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AutomicJ40b0 - PeerSpot reviewer
Automic Job Developer at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
It is perfect to work with for a lot of job loads. Some of the usual features, like calendar details, are now not there.
Pros and Cons
  • "Automic is perfect to work with for a lot of job loads."
  • "Some of the usual features, like calendar details, are now not there."

What is our primary use case?

Primary use case is to automate our SAP job workflows and all the job workflows that we work with. Thus, to get better performance in our company by automating everything that we are working on. So far, it has been working well.

How has it helped my organization?

It is easy to learn, but hard to master. If you have been working for years with this product, it is easy to understand the whole product and work with the needs that we have. Therefore, it offers a lot of things that we require. So, it is really good.

Automic is perfect to work with for a lot of job loads. It is perfectly done to combine the needs that we need. Therefore, it is a good solution for our requirements.

What is most valuable?

We are able to combine job scripting on the server and automation engine on the GUI. Therefore, we are capable to work in SAP and on the servers, then file transfer the whole product line, which Automic offers.

What needs improvement?

Some of the usual features are now not there, for example: For calendar details, in versions before, you could see it because it was a different color or different letter. Now, it is all similar icons, and some features are marking more objects than just one, which is making it not possible to see anymore. There are some features which were basic and are now gone. I heard that they are coming back. So, I hope it will get better.

I would like the transport case to be in a new feature. This way, you can stage objects to be more flexible and with easy automation. Right now, it is not that easy to transport some things automatically. Thus, it would be nice if these were some of the features which will be offered as part of the critical path which is coming. It would be nice to set our own critical paths, so these workflows can be critical because there are some important workflows running. This is critical for us, but it would also be nice.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Right now, it is decent. The new version is sort of a downgrade because some features that we need are gone. The version before was more stable than the current one because we are having some problems with the performance. Therefore, I hope the next version(s) will be better again. However, right now, it is not as good as it used to be.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is good for us. We are growing, so this is perfect for us. It is easy to scale. So, it is good.

How are customer service and support?

We work with a partner who offers technical support.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

If the company is big, use Automic because you are able to automate things more easily. 

If the company is smaller, use Control-M. The understanding of it is easier than Automic, because it offers more. So, if you are smaller and don't need such overload, use something else, like Control-M.

What other advice do I have?

The version before was overloaded because if opened various windows, it was not easy to understand if you were new to the product. The newest version is easier to understand. However, right now, the performance is not as good as it used to be and some features are gone. There are still improvements needed. It is decent, and there are good ideas, but there are still improvements needed. 

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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it_user895362 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Administrator at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
You have a central point where you can automate everything
Pros and Cons
  • "It works to automate business processes over all the systems. You have a central point where you can automate everything."
  • "The most valuable features are that a lot systems are supported. You can use this for z/OS, Windows, Unix, SAP, etc."
  • "We have some problems with updates where some functions are changed, so you have to check your whole system to see if everything is still running. The update process for us is around two months of testing and one day of updates."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case is scheduling business automation. Its performance is good.

How has it helped my organization?

It works to automate business processes over all the systems. You have a central point where you can automate everything.

It had a big impact on time, cost, and resources because it was the first product that we used which was supported all our platforms. The biggest impact is its central point of control. We now have one point where we can see everything: The whole workflow of a business process, if it is hanging or if it is still running.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are that a lot systems are supported. You can use this for z/OS, Windows, Unix, SAP, etc.

What needs improvement?

The problem is when you have a major update, afterwards you have small problems. This is with every software where you have to find some solutions for your problems after updates. However, after the problems are fixed, the stability is really good.

We have some problems with updates where some functions are changed, so you have to check your whole system to see if everything is still running. The update process for us is around two months of testing and one day of updates.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is great.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have needed the technical support, especially after updates. We also needed technical support for problems. Though most of our problems in the last few years were not based on Workload Automation, but the database that we are working in.

It takes a time until you get the right person, but when you get the right person, they are really helpful.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were previously using CA-7.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There are a lot of new features, but we do not use them because they are too expensive. The price point could be less.

What other advice do I have?

You can't go wrong with Automic, because it is supporting every common system.

Most important criteria when selecting a vendor: 

  1. Stability.
  2. Support.
Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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Automic Automation
January 2025
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Admin Developer And SAP Admin at a wholesaler/distributor
Real User
CA needs to refine the system basics instead of adding more features. Our company uses it to connect different systems.
Pros and Cons
  • "Our company uses it to connect different systems."
  • "The company can expand with this product. Every time I bring in new ideas for solutions, it is with this product."
  • "They need to refine the system basics instead of adding more features."

What is our primary use case?

We do many basic things with it for the SAP system on Windows. We also use it with many with other communication systems. For example, we sell it as an iPhone 5. 

As a system, you can examine many pictures from the company. I must catalog these pictures with the names and architects, therefore we have many file transfers. For example, we take information from the SAP system and send it to Azure from the automation engine.

How has it helped my organization?

Our company uses it to connect different systems. That is a big feature of the system and platform.

We are a small company. The system runs fine. We have no performance problems.

What needs improvement?

There are too many functions and features in the system. The basic must run first. Refine the basics instead of adding more features.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Now, we have version 12 running. We do not like having the newer functions, because it affects the stability. The stability must be better, and the system must work with better functionality, as we have many bugs in this version. This is not good. CA must have higher quality.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The company can expand with this product. Every time I bring in new ideas for solutions, it is with this product.

How is customer service and technical support?

Our systems must always run. I have ideas to stabilize the system a little bit, so I contacted technical support. They have for other ideas on how to fix issues. For example, if the agent goes down, we have no chance with a standard restart to fix it, and the agent is the service manager. No one in technical support understands this question, which is not good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy and straightforward. I did it over 20 years ago.

What about the implementation team?

We used CDs to install it over 20 years ago.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

My boss says, "It is a little expensive." For example, I must pay a lot money if I need to have a DB agent. This is too expensive for us as a small company, so I use SQL *Plus. This costs us nothing. 

We cannot use all the functions because they are too expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I must have a tool which works. I have a new version, but I have problems. That is not good.

However, if we have no problems with the quality, we will probably use the product a long time. I like this product. I know what it can do.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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Automati4bee - PeerSpot reviewer
Automation Engine Admin at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
It is flexible and provides a large scale, but the technical support does not provide us with the answers that we need
Pros and Cons
  • "Integration with most of the platforms that we have within the company's Windows, Linux, and Unix. Integrating these inside the automation agent for scheduling, backups, file transfer, and SAP jobs."
  • "Our users are used to the flatline of the UC4. When we introduced the AVI, they are not interested nor motivated to use it."

What is our primary use case?

In our company, we use it for the following:

  • Scheduling of SAP and ERP jobs.
  • Backing up most of our servers.
  • ITSM and scheduling using the automation agent.
  • Running our non-ERP jobs, or for some other applications. 
  • File transfer and automation services.

How has it helped my organization?

We were using UC4, which was very good. We have had some challenges within the application as it moves forward to the new features. 

For example, our users are used to the flatline of the UC4. When we introduced the AVI, they are not interested nor motivated to use it.

There are some challenges because of the new features and the new change of interfaces. Nevertheless, we use this application to organize our jobs and to integrate the applications within the company. It is useful for report generation and backups.

It is good and efficient in terms of workload.

What is most valuable?

  • File transfer
  • The solution for rocket automation, as a file transfer and its agents.
  • Mostly SAP scripting.
  • Integration with most of the platforms that we have within the company's Windows, Linux, and Unix. Integrating these inside the automation agent for scheduling, backups, file transfer, and SAP jobs.

What needs improvement?

We have a lot of file transfers with Quest. Hopefully, their product management can add this feature since we do the file transfers now with SharePoint.

We want to establish a service where we can be a file transfer expert for everything. We want an automation engine that we can use within our company. We would like to use this particular software to provide file transfer service.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is more stable now. In the previous versions 8 and 10, it is more stable, but with the AVI version 12, it is more complicated and we encounter a lot of problems. We need to install hot pieces and badges every time, so it means downtime for us. This is starting from version 12, which is why we are not happy with it. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It provides a large scale for us, because it is flexible, in terms of usage. We have done a proof of concept within this application.

How is customer service and technical support?

I think we are known to the technical support. Unfortunately, the technical support does not help much with our problems until you get to the gurus due to the complexity of our problems.

What other advice do I have?

Automation is very powerful. This solution is flexible in terms of platform integration. They need better CA support , because in terms of issues and problem solving, the support is not good. It would be much better if CA had some dedicated support to customers.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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it_user779070 - PeerSpot reviewer
Lead Production Control Specialist at SAIF Corporation
Real User
Enables us to schedule our batch systems and interface with developers and testing
Pros and Cons
  • "The new release is web-based, so that's a big, big improvement. A lot of our products are going to that platform."
  • "It's easy to train other people. A new developer could come in and learn it very quickly."
  • "When there's an error or a problem, the automation part of it could be easily programmed to escalate it up to the developers or whoever is going to work on it. We had to home-grow that within the product because third-party products are so expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for scheduling our batch systems and interfacing with our developers and our test systems.

It has performed very well. We've had the product for a number of years, since 2013, but before that we had another product called AppWorks for a dozen years or so. And then AppWorks was acquired by Automic. We keep moving up.

What is most valuable?

The new release is web-based, so that's a big, big improvement. A lot of our products that we use right now are going to that platform.

It's easy to train other people. A new developer could come in and learn it very quickly.

What needs improvement?

Better escalation process for alert notifications. When there's an error or a problem, the automation part of it could be easily programmed to escalate it up to the developers or whoever is going to work on it. We had to home-grow that within the product because third-party products are so expensive. Having that would be a wonderful improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's super. It's solid. Never goes down. For me as a user of it, it's solid.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have a lot of legacy systems and we're implementing new systems and applications to take over the old things. We're an insurance company so we have claims, and policies, and AP, and financials, and payroll. Old systems get old, and as we're implementing new systems, AppWorks or Automic now, just fits. It's just the best there is, so, it was a no-brainer. 

We had such success with AppWorks. And then we went to this big RFI to figure out what we were going to change to because we didn't want to upgrade AppWorks anymore. But the success that we had with AppWorks - and then when Automic bought it - it was like a no-brainer. We would just go with them.

How was the initial setup?

It was good. We had customer support who came onsite to install it and to train everybody and I was right there. It's mainly a product for our department, and then, as an administrator, we assign everybody, all the users and train them.

What other advice do I have?

The whole thing is just a great product. We're really happy with it. 

In terms of selecting a vendor, I'm not the one who does that but they go through a pretty extensive process of looking at the cost, the reputation. I would think it would be a combination of things including reviews. Management takes care of that stuff.

Do your homework. Do your research. The product we have is the best. I don't know what you can afford or how big your company is, and what your needs are. It might not fit into every company, so do your research.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Real User
It makes our lives easier. Anything that can be automated is automated.
Pros and Cons
  • "It is easy to set up and use. The whole system is complete."
  • "Automation helps us. It makes our lives easier. Anything that can be automated is automated."
  • "Compared to other products, the stability is remarkable."
  • "It is a bit of a problem, because they like to do email ping-pong via their web page. Sometimes, it would be much easier if someone would call you on the phone."

What is our primary use case?

We have different applications. We can schedule our pickup or applications (mainly MFT for financial services) and provide file transfers only to customers. 

How has it helped my organization?

Automation helps us. It makes our lives easier. Anything that can be automated is automated.

What is most valuable?

Stability. It works without issues.

What needs improvement?

The web interface needs improvement.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Compared to other products, the stability is remarkable.

We do not use some of the special features. We use a very plain level of it: just starts and stops, calendar functions, schedules, and events. We have no add-ons on top of them. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have had no problems with the scalability so far.

How is customer service and technical support?

It is a bit of a problem, because they like to do email ping-pong via their web page. Sometimes, it would be much easier if someone would call you on the phone. For example, it takes three or four days to obtain the same answer that you can receive with a phone call within a few minutes.

How was the initial setup?

I was not involved with the initial setup.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Automic, because it is easy to set up and use. The whole system is complete. I have not had any issues with usage.

It is completely sufficient. We are still on version 10. We are upgrading to version 12, because we have to do it. However, we do not believe there is any missing functionality at the moment.

Most important criteria when selecting a vendor:

  • Support
  • Price
  • Functionality.

I do not care about the name of the vendor.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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PeerSpot user
Batch Scheduling DTS, Service Delivery Lead at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable, easy to set up, and has a powerful scripting language
Pros and Cons
  • "It has its own object-oriented scripting language and you can reload your object in many different places."
  • "The vendor support is really bad and should be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are a system integrator and Automic is one of the workload automation products that we implement for our clients.

This tool provides a great versatility of options for effective digital business automation. Integration with different platforms, ERP systems, business application, microservices, big data.

We are supporting multiple customers and their environments. Some of the most common uses are : SAP, SAP BW, Avaloq, FileTransfers, FTP/SFTP, Datastage, Informatica

What is most valuable?

It has its own scripting language which allows you to be even more flexible with the objects and create your own unique environment. You can easily have a single object with smartly defined parameters (variables) and reuse that object in many different workflows, passing different values to achieve different purposes. 

What needs improvement?

The vendor support is really bad and should be improved. The engineers taking our vendor tickets are not knowledgeble enough of the product and occasionally not helpful at all. Tickets usally are bouncing back and forth with very little helpful information or investigation from their side for a issue we are experiencing/reporting.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Automic Workload Automation for at least five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable product and we plan on continuing to use it in the future.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Automic Workload Automation is scalable, although it can improve on the database side. When it comes to workload automation tools, the database is always at the back of the list.

My team has approximately 25 people in it, and we have teams in America and Germany as well.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is slow, and the people that take the cases are not really familiar with the product. Most of their answers are simply "Did you check the official documentation? Did you check the knowledge base articles?"

If we are at the point that we are asking for support, most times, we would have already checked everything place that we can.

Basically, they should be faster and more knowledgeable.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

In our team, we are using four workload automation tools including Automic, Control-M, Autosys, and TWS/IWS. We are supporting all of them but I concentrate on Automic because it's the one that I like the most.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. It is pretty easy to install this product anywhere, regardless of whether it is an on-premises or cloud-based deployment. Usually, deployment takes four hours at the most.

What about the implementation team?

I have done the deployment several times, myself.

What other advice do I have?

This is a good product and I can recommend it.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
Service Management at Siemens Industry
Real User
It saves time and manpower, which benefits our organization
Pros and Cons
  • "The product has benefited our organization. It saves time and manpower."
  • "The user interface has room for improvement."
  • "I would like to see the event engine in the next release."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case is for automation in the area of SAP, as a specific solution in time management and access control systems. We are providing for this for any of our customers who use the automation engine. It is performing well.

How has it helped my organization?

The product has benefited our organization. It saves time and manpower.

What is most valuable?

Process automation.

What needs improvement?

The user interface has room for improvement.

I would like to see the event engine in the next release.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It has a normal scale for working with the tool.

How are customer service and technical support?

We use support when we make release changes. Technical support has been good to work with. They have been easier to reach now than in the past.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We did not have a previous solution, just something we built in-house. We have been using this solution for 20 years.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy. We have used it for 20 years, so we set it up in a special way. We were installation number 30 for this product. We have been working with it for a long time.

What other advice do I have?

Most important criteria when selecting a vendor: multi-platform usability.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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Workload Automation
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