IBM BPM Reviews

Vendor: IBM

3.9 out of 5

111 reviews
90% willing to recommend

3,540 followers

What is IBM BPM?

IBM BPM is a business process management tool that provides a robust set of tools to author, test, and deploy business processes, as well as full visibility and insight to managing those business processes. The solution provides tooling and run time for process design, execution, monitoring, and optimization, along with basic system integration support. To support various levels of complexity and involvement with business process management, there are two different editions of the product: IBM BPM and IBM BPM Express.

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IBM BPM is the #4 ranked solution in top Process Automation solutions, #5 ranked solution in BPM Software, and #8 ranked solution in top Application Infrastructure solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM BPM an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. IBM BPM is most commonly compared to Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC): IBM BPM vs Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC). IBM BPM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 71% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 31% of all views.

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Featured IBM BPM reviews

Muhammad Kamran

Project Manager at Ora-Tech Systems

You will have access to make any needed changes. Additionally, the review will be published on PeerSpot.com in written or audio format, available to other people. You can stay anonymous if you wish. Notifications and the use of the review are subject to PeerSpot's terms of use, which you can find at PeerSpot.com/TOS. I would give the solution an overall rating of ten out of ten points.

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Prince Mathew

General Manager - Information Technology at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

One suggestion for IBM BPM is to provide better integration between their products, such as DataCap, which we use for scanning. Although the new CP4BA offers offline capabilities, not everyone is on CP4BA, so enhanced integration for those on older versions would be beneficial. Another major suggestion is to offer a migration path when a product reaches its end of life. For example, there was no migration path when we moved, so we had to redo everything we had developed over ten years completely.

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Mohammed Almalki

Head of Solution Architecture at Riyad Bank

If you're already an IBM shop with the necessary skills and personnel, then I would recommend using it. However, it requires a yearly investment. So, if you're prepared for that, then go for it. New users will need at least six months to get comfortable with IBM BPM, at least initially. So, there's a learning curve. Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. Two main reasons: the skillset required to manage it and its integration complexity.

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IBM BPM mindshare

Product category:

As of April 2025, the mindshare of IBM BPM in the Business Process Management (BPM) category stands at 7.4%, down from 7.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Management (BPM)

PeerAnalyst reports based on IBM BPM reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Business Process Management (BPM)	Apr 18, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM BPM vs Camunda	Apr 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM BPM vs Apache Airflow	Apr 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM BPM vs Automation Anywhere	Apr 18, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC)	3.9	1.2%	93%	182 interviews Add to research
Camunda	4.1	21.3%	89%	77 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM BPM offers valuable features like process simulation, UI design, integration capabilities, automation of workflows, and a responsive UI. Its system integration layer centralizes data access, while the process orchestration feature allows cross-functional business process modeling and execution. Users find its compliance with BPMN standards, document management, robust reporting, and easy UI design beneficial. Its API functionality and monitoring increase efficiency. Stability, rapid deployment, and ease of use are widely highlighted.

"The customer service is outstanding."
"There are two or three valuable features, like BPM."
"The integration capabilities of IBM BPM are excellent."

Room for Improvement

IBM BPM could improve through enhanced customization options, simplified installation, and better integration. Users express the need for a more intuitive interface, augmented performance, and streamlined debugging. They seek greater visibility into processes and more efficient data handling. Enhanced scalability and cost-effective licensing are also cited. Further, improved cloud-native capabilities, RPA integration, and advanced reporting tools are desired. Additionally, better documentation and security management would be beneficial.

"The solution has scalability issues; on a scale, I would rate it at eight out of ten."
"I see room for improvement in terms of the overall experience."
"The major issue is the pricing, which is very high. IBM BPM also lacks smaller solutions, so I must purchase multiple solutions to start with workflows and applications."

ROI

Users have experienced ROI with IBM BPM by achieving automation and reducing errors. Processes have shifted from manual to digital, leading to fewer mistakes and faster workflow. Companies have transformed functions such as loan origination and claims processing into efficient operations, improving transaction volume. Despite high license costs, users find value through significant process enhancements and time savings. ROI has been seen through initial client presentations and long-term usage, with improvements often evident in the first year.

Pricing

IBM BPM pricing is perceived as high by enterprise users, often rating it around 8-10 on a 10-point scale of expense. Its licensing is typically on an annual basis, and it offers Cloud Pak for flexible licensing. While alternatives like Camunda are cheaper, IBM BPM's comprehensive features and capabilities cater to larger enterprises. Some customers see value in starting with the Express edition to reduce initial costs before upgrading to the Advanced edition as needs evolve.

"Due to its extensive features and capabilities, the product pricing is more aligned with medium—to large enterprises."
"I rate the solution's pricing a four out of ten."
"The solution might be expensive, but I can't give you a precise number. In the market here, I've seen two main products for BPM: IBM BPM and Camunda. Camunda is very popular and open-source, so there's no direct comparison."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use IBM BPM for automating and managing workflows across various sectors such as insurance, healthcare, finance, and logistics. They leverage it for digitizing paper-based processes, handling claims, loan approvals, account openings, policy updates, and integration with legacy systems. It enhances efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, supports straight-through processing, and facilitates better decision-making with workflow orchestration. Companies appreciate its role in streamlining operations, ensuring compliance, and improving overall process management.

Service and Support

IBM BPM customer service consistently receives positive ratings, often being described as competent and responsive, though some users note room for improvement in response times. Technical support experiences vary, with many praising responsiveness and expertise, while others report delays and less helpful interactions. Users appreciate direct interactions with knowledgeable personnel, although some express a need for more efficient communication. Overall, IBM BPM support is satisfactory for many, but with suggestions for quicker resolutions.

Deployment

IBM BPM's initial setup was viewed as complex by many users due to intricate configurations at database and server levels. Some found it straightforward, especially with cloud implementations. Experience varied, with some praising IBM's support during the process. The complexity often depended on prior experience and environment specifics, requiring expertise for efficient handling. While some users needed extensive effort for a successful deployment, others found setup less complicated with proper guidance and planning.

Scalability

IBM BPM exhibits strong scalability, especially when configured with IBM WebSphere, offering both horizontal and vertical scalability. While many find it efficient for large-scale operations, some face challenges under heavy concurrent loads. Proper hardware provision and architecture planning can enhance its scalability. Users note IBM BPM supports high volumes of transactions and processes effectively. However, adjustments and careful monitoring are necessary to maintain performance in massive deployments and complex scenarios. Overall, it is highly regarded for enterprise-scale applications.

Stability

IBM BPM is typically stable but experiences vary. Many users report good stability, particularly with newer versions. Some encounter issues due to infrastructure components like application servers and network latency. Challenges arise during version migrations and heavy development loads. Companies emphasize the need for skilled developers to ensure smooth operation. While several rate its stability high, others highlight occasional server issues and the impact of external systems on performance.

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

Download our IBM BPM 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

31%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Insurance Company

Retailer

University

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Comms Service Provider

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Construction Company

Consumer Goods Company

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Non Profit

Sports Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Transportation Company

Compare IBM BPM with alternative products

Learn more about IBM BPM

IBM BPM Features

IBM BPM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Process designer authoring tool
Collaborative editing and immediate playback of processes
Interactive user interfaces
Process rules based on IBM Operational Decision Manager
IBM Integration Designer (BPEL and SOA)
Designing and building case management systems
Process portal
Real-time monitoring and reporting
Performance analytics and optimizer
Performance data warehouse
IBM Process Center with a shared asset repository
IBM Process Federation Server
Built-in enterprise service bus (ESB)
Transaction support
Integration adapters
Network deployment support
High availability: clustering and unlimited cores

IBM BPM Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing IBM BPM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Increased efficiency and cost savings: IBM BPM can help you optimize existing processes and incorporate more structure into the development of new processes by removing process redundancies and bottlenecks.

More scalable processes: The solution enables better process execution and workflow automation, which transfers well when scaling processes.

Greater transparency: Because IBM BPM’s process automation clearly defines owners for tasks along the process, it provides more transparency and accountability throughout a given process. In turn, this fosters more communication among teams.

Less dependency on development teams: IBM BPM offers low-code features which remove potential dependencies on development. Business users can be onboarded onto these tools quickly and easily, thereby increasing process automation across the company.

Reviews from Real Users

IBM BPM is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it’s good for developing complex apps, is robust, and has helpful team management and process performance features.

Zoran C., Owner/CEO at IT SPHERE, says, “It is perfect if you have to develop complex apps without much coding (only java script). It is also good if you don't have much IT resources in your company and would like to involve business analysts in the process of developing apps. My opinion is that it can do about 50% of all developers' work.”

Suhas V., BPM Architect at GBM, mentions, “Overall the solution is robust and has the ability to integrate with any product for complex workflows."

A BPM Consultant at a financial services firm comments, "Some of the features that I like the most are team management and process performance. They are both very useful and very powerful with regard to the workflow."

A Digital Banking & Innovation Director at a financial services firm expresses, “The processing functionality makes it easy to change processes and workflows easily.”

IBM BPM was previously known as WebSphere Lombardi Edition, IBM Business Process Manager, IBM WebSphere Process Server.

IBM BPM customers

Barclays, EmeriCon, Banca Popolare di Milano, CST Consulting, KeyBank, KPMG, Prolifics, Sandhata Technologies Ltd., State of Alaska, Humana S.A., Saperion, esciris, Banco Espirito Santo