, but they serve different purposes. Aggie Enterprise is UC Davis’s financial system of record. FDI provides an analytics layer that uses Aggie Enterprise data to create more accessible dashboards, visualizations, and insights.
Aggie Enterprise is a primary data source for the initial implementation. Where needed, FDI can also bring together information from other approved university data sources to provide a more complete view.
FDI complements Aggie Enterprise; it does not replace it.
- Are other UC campuses using this analytics platform?
- Yes. Several UC campuses are implementing or evaluating Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence as part of their financial analytics strategies.
UC Santa Barbara has implemented the platform and branded its solution FinHub. UC Davis has benefited from UCSB’s lessons learned, implementation approaches and foundational dashboard concepts. UC San Diego is implementing the platform on a similar timeline, providing opportunities for collaboration as both campuses develop their analytics capabilities. Other campuses, including UC San Francisco, are also exploring the platform.
UC Davis’s implementation will be tailored to the needs of our university. Data priorities, governance, analytics, and user experiences will reflect UC Davis business needs. - Why is UC Davis using an implementation partner?
- Implementing a modern analytics platform is a complex effort that benefits from specialized technical expertise and experience designing scalable solutions.
Following a competitive RFP process, UC Davis selected Performance Architects as its implementation partner. A firm with experience implementing Oracle analytics solutions in higher education, including support for UC Santa Barbara's implementation.
Performance Architects is working alongside the UC Davis project team to:
• Configure and implement the platform
• Share practices and lessons learned from other higher education implementations
• Develop a scalable data and analytics architecture
• Accelerate delivery of initial dashboards
• Transfer knowledge and build long-term expertise within UC Davis
UC Davis remains responsible for university priorities, governance, business requirements, data definitions and implementation decisions.
Data, Reporting and Existing Tools
- Will FDI include data outside Aggie Enterprise?
- Yes, where needed to support approved reporting needs. Aggie Enterprise is a primary data source for the initial implementation, but some dashboards may incorporate information from other university systems and data sources. For example, the initial Faculty/PI Dashboard is expected to incorporate select UCPath payroll information.
FDI is designed to bring together information from approved data sources into a consistent analytics model. Additional data sources may be considered over time based on reporting needs, technical feasibility, data governance, security, and validation requirements.
- Will FDI replace existing Aggie Enterprise reports?
- No. Existing Aggie Enterprise reports will continue to be available unless users are notified of a specific change.
Over time, UC Davis may evaluate whether certain reports should be consolidated, redesigned, or retired when the new platform provides a more useful and sustainable option. Any changes will be communicated in advance. - Will FDI replace existing reporting tools, such as GLIDE or WALTER?
- No decision has been made to replace existing tools.
Different reporting and analytics solutions have been developed to meet different university needs. The project team will work with campus partners to understand where existing tools continue to provide value and where FDI may provide additional capabilities.
The longer-term goal is not to replace successful solutions simply because a new platform is available. Rather, the goal is to reduce unnecessary duplication, improve consistency, and support a sustainable university-wide data and analytics environment. - How will UC Davis confirm that dashboard information is correct?
- Dashboards will go through multiple levels of review and testing before release, including requirements validation, technical testing, data validation, and user acceptance testing. UC Davis subject matter experts and representative users will help validate that data, calculations, and reporting definitions are accurate and that dashboards meet identified business needs.
Dashboard development is iterative, allowing issues and feedback identified during testing to be addressed before release.
Timeline & Access
- When will dashboards be available?
- Initial dashboard capabilities are targeted to begin becoming available in late 2026, with dashboards released incrementally as development, testing, and validation are completed.
The project timeline may change as technical requirements and business needs are confirmed. - Who will use FDI?
- FDI is expected to support several audiences, including:
• Faculty and principal investigators
• Research administrators
• Department finance staff
• Central finance teams
• Managers and university leaders
• Other employees with relevant reporting and analytics responsibilities
As additional data and subject areas are introduced, the audiences served by the platform may also expand.
Access to specific data, dashboards and analytics will depend on their purpose and applicable university security and data access requirements. - Will I need a separate login?
- Specific access instructions will be provided before dashboards are released. FDI is being configured to work with university authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO). Access to dashboards and data will be based on a user's role and applicable university security and data access requirements.
Dashboard Development & Engagement
- How will FDI dashboards be developed?
- FDI dashboards will be developed collaboratively with campus stakeholders.
The project’s governance and engagement model includes representatives from:
• Faculty and principal investigators
• Research administration
• Department administrative staff
• Central finance teams
• Aggie Enterprise Governance and Advisory Board groups
• Finance, Operations and Administration leadership
• The Joint Senate-Administration Task Force on Strengthening Research Administration
Users may be invited to participate in:
• Requirements gathering sessions
• Dashboard demonstrations
• Usability reviews
• User acceptance testing
• Feedback sessions
• Post-release evaluations
This iterative approach allows the project team to validate both the accuracy of the information and the usefulness of the user experience before dashboards are released more broadly. - How can I provide input?
- Stakeholders will have opportunities to participate in demonstrations, workshops, testing and feedback sessions throughout implementation.
A feedback process will also be established for users to submit questions and enhancement requests after dashboards are released.
Training & Support
- Will training be provided?
- Yes. Training and support resources will be available and may include:
• Dashboard demonstrations
• Knowledge base articles (KBAs)
• Recorded videos
• Office hours
• Other resources based on user needs
Support resources will be announced as new capabilities become available.