Control-M Reviews

Vendor: BMC

4.4 out of 5

119 reviews
98% willing to recommend

1,856 followers

What is Control-M?

Control-M is used for enterprise workload automation, orchestrating finance, retail, healthcare, and supply chain processes. It handles batch job scheduling, managed file transfers, cloud integrations, and compliance auditing across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.

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Control-M is the #1 ranked solution in top Workload Automation solutions, #3 ranked solution in top Process Automation solutions, and #4 ranked solution in top Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions. PeerSpot users give Control-M an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 119 most recent Control-M reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.0. Control-M is most commonly compared to Camunda: Control-M vs Camunda. Control-M is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 75% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 28% of all views.

Helped 824,053 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Pedro Fuentes

System Engineer at Community Loans of America, Inc.

They have a department that handles requests for enhancements. I talked to Control-M guys back in October or November when they had a gathering here in Atlanta. We talked about not being able to go back in history in Helix Control-M for more than two weeks. We submitted a request for enhancement. They told us that they are working on it, and they are thinking of expanding that to 30 days. We would like to see it expand to 90 days, but they are working on it. In Control-M, we were able to go back 180 days, but that was on-prem. The storage of that data was on our own servers. We know that storage is money, and we do not expect them to store that much of the data, but at least 30 to 60 days seem proper.

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Chris Wahl

Operations Engineer at West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

The reporting is top-notch. I haven't found any other applications on the market that can replicate what Control-M offers. The alerting is very good, and I think their service monitoring is the best in the industry. The solution is a key part of our system and I have not seen any significant limitations with it. It's very reliable and performs as advertised. We're just starting our data pipeline journey. Compared to other products in the market, I believe Control-M's is the easiest to use. Theirs came out ahead in terms of ease of use every time. I rate them very highly in that area. We're primarily an Azure corporation. We found that the solution's built-in integrations with Azure are straightforward to use. We actively build out methods of alerting, for instance, when workflows in Control-M don't complete, as this impacts our end-users and our managers that support the teams attempting to provide data for the end-users. I think Control-M has a ton of built-in integrations that make alerting when that data is unavailable more visible to end-users. I think that's been very useful in our environment.

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Patrick Byrne

Higher Executive Officer ICT at Irish Government

It's much simpler now. Everything was a manual batch job. Using the features of Control-M every day makes our batch processing so much easier. It makes our lives so much easier. For our operations team, which runs our daily batch overnight, viewing everything as it happens has been an absolute lifesaver, especially if things go wrong overnight. It's great to have that visibility. It has also sped up our process, reducing overhead and weekend overtime. Batch processing is much quicker now, resulting in fewer manual errors. Control-M has so much functionality that even if you initially purchase it to handle a specific part of your batch work, it can offer much more. We've progressed beyond traditional batch processing to include MFT, which has been incredibly useful. Our file watchers and other automation features have significantly simplified our workflows and made our lives much easier. Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

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Control-M mindshare

Product category:

As of December 2024, the mindshare of Control-M in the Process Automation category stands at 4.2%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Process Automation

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Process Automation	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Control-M vs Camunda	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Control-M vs Pega Platform	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Control-M vs Appian	Dec 21, 2024	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Camunda	4.1	29.1%	89%	76 interviews Add to research
Appian	4.2	10.2%	95%	59 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Control-M offers valuable features such as a user-friendly GUI, extensive integration capabilities with SAP, Informatica, and databases, and advanced scheduling options. It excels in cross-platform support, automation of workflows, and secure file transfers with options like MFT and AFT. Its unified view allows seamless management and monitoring of application workflows and data pipelines. Key features include error handling, role-based administration, self-service portals, and robust reporting and alerting functionalities.

"Control-M has improved our organization's functions by supporting high availability and integrating with CI/CD workflows."
"The workflow is much easier compared to the ACS services we were using."
"Control-M is a bit faster compared to other solutions. The job and coding are easier."

Room for Improvement

Control-M needs enhancement in output analysis capabilities, reporting flexibility, offline access, module integration, and support for cloud technologies. Its user interface is complex, and there are challenges with automatic upgrades and dependency management. Reporting tools are limited and cumbersome, lacking customizability and integration. New features such as seamless workflow integration with third-party tools, improved documentation, and better customer support are desired. Pricing is a concern for some, and more robust job scheduling features could be beneficial.

"The UI can be challenging for new users due to its learning curve."
"The downtime is higher compared to AWS."
"They should have a proper integration method that clearly defines the workflow."

ROI

Users describe significant cost savings and efficiency gains from Control-M's automation capabilities. They report reduced manual intervention, decreased staffing needs, and improved service delivery times. Many highlight improved data management and integration that centralizes operations, reducing complexity. Some mention substantial gains in issue resolution speed and decreased ownership costs, with larger organizations experiencing notable returns within a few years. They express satisfaction with the tool, often extending its use to leverage its full potential.

Pricing

Control-M pricing is generally viewed as high yet justified by its robust features. Users indicate complex licensing models, with costs often tied to the number of jobs or endpoints. Larger enterprises benefit more from these models, finding value in comprehensive functionality, but smaller companies may struggle with affordability. Task-based licensing is commonly expensive, and additional features incur extra charges. Discounts may be available through negotiations with account managers, offering flexibility in expense management.

"Pricing is generally affordable, though some features cost a bit more."
"While it is quite flexible, the licensing cost could be more affordable, especially for small and mid-sized enterprises."
"Control-M isn't cheap, but this is an enterprise model."

Popular Use Cases

Users of Control-M primarily utilize it for automating batch processing, job scheduling, and managing batch workloads across various platforms including mainframe, cloud environments, and SAP systems. They leverage it for enterprise-wide workload automation, handling file transfers, integrating multiple systems, and monitoring critical processes. It is employed in diverse sectors such as financial services, healthcare, retail, and IT, providing organizations with increased efficiency and reduced manual intervention.

Service and Support

Control-M customer service and support receive high praise, generally rated between 8 and 10. Users appreciate their responsiveness and knowledge. They find the online community helpful, valuing the quick resolution of queries. Some note delays in response and request clear documentation improvements. The AMIGO program is particularly beneficial for migrations. However, complexities during critical issues sometimes require escalation to specialized teams. Users value detailed guidance for resolving integration challenges and monitoring procedures.

Deployment

Control-M's initial setup is mostly straightforward and user-friendly, according to feedback. Some describe it as simple with good documentation and support, while others mention challenges, especially with complex requirements or integrations. Many find it easy to deploy and maintain, with minimal downtime during upgrades. Various users highlight the ease of using migration tools and the adaptability of Control-M for both technical and non-technical staff, although some have experienced complexities.

Scalability

Control-M consistently demonstrates strong scalability, adapting effectively to growing workloads without significant issues. While a few organizations experienced challenges, these were typically manageable with system adjustments. Many users praise its capacity to handle large-scale operations, easily scaling with increased demands and users. Although some mention potential costs, the platform generally supports expansion across various industries. Hundreds of jobs and vast numbers of users are effectively managed, showcasing impressive scalability in diverse environments.

Stability

Users find Control-M highly stable and reliable, with minimal disruptions. Many experience no stability issues, citing its robust performance across different environments. Some encountered minor issues linked to infrastructure rather than Control-M itself. Occasional challenges arise with specific versions or configurations, yet these are typically addressed through updates or patches. The stability is appreciated by users who emphasize its capability to handle extensive workloads efficiently, maintaining consistent operations with support from BMC's technical team.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Control-M Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

28%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Retailer

Government

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Educational Organization

University

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Transportation Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Logistics Company

Performing Arts

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Control-M with alternative products

Learn more about Control-M

Organizations leverage Control-M to efficiently monitor and manage business-critical processes like payroll, HR, SAP, Informatica, and database tasks. It enhances visibility, security, and error resolution. Automating and optimizing workflows in data centers, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, Control-M supports diverse technological environments. The platform's robust capabilities make it suitable for effective centralized management of applications and data pipelines, ensuring enhanced collaboration and scalability.

What are Control-M's most important features?

Integration capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with various systems
Automation API: Facilitates automation through APIs
Managed File Transfer: Simplifies secure file transfers
GUI console: Intuitive graphical user interface
Role-based administration: Provides access control
Single-pane view: Centralized monitoring dashboard
Scheduling options: Flexible job scheduling
Workflow orchestration: Coordinates complex workflows
Reporting: Generates insightful reports
Monitoring: Tracks and manages tasks
Forecasting: Predicts future workloads
Self-service portal: Empowers users with self-service tools
Plugins: Extends functionality through additional plugins

What are the benefits or ROI of using Control-M?

Enhanced visibility: Centralized view of all processes
Ease of use: User-friendly interface
Error reduction: Minimizes manual errors
Improved collaboration: Facilitates teamwork
Scalability: Supports growth and scale
Support: Comprehensive customer support

Control-M is implemented in industries like finance to handle payroll and HR tasks, in retail for inventory management and supply chain processes, and in healthcare for compliance auditing and patient data processing. Organizations benefit from streamlined workflows and automated processes across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, ensuring efficient and secure operations.

Control-M was previously known as Control M.