Stonebranch Reviews

Name: Stonebranch
Brand: Stonebranch
Rating: 4.4 (26 reviews)

4.4 out of 5

26 reviews
93% willing to recommend

201 followers

What is Stonebranch?

Stonebranch automates enterprise-level workload and task scheduling across platforms like Linux, Windows, and mainframe, managing thousands of daily tasks for improved efficiency and visibility.

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Stonebranch is the #16 ranked solution in top Workload Automation solutions. PeerSpot users give Stonebranch an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Stonebranch is most commonly compared to Control-M: Stonebranch vs Control-M. Stonebranch 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 26% of all views.

Helped 815,854 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Earl Diem

Sr. Manager - Performance and Automation Engineering at PSCU Financial Services

The Universal Agent is the most valuable feature. Being agent-based and being able to go across multiple technology stacks, which is what our workflows do, Stonebranch gives us the ability to bridge those disparate technologies. It enables us to remove the dependency-gap with the agent so we know the status of the workflow at each step. Workflow development in Stonebranch is straightforward. There is something of a learning curve, but it's not very steep. Being able to develop workflows without having to train and develop some very specialized skillsets to use the tool is very useful. Stonebranch absolutely helped enable digital transformation in our company and it still is. In our automation efforts, we're pushing everything to Informatica and, as we move those ETLs, we're automating the entire workflows. In phase-one and phase-two, there were 244 jobs migrated in from other ETL platforms to Informatica, and we've automated all of those. We have almost 200 jobs remaining. We're going to have something approaching 450 workflows in Stonebranch when we're done.

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Siddharth Matalia

Senior Technical Specialist at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

This was a migration project where we provided our database, the previous one, and there was a tool that automatically converted the awarded job into Stonebranch. All the conversion was done from the Stonebranch side, and we got a person as well from Stonebranch during migration. There was a person who worked with us a decade back for the AutoSys install as well. He was well aware of our environment, so he helped us a lot. It was easy. It was not that complex. It is much more GUI. That said, we are looking for how the various automation can be done since, through command lines, you can create a number of jobs. While you are creating a single job, it takes 15 minutes with the GUI, however, if you go for the command line, within two or three minutes, your job gets completed. We have built our own solution for automation using some REST API and all those various integrations. It is working for our organization right now. However, we are requesting some kind of solution from Stonebranch. They should have been providing that to us already. For deployment, three or four people were engaged with the setup on their side. To manage everything, they provided us with a person who required help to manage it. Eventually, since it was a cloud platform on their side, if there is some configuration necessary, which they do it. They get a notification, and they fix it very immediately if there is an issue. The response time is very good from their side, and we don't have to worry about maintenance.

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Atul Pednekar

Senior Manager at Colgate

My advice to others is that if there is a migration project they have to be thorough. The planning phase is really important when the migrations are happening. However, for a straightforward implementation, it's an easy process. If you are doing it as a vanilla installation, then it will be easy. If you are migrating from one automation to another, then the Stonebranch Universal Automation Center is going to be challenging because much of the terminology and the way of automation is going to get changed. I rate Stonebranch Universal Automation Center a seven out of ten The solution can complete most of the requirements we need with our SAP system.

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Stonebranch mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Stonebranch in the Workload Automation category stands at 5.3%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Workload Automation

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 7, 2024

Valuable Features

Stonebranch enables users to manage tasks efficiently with features like the Universal Agent, workflow automation, and a user-friendly web interface. Its ability to integrate different applications, support multiple platforms, and provide robust agents is highly valued. Users appreciate the reliability, seamless task monitoring, and minimal installation requirements. The dashboard and visual workflow editor enhance ease of use, while the system's scalability and stability meet diverse needs effectively.

"We like that it has GUI and is not just a command line."
"The support is good from Stonebranch Universal Automation Center."
"The features are upgraded, and every six months they're releasing patches."

Room for Improvement

Stonebranch needs a better graphical workflow overview, improved FTP tasks, and more comprehensive REST API information. Training materials and FAQ require enhancement for easier configuration. The mainframe integration faces challenges with scheduling and GDG recovery. OMS component high availability could lower costs. Better workload balancer support and improved connectivity with Microsoft SRS are required. There is a need for cloud availability for enhanced scalability and security, and a user-friendly task monitor would be beneficial.

"It can be hard to manage the task monitor."
"Stonebranch Universal Automation Center could improve the analytics."
"It's not available on the cloud, so they should take that due to safety, security, and scalability."

ROI

Users found Stonebranch cost-effective and dependable. Fewer personnel manage tasks manually, increasing visibility into process flows and resulting in continual ROI growth. It was adopted by budgeting for annual expenditure without conducting a business impact study, emphasizing reduced workloads. While categorized as an expense rather than an investment, users observed a favorable outcome, achieving 40% to 50% savings compared to previous solutions. ROI remains hard to quantify due to its expense nature.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Stonebranch's pricing competitive and reasonable, often cheaper than competitors like Control-M and Automic, offering both competitive pricing and solid investment value. Users appreciate the flexibility of an enterprise license with unlimited agents and tasks, making transactional-based licensing cost-effective for large-scale operations. Support is included in the standard licensing fees, with no additional hidden costs. The pricing structure is appealing compared to alternatives like IBM Tivoli and Redwood, ranking favorably by many users.

"The price of the solution is at a medium level compared to the competition."
"Stonebranch is cheaper than Control-M, so many companies are using Stonebranch."
"I don't have pricing information, but I do know it's cheaper than our old legacy system. Other than the standard licensing fees there are no additional costs."

Popular Use Cases

Stonebranch is primarily used for enterprise workload automation and scheduling. Users implement it for batch processing, file transfers, and task management across various environments such as Linux, Windows, and mainframe systems. They automate workflows, integrate distributed systems, and manage extensive task volumes, enhancing efficiency and visibility. It supports internal and client-based scheduling needs, replacing older systems like cron and AutoSys, while operating as a centralized platform for diverse automation requirements.

Service and Support

Stonebranch customer service is often praised for its quick response and expertise. Users appreciate the helpfulness and technical know-how of the support team, particularly Lisa. The company provides fast resolution times, with technical support considered very knowledgeable and responsive. Some users note the need for improved response times and occasional difficulties in assistance. Despite this, Stonebranch is seen as one of the best vendors, with effective ticketing processes and well-coordinated technical support.

Deployment

The initial setup of Stonebranch is generally straightforward and easy, though some users found it complex, especially when dealing with advanced options and security settings. While many found migration simple, involving external support, others experienced challenges due to their environments or application dependencies. Setup duration varied, with larger organizations taking more time due to intricate infrastructures and migration processes from existing systems. Stonebranch's support staff played a crucial role in facilitating smooth transitions.

Scalability

Stonebranch demonstrates high scalability, enabling users to easily add clients and scale environments. They commend its capability to execute large batch jobs with flexibility in data retention. Users report running thousands of tasks daily without performance concerns, praising its ability to manage numerous agents seamlessly. While some mention manual adjustments, Stonebranch is noted for its robust and scalable architecture across diverse systems, accommodating various workload sizes and organizational needs effectively.

Stability

Stonebranch is generally stable, with high availability and minimal downtime. Configurations and environmental issues are rare causes of instability. Users report occasional agent issues after OS patching, quickly resolved by restarts. Resilient design supports high availability and graceful recovery, even in maintenance scenarios. Users appreciate its reliability and performance, rating it highly for stability and its effectiveness in handling tasks without issues.

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

Download our Stonebranch 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

26%

Computer Software Company

15%

Insurance Company

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

Government

Media Company

University

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Construction Company

Logistics Company

Hospitality Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Transportation Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Performing Arts

Legal Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Compare Stonebranch with alternative products

Learn more about Stonebranch

Stonebranch enables organizations to streamline job scheduling by replacing older systems with a robust solution that automates complex workflows, batch processing, and secure file transfers. Its compatibility with multiple platforms and enhanced visibility aid teams in efficiently managing business processes, database interactions, and IT workflows. Equipped with a Universal Controller and Agent, it provides seamless integration across diverse systems, empowering users with greater control over their tasks. While it fosters digital transformation, there are opportunities for enhancements in areas like graphical workflow overviews and API functionality.

What features does Stonebranch offer?

User-friendly interface for intuitive navigation
Robust agents ensuring reliable task execution
Comprehensive workflow automation tools
Platform-agnostic compatibility for diverse systems
Secure file transfer capabilities
High scalability for growing needs
Effective error handling features

What benefits should users expect?

Improved efficiency in task management
Streamlined processes reducing operational complexities
Enhanced visibility and control over workflows
Seamless integration with existing systems
Support for digital transformation initiatives

Organizations in industries such as finance and healthcare implement Stonebranch for its ability to automate complex processes, manage mainframe and distributed environments, and securely transfer sensitive data. Its platform-agnostic nature caters to the demanding needs of these industries, providing a reliable backbone for essential operations.

Stonebranch was previously known as Stonebranch Universal Automation Center.