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IBM BPM vs Microsoft System Center comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM BPM
Ranking in Application Infrastructure
8th
Average Rating
7.8
Number of Reviews
109
Ranking in other categories
Business Process Management (BPM) (8th), Process Automation (5th)
Microsoft System Center
Ranking in Application Infrastructure
14th
Average Rating
7.8
Number of Reviews
19
Ranking in other categories
Cloud Monitoring Software (25th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of IBM BPM is 3.0%, up from 2.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft System Center is 0.9%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Infrastructure
 

Featured Reviews

Mohammed Almalki - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 8, 2024
Offers good case management and its integration with process design but there's a learning curve
We mainly use it for human-centric operational processes (less than 20) The case management and its integration with process design are the only pros comparable to Komunda. There is room for improvement in terms of integrations. It is one of the biggest drawbacks. My organization has been using…
Ajinkya Mohod - PeerSpot reviewer
May 3, 2024
Makes user management and application management easy for users
Speaking about the impact of the automation feature that impacted our company's operational efficiency, I can say that the complete tool works on automation. You just have to configure it, and it works, especially in areas like auto-patching updates. I suggest that others can definitely go ahead with Microsoft System Center, especially beginners who choose it, can get hands-on experience with it, and acquire a good understanding of how things work. In terms of the value and benefits derived from the use of the solution, I can say that my company's operations have been made simpler because of the product, especially in areas like user management and application management where we have been benefited a lot. I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"IBM BPM is stable."
"Its workflow and integration with SAP are the most valuable features. It is also a stable solution."
"The initial setup process is easy."
"IBM BPM's most valuable features are its speed in implementing and providing any changes."
"Enabled us to convert most of the paper-based work into an automated workflow process, and some of them were converted into straight-through processing, with no human interaction involved whatsoever."
"Its most valuable features are usability and integration with other IBM products."
"The most valuable features are the integration capabilities - BPM can connect with almost any legacy or advanced system."
"The integration and design are valuable features."
"The detail in the alarms is great."
"I like the automated features of it that let you schedule those updates and the ability of the product to focus on the specific updates, specific platforms, and products that we're interested in keeping up to date."
"Step-by-step documentation that clarifies the implementation procedure."
"System Center helps to create the basis for ITIL alignment."
"Managment Packs for Microsoft-specific products, help us implement the best practices for each product."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft System Center is its GUI (graphical user interface)."
"Many processes could be implemented out-of-the-box, and this helped to adopt processes in areas which we lacked."
"It can generate KPIs and management reports with monthly presentations on activities and updating the environment (success and failure)."
 

Cons

"One of the things that we are looking at is cognitive learning. IBM has another product called IBM RPA, I think, which is doing some of that stuff. We would like to see more of that with respect to cognitive learning and AI put back into the process engine to help."
"The constant switch between Eclipse and its web versions can be annoying and confusing."
"The tool's workflow function is very strong."
"The coaches and the user interface are the areas that can be improved a lot. It is good in terms of data processing, but the UI, scripting, and coaches are not very user-friendly and developer-friendly. Performance is always an issue. The scripting and the pattern that it uses are very tedious for new developers to understand, and it takes time to master it in depth. When comparing IBM BPM with IBM APN, a lot of things are provided out of the box in IBM APN. We don't have to write code or a Java connector to make a functionality work. It would be very helpful and time-saving for developers if IBM BPM is improved in this area to provide many functionalities or drag-and-drop options so that the developers don't have to write the code."
"The analysis reports could be much better."
"Performance in the development environment space. I know that they have been taking it off the desktop version and putting on the web, and it is not 100% yet."
"We need process monitoring. It is somewhat complex to monitor all the processes which work."
"We would like better performance and more ​visibility on each step of the tool.​"
"In Microsoft System Center, it is difficult to follow the steps to create dataflows at times."
"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"Microsoft System Center should be easier to manage. However, it is complex to deploy, so people hesitate to use it. Though it has many features, such as licensing, asset tracking, and software deployment, we mainly use it for Windows updates. It protects many screens and integrates with databases, but it's complex compared to other solutions. Many now use cloud-based products or other tools like Automox to deploy updates and manage vulnerabilities."
"Less server consumption would help, as would better, more flexible reports."
"We have some bugs but it's stable. It doesn't break every day. It works. Like other applications, it has a lot of bugs but they're manageable."
"Could be more user friendly."
"They should have some customized solutions or internal development, then maybe it could be easier to use different solutions or some self-developed solution."
"Implementation and integration in the case of multi-tenant environments needs improvement."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive, I rate the pricing a ten."
"IBM BPM is expensive, so most large companies opt for IBM based on their licensing options."
"IBM could improve the price. It is far too expensive."
"Starting out with Express can also help reduce the cost for adopting the product."
"Due to its extensive features and capabilities, the product pricing is more aligned with medium—to large enterprises."
"Our customers do see ROI. They'll identify some particularly painful or uncoordinated processes to start with, then build out from there, picking off low hanging fruit."
"We have a yearly licensing model. It is not expensive. There are no addition costs to the standard license."
"I already compared some solutions related to business process management, and I saw that the cost of IBM BPM is more expensive compared with that of Camunda, for example."
"I rate the product price as five to six on a scale of one to ten, where one means it is cheap and ten means it is expensive."
"We maximized our license investment."
"It's rolled into our enterprise subscription. The entire subscription is around $25,000 a year, however, that covers all the products that we use."
"Microsoft System Center is quite expensive."
"Microsoft System Center's licensing is costly."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a six out of ten."
"I know that sometimes there is some reduction in the prices of Microsoft System Center because of the costs of Microsoft SQL Server, which can be advantageous."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
31%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
5%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better, IBM BPM or IBM Business Automation Workflow?
We researched both IBM solutions and in the end, we chose Business Automation Workflow. IBM BPM has a good user interface and the BPM coach is a helpful tool. The API is very useful in providing en...
What needs improvement with Microsoft System Center?
Microsoft System Center should be easier to manage. However, it is complex to deploy, so people hesitate to use it. Though it has many features, such as licensing, asset tracking, and software depl...
 

Also Known As

WebSphere Lombardi Edition, IBM Business Process Manager, IBM WebSphere Process Server
MS System Center
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample 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
Kassen_rztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein, Magyar Telekom Nyrt., Adeka, QualCare, Aeriandi, UniCredit Bank d.d., Mostar, Allianz Australia Ltd., Grupo Familia
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM BPM vs. Microsoft System Center and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.