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IBM Business Automation Workflow vs IBM Case Foundation comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 18, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

IBM Business Automation Wor...
Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)
16th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
IBM Case Foundation
Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)
33rd
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Business Process Management (BPM) category, the mindshare of IBM Business Automation Workflow is 2.2%, down from 2.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Case Foundation is 0.4%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Business Process Management (BPM)
 

Featured Reviews

Ateeq Rehman - PeerSpot reviewer
Customizable features empower seamless workflow automation
The system is fully customizable, very resilient, and fault-tolerant. We have first-line support from IBM, so there are no issues. We have integrations with different banks, ERP systems, and other human resource management systems by integrating through different systems. It provides many ways to integrate, and we are utilizing it effectively.
Nouman Nawaz - PeerSpot reviewer
Mature product in terms of security and stable product
The architecture is a bit difficult, but in BAW, they introduced the Business Automation Workflow. It's a bit easier compared to Case Manager. Currently, we use Case Manager, so it's a bit difficult to upgrade and handle, but BAW is comparatively much better and easier to handle. The limitation is only for customization because IBM doesn't support it. In some scenarios, if you want some business processes to be customized, we have already spoken two or three times with IBM representatives that we have to customize some of the features in this business process. They would say that if you want to do this automation at your own end, then okay, fine, go ahead, but we are not supporting all this customization. The only thing is the customization because it's a complete standard application.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The system is fully customizable, very resilient, and fault-tolerant."
"It is the only product that includes capture content management and a process suite, as well as rules in RPA."
"The most valuable feature is automation, which is quite strong and we are quite happy with it."
"The product is suitable for knowledge management processes."
"The most valuable feature of IBM Business Automation Workflow is cost management."
"IBM Business Automation Workflow is stable because the different infrastructure elements, such as the OS and middleware have been used for a long time."
"It provides a solution for integration orchestration. This solution is for any organization in the banking, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and all domains and industries."
"It has integrated UI and deployment models, and it has a deep set of consultant and service provider ecosystem features."
"Case Foundation provides a strong security boost."
"The solution is scalable."
"It is easy to set up workflows that notify the user depending on certain events."
"The most valuable feature is the content manager part of the file as it is very stable, robust, and reliable."
"The most valuable features are those involving decision making, analysis, and anything related to event documents because those processes are related to content as well."
"The client and the IBM content navigation are the solution's most valuable features."
"Flexible and the ability to divide search screens, and to search for documents. The ECM feature inside the system is great."
"A valuable feature includes seamless integration with the document management system, along with robust capabilities in analytics and reporting."
 

Cons

"I would like to see more streamlined install and provisioning; preferably containerized IBM BPM would be helpful."
"IBM Business Automation Workflow could be more intuitive, with more advanced low-code features and services definition."
"I feel that the features are not user-friendly."
"One significant challenge is the lack of accessible forums or resources to seek help or information when problems arise."
"In terms of improvement, it could be less complex."
"The main improvement would be to make it easier to implement and deploy so that customers can kick it off and run quickly."
"From what I understand, in the next release they're actually going to combine all of this together as one integrated solution... If we could have one unified way to build a solution, that would really help."
"If the issue needs escalation to level two or level three, it can take time on a case-by-case basis."
"The service as it currently stands is out-of-date and lacks flexibility."
"The interface needs to be more user-friendly."
"90% of the feedback we receive states that the UI is not very user-friendly."
"IBM needs to update the user interfaces of all its products to make them more intuitive and accessible to beginners. Compared to Microsoft products, IBM solutions are less user-friendly. IBM programs are hard to master. It's a problem in my region because it's hard to find IT staff who can work with IBM."
"The solution can be quite expensive."
"We are now using microservices but there are some areas where the coordination with FileNet is problematic."
"​The place of improvement is merging or combining all of the workflow functionality into one seamless tool. Now, there are multiple installations that are different. Case Foundation, before you can put Case Manager and you've got IBM BPM, and the roadmap is there to merge them altogether. But that's the struggle at the moment, it's having multiple installations and disparate workflow applications.​"
"The limitation is only for customization because IBM doesn't support it."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"When you compare with Laserfiche and M-Files, IBM is expensive."
"The solution's pricing is a little bit expensive."
"It is on the expensive side, but it provides excellent supportability and an ecosystem that is proven to be a great fit for our organization."
"While it can be quite costly, it offers significant benefits for users."
"The product is expensive."
"IBM Business Automation Workflow has a flexible pricing mode, but the price is expensive. The price of the solution reflects the quality of the solution which is very high. The technical support is an additional cost."
"Our license is on a three-year term."
"There is still a relatively high total cost of ownership to actually implement, support, and stand up solutions."
"Pricing is in the mid-range, it is not cheap, but it's not expensive."
"IBM Case Foundation is a little expensive."
"This is not an expensive solution and we are using the standard license."
"The price falls in the middle range—not overly expensive but not extremely affordable either."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
37%
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
7%
Insurance Company
6%
Computer Software Company
20%
Insurance Company
12%
University
10%
Government
10%
 

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 IBM Business Automation Workflow?
The most valuable feature of IBM Business Automation Workflow is cost management.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Business Automation Workflow?
The pricing of IBM Business Automation Workflow is within the expected range for our organization, which is in the enterprise sphere. We ensure everything is economical and well-regulated while mai...
What do you like most about IBM Case Foundation?
A valuable feature includes seamless integration with the document management system, along with robust capabilities in analytics and reporting.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Case Foundation?
It was affordable, but right now, ten years later, the cost of the product is extremely high. That's why we are looking for another product.
What needs improvement with IBM Case Foundation?
The architecture is a bit difficult, but in BAW, they introduced the Business Automation Workflow. It's a bit easier compared to Case Manager. Currently, we use Case Manager, so it's a bit difficul...
 

Also Known As

Business Automation Workflow
Case Foundation, FileNet Business Process Manager
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Key Bank, Barclays, Control€xpert, MIR Insurance Brokers, Conqord Oil
Suncorp Group Limited
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Business Automation Workflow vs. IBM Case Foundation and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
844,944 professionals have used our research since 2012.