Product Updates

We've expanded OpCon RPA's execution capabilities to give you greater control over where and how automated tasks run on Windows system, whether you're working on a single-user desktop or a multi-user server environment.What's new:Single-user Windows systems — OpCon RPA can now switch between locked user sessions, so automation keeps running even when a workstation is locked or another session is active. Multi-user Windows Server systems — Tasks can now be directed to the appropriate user session on shared server environments, ensuring automations run in the right context every time.These improvements make OpCon RPA more reliable and flexible across a wider range of deployment scenarios, reducing the need for manual intervention and giving your automations the execution context they need to succeed. 

Watch the video to see a walkthrough of automating newly designed reports in Solution Manager. 

Watch the video to see the changes made in accessing and using reports in Solution Manager. 

Watch the video to see the UI changes to Solution Manager. We’ve made updates focused on improving clarity, consistency, and ease of use. 

We’ve refreshed the Solution Manager UI to provide you more visual information without changing the features you rely on. Most things are still in the same place, but they’re clearer, quieter, and more consistent.What’s changed:Important information and actions are easier to spot Cleaner use of color, with clear status indicators Higher‑contrast text for better readability Clearer labels and buttons—less guessing, fewer tooltips Consistent behaviors across the product, like select‑all checkboxes in tablesWatch the video for more information! 

The updated Reporting feature in Solution Manager was designed from the ground up to keep everything you need in one place. Reports are now stored in a separate database which means they run much faster than before. All reporting actions and settings live within the feature Clear navigation between Reports and Settings using tabs Key information and actions appear where your eye lands first, including easy access to downloads Reports now export as CSV files, making data easier to use in databases and other tools Fewer reports to manage, thanks to consolidation and more robust filteringWatch the video for more information! 

We’ve updated the Studio page to make common actions easier to find and faster to use. The most‑used actions are now emphasized at the top of the page, while secondary actions remain available with clearer, more consistent labels.Actions are grouped more intentionally, and critical actions like Delete are always placed consistently and visibly. Watch the video for more information! 

We're excited to share that OpCon 26.0 launches in February with a milestone we've been working toward: Solution Manager is now feature complete.All remaining core features from Enterprise Manager—including legacy BIRT reports and final job subtypes—are now fully available in Solution Manager. If you've been waiting to make Solution Manager your primary tool, this is the moment.What This Means for YouWith feature completeness achieved, we're shifting our focus to streamlining the user experience. Throughout 2026, you'll see continued improvements to workflows, reduced clicks, and faster navigation. This release sets the foundation for that work.What Else Is New in 26.0Unified OpCon Experience - Solution Manager, OpCon RPA, and OpCon MFT now share a consistent look and feel. Standardized layouts, clearer information hierarchy, and predictable interactions make it easier to move between tools and train new users.Stronger Reporting - All EM Reports in SM: Legacy BIRT and Enterprise Manager reports are now accessible directly in Solution Manager, eliminating the need to switch between tools New Reporting Engine: Faster report generation and improved stability, even during peak times Custom Scheduling (Cloud): Run reports once, twice, or at exact times you choose Enhanced Reliability (Cloud): Reports backed up across regions for greater availability Direct Log Access: Report logs now visible directly in the log viewer Precise Date Filtering: View reports using exact date ranges Clear Status Indicators: See when reports last ran and get alerts if they failModernized Interface - We've updated Solution Manager with consistent layouts, improved visual hierarchy, and standardized interaction patterns across all features. The result: less time navigating, more time automating.What Hasn’t ChangedYour schedules and jobs continue to run exactly as they do today. This is an enhancement to the platform, not a disruption to your workflows.What to Do NowCloud customers: Plan to use OpCon 26.0 when it goes live next month On-Prem customers: Contact your account team to schedule your upgrade or download it when it's available next monthFull release notes arrive in early February.  

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the winter of 2025. For on-prem customers, it was also included in the annual/winter release. The OpCon RPA client is now available, providing users with a powerful standalone tool to create and manage automation tasks. Users can design automated workflows using bots to record activities and leverage Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities. These recordings integrate seamlessly with OpCon, enabling centralized management and orchestration of automation efforts. We are committed to continuously enhancing and improving the RPA client throughout the year.​ 

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the summer of 2024. For on-prem customers, Otto is not available. Otto, the AI Assistant, is now available via web chat. Otto offers access to an evolving knowledge base, email support capabilities, and assistance with daily operator tasks. It also provides guidance on troubleshooting job failures, including accessing logs and job output details. These capabilities are designed to streamline operations and enhance productivity.​Otto can perform skills on your behalf such as:Add a daily job Build a schedule Delete a daily job Get failed daily jobs and/or schedules Restart failed jobs Update a job, machine, or schedule statusHere are a few of the resources included in Otto’s knowledge base that are searched when you ask a question:OpCon product and integration documentation OpCon FAQs Industry use cases OpCon REST API specificationsSince the initial release of Otto, it has learned new skills:Retrieve a single log file by name Summarize build results for a schedule on a specific date and return a link to the log details page 

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the spring of 2024. For on-prem customers, it was included in the annual/winter release. Solution Manager now supports the majority of 508 Accessibility standards, delivering key enhancements such as improved screen reader compatibility, intuitive keyboard navigation, high-contrast modes, and text resizing options. These updates mark significant progress toward a fully inclusive experience for all users.✏Note: Solution Manager meets all L1 guidelines of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.Accessibility support has been added to the following places:Main navigation Solution Manager Home Solution Manager Library Solution Manager Calendars Solution Manager Global Properties Solution Manager Logs Solution Manager Frequencies And many more pages

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the fall of 2024. For on-prem customers, OpCon Relay is not used. Solution Manager is now accessible over the public internet, removing the need for a VPN connection. The Netcom Relay acts as a middleman between your cloud instance of OpCon and the agents installed on the machines across your network. This update simplifies access, offering a secure and seamless experience from anywhere without requiring additional network configurations. The relay provides flexibility and convenience while maintaining robust security and delivering software through modern methods.Relay now supports the following job types:SAP MFT (Client & Server) zOS ACS✏Note: If you run OpCon on-prem there is no need for VPN. Currently, it is not possible to run Relay for an on-prem client by default. 

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the spring of 2024. For on-prem customers, it was included in the annual winter release. OpCon users can define a custom landing page upon logging into Solution Manager. Select the rocket icon displayed at the top right corner of each page to set your default landing page. Any of the following pages can be selected as the homepage, but only one page can be active at a time:Self Service Vision Operations Each page in Library Studio 

📆 In relation to the OpCon release cadence, this feature was made available to OpCon Cloud customers in the spring of 2024. For on-prem customers, it was included in the annual/winter ‘25 release.   The password management workflow has been improved to enhance user autonomy and simplify account access. Users can now reset their own passwords quickly and securely, reducing reliance on administrative assistance. This update streamlines the process while maintaining robust security measures, providing a more efficient and user-friendly experience.​Require email for users Forgot My Password Link Password Recovery Validation 

OpCon Release Schedule: What to ExpectAt Continuous, we aim to provide a predictable, transparent release cadence that helps our customers plan, test, and adopt OpCon updates with confidence. This document explains how releases work, when to expect them, and what actions our customers should take.Our Release ProcessEach OpCon release follows a structured lifecycle designed to ensure quality, stability, and customer readiness: Ideation: We gather ideas from customer feedback, partner input, and internal insights. Refinement: Ideas are reviewed, scoped, prioritized, and scheduled into upcoming release windows Publishing: Approved features are documented and communicated ahead of testing and release. Work Window: Engineering builds, validates, and stabilizes features and fixes. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Approximately 2-3 weeks prior to production release, UAT is conducted to validate functionality and support overall release readiness. While we follow this lifecycle consistently, timelines may adjust when necessary to address quality, security, or operational considerations.Release Cadence OverviewRather than fixed calendar dates, OpCon releases follow a quarter-based cadence, with production releases typically occurring in the second month of each quarter. This approach provides a consistent planning framework while allowing flexibility as needed.Release Type Typical Timing Q1 Release 2nd month of Q1 Q2 Release 2nd month of Q2 Q3 Release 2nd month of Q3 Q4 Release 2nd month of Q4  Cloud-Hosted vs. Self-Hosted OpCon Cloud-Hosted OpCon Quarterly feature releases New functionality delivered incrementally throughout the year Ideal for customers who want faster access to innovation with minimal operational overhead Self-Hosted Annual feature release (equivalent to a long-term support release) Quarterly maintenance releases focused on fixes and stability Designed for customers who prefer controlled upgrade cycles What This Means for YouOpCon’s release cadence is designed to help customers stay informed and plan adoption on their own timelines. Ahead of a release window: Review published release notes and upcoming changes to understand potential impact to your environment Leading up to production release: Be aware of upcoming updates and plan any internal readiness or communication as needed After production release: Review delivered features and fixes to determine when and how to adopt new functionality This cadence is designed to provide predictable delivery while allowing flexibility, so that our customers can adopt updates on their own timelines.Frequently Asked QuestionsDo I need to upgrade every quarter?No. Customers can choose when to adopt feature releases within the 36-month support window.Are maintenance releases required?Maintenance releases are recommended for stability and fixes, especially for self-hosted environments.Will release dates change?Specific dates may adjust, but the quarterly cadence remains consistent.

Microsoft is making a significant change that could impact your OpCon environment. Beginning September 2025, Microsoft will retire legacy authentication methods (Basic Auth) for Exchange Online, requiring all users to transition to Modern Authentication (OAuth 2.0).Why This MattersOnce Microsoft deprecates Basic Authentication, any OpCon job using SMTP Basic Auth for email notifications will fail to authenticate, causing emails not to send. Identifying affected systems now will help ensure you transition smoothly to Modern Authentication without disruptions.What This Means for YouIf your OpCon environment relies on email notifications sent via SMTP Basic Auth to authenticate with Exchange Online, your jobs may fail to send emails once this change takes effect. That means critical notifications might not reach your teams, potentially disrupting your automation workflows.🔹 OpCon Cloud customers using the Relay component are NOT affected.To ensure a smooth transition and assess the impact on your environment, we need your input.How to Check Your SetupPlease confirm the following:Are you currently using email notifications in OpCon? Is the SMTP account for OpCon notifications a Microsoft Exchange Online account? If “yes” to both of the above, what is your OpCon version?Action RequiredIf you answered “yes” to both Question 1 and 2, please reply to support@smatechnologies.com as soon as possible with your OpCon version to open a support ticket.How to Find Your OpCon Version (On-Prem Customers only)On your OpCon server, go to Control Panel Navigate to Programs > Programs and Features Locate SMA OpCon and check the version number📢 Don’t wait—confirm your setup today!If you have any questions, feel free to discuss them in the comments below or reach out to SMA Technologies Support.