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IBM BPM vs Nintex Process Platform comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM BPM
Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)
8th
Ranking in Process Automation
5th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
109
Ranking in other categories
Application Infrastructure (7th)
Nintex Process Platform
Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)
10th
Ranking in Process Automation
9th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
Workload Automation (11th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Business Process Management (BPM) category, the mindshare of IBM BPM is 7.6%, down from 7.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Nintex Process Platform is 2.1%, down from 2.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Business Process Management (BPM)
 

Featured Reviews

Mohammed Almalki - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers good case management and its integration with process design but there's a learning curve
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.
Satya Singh - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers good integration capabilities and easy to learn and good stability
Nintex is still at the starting point of integrating with AI. It has integrated with a very small piece of artificial intelligence., like only integrated with the Google Cloud. There is a benefit, like a no-code and low-code solution. But, again, if you are a developer, especially if you are a hardcore developer, you are using your code knowledge, its skills, and all. And, suddenly, you are moving into the low-code solution, and then you will feel, like, so many things you can't achieve with the low-code solution. And in that case, you are looking for some custom development. And it's a little bit difficult in the Nintex area. Because they are totally dependent on the low-code solution, and you are looking at where you can implement your custom things. However, you can do that thing, but that will be a difficult task. Also, the outcome, whatever you are trying to get from such kind of custom development, will be a little bit difficult. Let's suppose, like, if you are working with a medium level of data or a small level of data that will be easier to handle with the Nintex. However, the bulk data on a high level of data would be difficult. I have been working with Nintex for the past three years. I've been able to create some really good products in different domains, including banking and insurance. Everything seems achievable, but there are a few things I'm missing. First, debugging can be a bit difficult in Nintex. You can't debug forms and workflows easily. This is something that could be improved in future releases. It requires some R&D. Second, I would like to see more integration with AI. There is some custom integration available through the gateway, but it would be great to have more AI-related features built into the platform.

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."
"It helps improve your process through continual measurement."
"We use it for automating certain processes which previously took a lot of time for agents to set up different products for customers. They would have to enter a lot of different systems. This has now mostly been automated."
"This tool is very useful when it comes to enterprise-grade automation and governmental processes for the security aspects, performance, and reliability."
"There is a component of this BPM pool - I can't recall the name. What it does is, it allows you to create various scenarios and then run them quickly, before actually putting them onto a tool. So I think that part of the tool is really fantastic, because that enables you to create scenarios, create simulations, before actually going out and putting it into the tool itself"
"I would say that I like its GUI designer the best."
"It continues to keep up with the changing needs of the business. That is the strong value proposition of BPM. It's not a one-time automation."
"The case management and its integration with process design are good features."
"I think the initial setup is fine."
"It has helped us a lot, especially during the initial phase of a project where most of the things are done on paper."
"The workflow engine of K2 is its main strength. Its workflow engine is probably one of the best, and that's the reason why Nintex bought K2. It can clearly handle any complex process or scenario. K2 is almost low-code. It is a no-code or low-code solution. You don't have to read a whole lot of code. It is pretty much GUI based. Their support is also excellent. The biggest advantage of K2 is SmartObjects, which allow you to separate the data from the application. It is a standalone application that allows you to build a data source from different places, which a lot of other applications also do. It is called SmartObjects technology, which is pretty powerful. If I have data from different applications, such as JD and ServiceNow, I can just create a SmartObject based on a data source and use it. I have some forms that have six, seven, or eight applications in a single form with data from different places."
"It is very easy to create and deploy. I am very happy with how user-friendly Nintex Workflow is."
"We were able to meet all of the requirements for functionality that were specified, and we did not experience challenges where we had to compromise on functionality."
"K2 is reasonably priced."
"It leverages the out-of-the-box SharePoint back-end. This means that you don’t need to install or deploy additional infrastructure to support Nintex Workflow, unlike some of its competitors."
"The latest version of Nintex has many features. We have a clear roadmap and the necessary application to integrate it into our platform."
 

Cons

"The front end is not customised for a good user experience."
"Process versioning was tricky, not straightforward."
"IBM BPM lacks openness, that is, the ability to become open for new options in terms of APIs, front-end development, and ecosystem. IBM BPM has been quite closed. One of the main improvements would be to somehow embed the rules engine into IBM BPM. Merging IBM BRMS and the rules engine with IBM BPM would be helpful. If there was some simpler way to define rules without having to put IBM BRMS on top of it, it would be good. It's something that we can get out of Camunda but not out of IBM BPM."
"One area for improvement is the scripting languages used within the solution. They could integrate other languages such as GoMango or Python than JavaScript."
"It is not user-friendly."
"We have been experiencing bad performance and instability."
"IBM BPM's UI is an area with shortcomings where improvements are required."
"The debugging needs improvement. There is some confusion surrounding the debugging."
"It is very flexible because you can design your own main forms, but if there were some templates according to your market, it would be more useful for a new customer. That would make K2 more user friendly and easier to use."
"Currently, a notable challenge lies in the alignment of user experiences across the eight or nine applications within the suite. Transitioning between applications can be somewhat cumbersome due to varying user interfaces. However, the provider is actively addressing this concern by consistently rolling out updates every four to five months, aimed at harmonizing and streamlining the interfaces. This ongoing effort is expected to enhance the user experience over time. In terms of functionality and features, the platform stands out, offering flexibility with the option for both on-premises and cloud deployment. This flexibility extends to the RPA tool, providing clients with choices tailored to their preferences. An advantage lies in the shared security and data infrastructure across the toolset, facilitating smooth data transfer between applications. This contrasts with experiences with Oracle, where data transfer may involve complexities such as the need for intermediary file formats like TXL or SCZ."
"The Workflow Designer needs improvement."
"K2's support for DevOp team corporations is weak."
"The solution needs more RPA and AI features."
"The cost of the solution is high and has room for improvement."
"The license pricing is too high currently for Nintex Workflow."
"Currently, copying workflow actions from one workflow to another is not possible. Also, the Office 365 solution is not as mature as on-premise."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Due to its extensive features and capabilities, the product pricing is more aligned with medium—to large enterprises."
"I wish it was less expensive. I don't know why their pricing model is so high for a piece of software that could benefit so many. It just seems to me that they could have a lower cost, maybe with fewer features or whatever, but it should be possible to do a lower cost workflow software that uses the same interface and underlying engine but does not cost so much that you have to be a Fortune 50 company to buy it. It is annoying to me. There are a lot of solutions that IBM has that are really powerful but nobody can afford them. They know their business, but I still feel that there are a lot of customers who would benefit from this sort of thing. I don't know what this elitism is all about. I am sure they have people doing the money numbers, but it seems like you can make a lot more money by selling it to way more people for a little bit less."
"I rate the tool's pricing a seven out of ten."
"We have a yearly licensing model. It is not expensive. There are no addition costs to the standard license."
"On a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive, I rate the pricing a ten."
"I rate the solution's pricing a four out of ten."
"I think it's a reasonably priced tool, but it's important to consider which customers should buy this solution. It's designed for enterprise customers, not small ones."
"Licensing is managed by the client, but we know it is yearly. Camunda is relatively cheaper. There is not much difference in pricing of IBM and PEGA. For large licensing, there are discounts as well."
"Nintex is around INR 200 per license in India, which is much cheaper. Smaller organizations are always looking for cost-effective solutions, and Nintex provides local solutions with very low pricing."
"Nintex products are expensive, but valuable. Licensing in on-premise was historically based on a perpetual model, where you’d license per Web front-end. However, they are switching exclusively to a consumption (subscription) model, where you purchase the number of workflows you think you’ll use in your environment, and can scale up from there."
"We pay on a yearly basis. It's my understanding that we pay approximately $11,000/year."
"The product’s price is competitive compared to other vendors."
"Certainly. Notably, in terms of cost, this solution presents a substantial advantage, being approximately forty percent more economical compared to Oracle. It offers flexibility with two deployment options, catering to both cloud and on-premises preferences. Moreover, within each deployment option, there are two variations available. For organizations with limited IT resources and relying on citizen developers—individuals from the business side comfortable with technology—the platform allows for a more hands-on approach. These users can independently implement solutions without extensive coding or custom development. In contrast, the KQ solution at Symantec is adept at addressing the needs of sectors like banking, where extensive custom development is required for seamless integration with existing applications, websites, and ensuring robust security measures."
"Offering a licensing model that allows for multiple small workflows would be a huge improvement to an already great platform."
"Prices for licenses of K2 are high."
"The price of this solution is affordable but the problem in Algeria is our community is a bit slower. The new clients might feel the solution is a bit expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
31%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
Computer Software Company
20%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Government
6%
 

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 do you like most about K2?
The latest version of Nintex has many features. We have a clear roadmap and the necessary application to integrate it into our platform.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for K2?
I would rate the pricing for Nintex Process Platform as four out of ten; one is high, and ten is low. It is pretty expensive.
What needs improvement with K2?
There is room for improvement in the user experience in the forms. When we need to develop the forms, we don't have much customization, and I think we need more flexibility there. It's technically ...
 

Also Known As

WebSphere Lombardi Edition, IBM Business Process Manager, IBM WebSphere Process Server
K2 blackpearl, K2 Five, Nintex Workflow
 

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
SEA Corp, Omnicom Group, Verizon, STIHL
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM BPM vs. Nintex Process Platform and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
817,354 professionals have used our research since 2012.