BIC Platform vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect comparison

GBTEC Software AG and Sparx Systems are both solutions in the Business Process Design category. GBTEC Software AG is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.0, while Sparx Systems is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.3. GBTEC Software AG holds a 1.6% mindshare in BPD, compared to Sparx Systems’s 11.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of GBTEC Software AG users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Sparx Systems users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect and BIC Platform are competitors in business process management and modeling tools. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect excels with affordability and comprehensive features, while BIC Platform offers superior functionalities and customer support, making it ideal for those prioritizing advanced capabilities and excellent service.

Features: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect includes extensive modeling tools, robust simulation capabilities, and seamless integration, catering to project designs and system architecture. BIC Platform provides real-time collaboration, automation functions, and a comprehensive approach to process management, fitting dynamic business environments.

Room for Improvement: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect could benefit from enhanced customer service, improved ease of use, and better support for complex collaborative projects. BIC Platform might improve by offering more cost-effective solutions, expanding customization options, and optimizing integration with external systems.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect offers straightforward deployment with satisfactory support, emphasizing simplicity. BIC Platform delivers a cloud-based deployment model with superior customer service, ensuring smooth implementation and extended support.

Pricing and ROI: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is known for cost-effectiveness, offering favorable ROI for budget-friendly solutions. BIC Platform, though initially costlier, provides significant ROI through productivity enhancements, making it a compelling choice for those valuing advanced features over initial cost.

To learn more, read our detailed BIC Platform vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Report (Updated: December 2024).

Buyer's Guide

BIC Platform vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

December 2024

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Categories and Ranking

IBM Blueworks Live

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Business Process Design category, the mindshare of IBM Blueworks Live is 3.5%, up from 3.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of BIC Platform is 1.6%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is 11.6%, down from 12.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Design

Featured Reviews

AjarMathur

Global Innovation Director at Ernst & Young

An easily scalable and affordable solution that enables users to document and digitize processes with ease

IBM Blueworks is BPMN 2.0 compliant, but it does not adapt to the overarching BPMN 2.0 concepts. There is only one kind of BPMN 2.0 diagram. It is a process diagram. It doesn't have the concept of separate tools, which other products offer. If I had to do a hardcore BPMN 2.0 modeling, the product would have its own reservations. There were features we could not explore from a BPMN 2.0 perspective. Most of the time, people who are shifting from Microsoft Office tools to a digitized way of working still want the reporting capabilities to be strong. Some tools, like ARIS or Signavio, offer customized solutions from the reporting perspective. If I have documented my whole finance process and want to fetch out a complete SOP report in a very customized manner, IBM Blueworks cannot provide it. We have to rely on some other services. So that's one area in which we always struggled, how to really customize the reporting aspects. I understand that we need to keep the tool a little more asset-light. It's very difficult to keep adding many options, but at least a few BPMN 2.0 options were needed. We have been suggesting to IBM that we should have some way of customizing the reporting. At least we should get a custom way of reporting it into different formats like Excel or putting up a logo for one of the clients so that their SAP can be printed that way.

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FilySacko

Quality & Process Management Consultant at Konrr Bremse

Software client for modelling and web portal are both directly accessible through one interface

There are just some things in the new product that are not really functional issues but improvements that BIC will have to make. For example, there are some small features that I feel are missing as of now. From an administrative perspective, you might not have the ability to trigger specific actions on a set of workflows. For example, let's say the interface is showing you a list of currently active workflows. Sometime you may find yourself in a situation where you need to select many workflows at a time. An easy example would be that — for whatever reason — you have 1000 or 2000 active workflows and you need somehow to delete them or just to stop them. It is preferable to be able to do this in one click to apply the change to all of them. So I think this is something that is missing which could probably be easily implemented. Right now it just seems omitted. I don't know if the omission was possibly due to a performance issue or if it was chosen by design. But from an end-user perspective — especially as an administrator — this capability to make bulk changes might be a handy solution when dealing with a large volume of workflows that you have to apply a simple command to in a similar way. From my point of view at the moment, all the most important features I am in need of are available. All the tools necessary for daily business for process modeling are there. There certainly is room for improvement. Many other features might be important depending on the specific use case. For instance, there are many notification features that already exist within the tools. These could notify people with different roles based on the specific workflow that is being triggered, which is pretty nice and efficient. I think the tool is quite stable right now, which is positive, and I don't believe it does require further additional things — especially if these are small things and to get them in would be rushing the development. If that may somehow affect the stability and usability, I would rather wait. Something that would also be improved in the workflow is just a cosmetic change. But it could also be a functional change. As an end-user, I do expect to be able to make selections of a set of workflows and apply some specific action to the group. If you have a list, then you should be able to select all the list items or part of the list and apply changes to that selection. This might be just something very easy I believe, to fix from their side.

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Milan Sterba

Senior Enterprise Architect at Deepview S.r.o.

Efficient documentation generation through organized model structure with a good price-performance ratio

Whenever I begin a new project with Sparx, I have to spend time training people on how to use it since it is not straightforward. Although it's a powerful product with plenty of features, it's not easy for even experienced users to find their way without guidance. This is not the most user-friendly solution.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The reporting that we can generate from IBM Blueworks Live has been interesting. We found the KPIs, risks, process modeling, format, and colors, to be very good. We use the EY template and it is interesting to generate reporting in this format."

"The solution is easy to operate. Also, there is an automatic mode to make the business flow. You don't have to put any lines or arrows in a decision point in IBM Blueworks Live; it's very automatic."

"Valuable features include real-time modeling and design work, the ability to perform workshops with clients in real-time with the tool, and getting instant output."

"Business users understand it really well, which means we can then help them automate their business processes."

"We are you using the product as a process mapping tool and as part of a larger process improvement project. We use it with IBM BPM and IBM ODM. We get an automated workflow solution for our customers, an improved workflow automation."

"It enables decisions based upon processes that we do model, and ultimately move forward with."

"The solution is stable. All the refreshes run very well."

"It has the ability to document in different formats. It is not tied to a specific model. You can look at it from different angles and see the intuitive nature of it. It always generates a valid diagram. You cannot create something that is not BPMN compliant."

More IBM Blueworks Live pros

"The central dictionary is a valuable feature."

"This is low-cost and very user friendly. A variety of models are available depending on the needs of the customer."

"The product is easy to use."

"While this is a new product it has a mature feel from being built by a company with many years in the business."

"Ability to model and create view under same roof."

"Features good reporting facilities coupled with a concrete database."

"The installation was very easy."

"The solution allows us to quickly present designs and concepts to customers and get their feedback, thereby moving the project forward step by step."

"It provides good utilization and it's a convenient tool for building exact architectural work."

"The profiles and ready-made templates are an extremely helpful feature. This is one of the biggest features that I find very useful in Sparx."

"It is a useful tool for modeling and testing automated processes."

"It is a very flexible product. It can do a lot. It is also a reliable product."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pros

Cons

"Sometimes, the tool is automatic, which can complicate it, but once you're accustomed to manipulating it, you can use it very effectively."

"Spaces are not well organized; space controls are lacking."

"Some of the import functionality was a bit restrictive, in terms of loading data in from other data sources. Something as simple as Excel, loading data tables from Excel, wasn't great. And vice-versa. Some of the export and import functionality with something like Visio - which, I know it's a slightly different tool - but being able to work seamlessly with those other tool sets would've been quite useful. I know it was something that was in the pipeline to be looked at. So that would be useful."

"The font size is really, really small and it's really not useful to print out process models because you cannot read what's written in different boxes. This makes it necessary for people to have access to the tool. We view licenses to see how the printing or output is. It's not very good."

"The objects that the solution creates are not unique."

"The ability to create a very structured rule. With the capability that we have right now, Blueworks Live is more process focused. We should be able to enhance it to include a lot more of decisions as well."

"The solution is a very basic discovery product so it doesn't have that much modeling capability. This can be improved."

"I can't insert any images. For example, within the process map, if I want to put it in the box or rectangle, or circle. If I have to use one image or icon, that's not possible."

More IBM Blueworks Live cons

"As the product is very new, some minor features are still missing, but everything is there to handle day-to-day process modeling."

"The solution could improve its connectivity to other systems."

"The product needs improvement regarding the confidentiality of the domain information for the key administrator."

"There's an issue with the current manual that they're working on."

"Using EA involves a steep learning curve if you want to understand its capabilities and functionality."

"Sparx can be a bit slow. If you are trying to design software architecture, sometimes we run into issues and need to refresh."

"The elements of the modeling sets can have better customization and visual representation. It would be great to have a mobile version."

"The window froze for five or ten seconds. You can click and click again and it takes a second to come up. It might have been specific to a version."

"The presentation graphics need to be improved in future builds."

"This solution has some limitations from a business perspective."

"In a future release, they should improve portfolio planning."

"The reporting needs improvement."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Price wise, IBM Blueworks Live is in the middle range, and I would give it a five out of ten."

"The solution is not very expensive."

"The solution is very, very cost-effective."

"Making it less expensive would be good."

"There are editor licenses that are around 50 euros per month, and contributor licenses that are around 30 euros per month."

"They have a free subscription model that gives a lot of power to the users."

"Based on the licenses purchased, from a footprint perspective, you can have as many people as you want. You have multiple different categories of licenses to keep the cost low."

"We are seeing ROI from this solution. The solution has saved us time."

"Scalability-wise, it is an expensive product."

"Pricing will differ between enterprises based on needs such as customization, but the company uses a standardized algorithm for determining this."

"Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is priced well. The price we pay is approximately $20 per month. Other solutions I have found to be much more expensive."

"The licensing is not as expensive as some of the other data modeling tools such as Erwin."

"I think our license costs roughly $1,000 a year, but I could be wrong."

"Its price is very good for the value that you get with it."

"They have the price on their site for the enterprise version, and we do receive a small discount."

"The license I use is on-premise. We haven't gone to the cloud where we have to pay monthly or something like that. Sparx is cheaper than most similar tools."

"Enterprise licensing is competitive. What would be helpful if they load the pricing for consultants, you know, people who are consultants for clients. So the license is fine for end-user organizations. Still, they should consider lowering the license to support this adoption, particularly for people who are consultants like myself."

"There is a license for this solution. When comparing this solution to others it is priced well."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Retailer

10%

Government

Educational Organization

17%

Government

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Blueworks Live?

The solution is easy to operate. Also, there is an automatic mode to make the business flow. You don't have to put an...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Blueworks Live?

The solution costs around 600-700 dollars/year, which is quite affordable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Blueworks Live?

Sometimes, the tool is automatic, which can complicate it, but once you're accustomed to manipulating it, you can use...

See all answers

What do you like most about BIC Platform ?

The central dictionary is a valuable feature.

See all answers

What needs improvement with BIC Platform ?

The solution could improve its connectivity to other systems. For instance, I need new connections to KPIs. KPIs are ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for BIC Platform ?

We use the solution for drawing the processes.

See all answers

What do you like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

The stability has been good and satisfactory. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

One of the reasons many public sector institutions in the Czech Republic use it is that it provides a very good price...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

Whenever I begin a new project with Sparx, I have to spend time training people on how to use it since it is not stra...

See all answers

Comparisons

Visio vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 37% of the time

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 17% of the time

Lucidchart vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 15% of the time

ARIS Cloud vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 9% of the time

Bizagi vs IBM Blueworks Live

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM Blueworks Live Competitors

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs BIC Platform

Compared 37% of the time

ARIS BPA vs BIC Platform

Compared 18% of the time

Camunda vs BIC Platform

Compared 17% of the time

ADONIS vs BIC Platform

Compared 11% of the time

More BIC Platform Competitors

Visual Paradigm vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 17% of the time

Visio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 12% of the time

No Magic MagicDraw vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 10% of the time

Lucidchart vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 9% of the time

LeanIX vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 8% of the time

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Blueworks Live

December 2024

Download IBM Blueworks Live product report

Buyer's Guide

Business Process Design

November 2024

Download BIC Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

November 2024

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect report

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Also Known As

IBM Lombardi Blueprint

BIC Cloud BPM, BIC Platform

No data available

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IBM

GBTEC Software AG

Video not available

Sparx Systems

Overview

IBM Blueworks Live is a cloud-based business process modeling tool that helps you discover, map and document your processes. It is easy to use, allowing you to learn and perform business process modeling in minutes.

With Blueworks Live you can:

Simplify business process modeling
Quickly build business processes in a straightforward, cloud-based interface designed for both IT and business users.

Improve process efficiency and accuracy
A central process repository eliminates version control and consistency issues by providing users real-time access to process workflows.

Enhance cross-team collaboration
A shared team workspace engages all business process owners, encouraging cross-team participation and continuous process improvement.

BIC Platform delivers all-encompassing business process management. The software covers the complete lifecycle of BPM and supports strategy, design, implementation, execution and controlling of business processes.

BIC Platform has a modular setup which allows individual adjustments. Typical deployment scenarios of BIC Platform are SAP introduction, governance, risk or compliance management, quality management or the structure of process management systems.

Thanks to its intuitive design, users quickly start with process modeling and manage the full process cycle up to the optimization. Comprehensive features of the software are document management, governance, review and release workflows.

Available BIC Platform modules are Design, Governance, Portal, Monitor, Workflow and GRC. The software can be operated either as a Public Cloud, Private Cloud or On Premises. Offline modelling is possible with the web-based option.

Further information at:

https://www.gbtec.com/bic-plat...

Try BIC Cloud 30 days for free:

https://www.gbtec.com/free-tri...

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is an enterprise solution that helps streamline, accelerate, and integrate software, system, and business development. With this intuitive modeling and design solution, enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, enable collaboration, support their teams and colleagues, and manage complex projects. Software architects, business analysts, project managers, developers, support staff, and testers can unite under a single repository. Through numerous view points and potential sub-systems, users are offered a unified view in a complex environment.

With Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, users are also offered a shared model option which can be accessed quickly and securely by in-office and remote team members through the Enterprise Architect’s Pro Cloud Server. Building a coherent, verifiable model can be done by connecting and integrating a variety of behavioral and structural information in visual form. As a result, Enterprise Architect offers high performance, flexibility, and the ability to model, manage, and trace every stage of the business development and modeling process.

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Features

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect assists in creating a unified and accessible vision in business development by offering a flexible platform with a unique set of rich features. These features include:

Test and debug - Streamline software development and visualize software with the simulation process. Users can test and confirm correct behavior, set and oversee test points, and debug and examine software.

Track tasks - Track, prioritize, and assign individual and group tasks to assist in the model’s development. Users can visually monitor their progress through the Gantt chart.

Open standards - Users can visualize and analyze running software with integrated custom tools. They can also run advanced simulations, team-based repositories, testing tools, and version control. In addition, the solution supports enterprise architecture frameworks such as UPDM and TOGAF.

Simulation - Create and debug embedded solutions by simulating behaviors and state models. Users can specify events, triggers, constraints, and more. Users can also specify extensive and complex structural systems and create custom domain-specific solutions.

Reviews from Real Users

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect merges high-end tools, online availability, a dedication to open standards, and accessible pricing so enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, whether remote or in-office. Users particularly like the architectural frameworks and the scalability.

Marc L., a principal architecture enterprise solution adviser at Cronomagic Canada, notes, "The product offers very good support for all mainstream modeling notations and architectural frameworks."

An enterprise architect at a manufacturing company writes, "Scalable solution for modeling, project sharing, and collaboration. Support for it is good."

Sample Customers

Cloudsoft Corp. Ltd., Bayer, S¾SS, Essex County Council

Daimler AG Siemens AG RWE Bundesministerium des Innern Uniklinikum Köln Vattenfall Ziemann Dermapharm AG Postbank LBBW EDEKA

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Buyer's Guide

BIC Platform vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

December 2024

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