We use Enterprise Architect for application inventory and rationalization.
Solutions Consultant at Inspi Technologies
The modeling is comfortable for use by a sophisticated/technical user. I would hesitate to recommend in a situation where collaboration and "buy-in" from business users is required.
Pros and Cons
- "Sparx technical support is good."
- "The modeling tool is targeted toward a sophisticated user."
What is our primary use case?
What needs improvement?
The modeling tool is targeted toward a sophisticated user.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Enterprise Architect for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Enterprise Architect is stable.
Buyer's Guide
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
October 2024
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814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
How are customer service and support?
Sparx technical support is good.
What other advice do I have?
The tool fits best within the IT realm vs Business. I would advise against using the tool when deployed within a collaborative environment with business users.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Digital Asset Intelligence Lead at a construction company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Good functionality and has improved efficiency; UI could be enhanced
Pros and Cons
- "The company has become more efficient and reduced its budget."
- "The UI could be improved and made a little bit more presentable."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is related to the architecture around tying the business objectives and values to their maintenance management and asset management system. I'm a digital asset intelligence lead and we are customers of Sparx.
How has it helped my organization?
The company wants to reduce its maintenance budget so the aim is to get more for less. The solution has achieved this and improved efficiency.
What is most valuable?
Sparx has good functionality to tie back the requirements coming all the way up to the balance score card. The connection is good as well being reusable so you can tweak the system and change different elements in it, which actually cascade down and see the connections with the other elements.
What needs improvement?
I think the UI could be improved and made a little bit more presentable. I've also found that sometimes finding the track of the information inside can be difficult. All their topics and help are related to each other with one link over the other and it's a bit like going down a rabbit hole and not being able to find your way back. It would be helpful to have some form of infographic showing how these concepts are related to each other. But I also understand that there is a huge amount of information available and sometimes finding the proper tool is not easy.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for almost a year.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution seven out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
October 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
IT Project Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Easy to use for making diagrams and metrics
Pros and Cons
- "A feature I like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is its ease of use."
- "What should be improved are the integration capabilities of the solution with Bizagi."
What is our primary use case?
I want a solution that can interface with Jira and Confluence, both of which my customers have, as well as with that of Bizagi.
What is most valuable?
A feature I like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is its ease of use.
What needs improvement?
My customers use Bizagi, although I do not. I don't want to change this. What should be improved, however, are the integration capabilities of the solution with Bizagi.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with IBM in enterprise architecture as the project manager. I used to use IBM Rational System Architect. I can now see as a consultant what I am able to offer the customer, not only that of IBM, of course. I am currently seeking solutions other than IBM.
I previously used other tools, such as IBM's enterprise architect, although the tool has since been sold and the company changed. The IBM tool offers certain customization features which are not found in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, although I can live with what it has at the moment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Since all the staff is already trained in Bizagi and find it easy to use, I do not wish to change this, but only to load all the processes from it to Sparx. This is my approach.
The Bizagi model is only for process. It is not an enterprise architect tool. Only Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, but not Bizagi, allows one to make diagrams and metrics, to examine the relationship between all the elements.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Co-Owner at Edusolution s.c.
A visual modeling and design tool that's stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "It's a stable and scalable solution. I like that it's similar to Rational Rose."
- "It could be more user-friendly. The tools could be more simple to use. It's a very complex solution. Because I am a business analyst, I use these tools to manage requirements, and I make models in UML, BPMN, and ArchiMate, and it's complex. In the next release, I would like to see more integrations."
What is our primary use case?
I use Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect to model BPM, UML, model enterprise architecture, and use with ArchiMate.
What is most valuable?
It's a stable and scalable solution. I like that it's similar to Rational Rose.
What needs improvement?
It could be more user-friendly. The tools could be more simple to use. It's a very complex solution. Because I am a business analyst, I use these tools to manage requirements, and I make models in UML, BPMN, and ArchiMate, and it's complex. In the next release, I would like to see more integrations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect for over ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is a scalable solution. The number of users we have depends on the project. In some projects, we have about 20 people, or in small projects, just one person.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
A few years ago, I used Rational Rose, and Sparx Enterprise Architect is similar. In comparison to Rational Rose, it's more stable.
How was the initial setup?
It's a very easy installation.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented this solution by myself. You need a technical team with three to five people to deploy and maintain this solution.
What other advice do I have?
In Poland, it's a very popular tool, and I recommended it. It's not ideal, but they are very good tools.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect a nine.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IT Professional at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Good price, easy to set up, and quite stable with useful TOGAF ADM model
Pros and Cons
- "The TOGAF ADM model is most valuable. It is also very cheap as compared to other options in the market."
- "Its usability needs to be improved. For non-technical users, it is a little difficult to understand how Enterprise Architect works. Users who are not engineers find it difficult to understand how this tool works. This is something they need to work on. They can develop a BPM model to simulate processes."
What is our primary use case?
I am in a new company, and we are beginning the process of modeling the architecture. We're using Enterprise Architect for that.
What is most valuable?
The TOGAF ADM model is most valuable. It is also very cheap as compared to other options in the market.
What needs improvement?
Its usability needs to be improved. For non-technical users, it is a little difficult to understand how Enterprise Architect works. Users who are not engineers find it difficult to understand how this tool works. This is something they need to work on.
They can develop a BPM model to simulate processes.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is quite stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a fixed license, so we don't have the functionality of scaling it. We have five people who are using this solution. They all are in the strategy area of the company.
How are customer service and technical support?
I didn't experience any issues so far, so I didn't ask for help.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used MEGA HOPEX in my earlier company, but it is very complex to understand and costly.
How was the initial setup?
It is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We are implementing it on our own.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is cheaper than other solutions. Its cost is around $686 per year. There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees.
What other advice do I have?
To implement this solution, you need experienced people who know about enterprise architecture.
I would rate Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Data Architect at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Valuable features include data modeling and XML schema design.
Pros and Cons
- "We use it to develop and maintain the Enterprise Conceptual Model, migrated from erwin a couple of years ago."
- "We use it to develop and maintain the Enterprise Conceptual Model, migrated from erwin a couple of years ago."
- "Greater OMG UML and XMI compliance"
What is most valuable?
- Data Modeling (conceptual modeling)
- XML schema design
- We use it to develop and maintain the Enterprise Conceptual Model, migrated from erwin a couple of years ago.
How has it helped my organization?
We used Sparx EA to document CCAR data lineage in response to an OCC MRA filing.
What needs improvement?
- Greater OMG UML and XMI compliance
- Better reporting
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No problems with stability. It is a rock solid product, unlike erwin, which was unstable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There were no issues with scalability. It handled increased volume easily, unlike erwin.
How are customer service and technical support?
I would rate technical support as OK. The forum was great. The actual support was only so-so.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used erwin. Erwin was unstable and didn't handle the model as the size grew.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The Corporate Edition, or one of the bundles, is the way to go. You don't save that much going with the personal or profession editions.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated MagicDraw.
What other advice do I have?
Just get it. My elevator pitch was that it is cheaper than Visio and it provides a common tool and repository for all your development needs. Amazing solution for its price, but has its flaws.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Practice Leader Architecture / Methodologist at Swift Fox Strategies Inc.
XMI Import and Export allows for rapid extraction of model fragment to support reusable assets.
What is most valuable?
Outside of the diagram and project repository at an affordable prices the actual features included UML and re-engineering to build up documentation on existing code bases and databases for my clients. Later it became the ability to customize and support client and industry frameworks – the tools coverage. Now it is being able to support Enterprise level Architecture across all the domains from business to technology.
XMI Import and Export – allows for rapid extraction of model fragment to support reusable assets and model element transfer to other tools & platforms.
How has it helped my organization?
Using the products scripting and namespace management has allowed for the expression of business models (level 1 - 4) for a government agency that provided a ‘tipping point’ for enterprise architecture acceptance. The span of coverage and consistent traceability for view point presentation allows client teams access to continually maintained building block catalogues and alignment with the business models.
What needs improvement?
More control over diagram layout and stylization and the use of layout templates to allow for consistent model view presentation to consumers. This would include improved control of generated HTML views and SVG products and enhanced shape management.
Tagged value and stereotype management – these two UML features offer a lot of control and flexibility over model element treatment and provide benefit to power users.
Needs support for Executive level diagramming for rolling up details back to concept.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using it since 2001.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
We had no issues with the deployment.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The only stability concern I encountered was it not recognising that my laptop has limited resources especially as diagram complexity increases.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have had no issues scaling it for our needs.
How are customer service and technical support?
My personal experience is that Enterprise Architect has a large user community that shares well. As well the direct line support from Sparx Systems is consistent; product knowledgeable; seems to be acceptably responsive and works to resolve the identified issue.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used many computer assisted software engineering a model driven architecture tools including some I developed for military application. The list includes Excellator, Uniface, Power Designer, Oracle Designer, Rational Rose, and Software through Pictures, System Architect, Protégé, Microsoft Visio, Eclipse, Visual Studio, and Oxygen.
I use this because of it's low cost per seat, ease of use, MOF/UML based namespace control, high level of standardized notational support, and portability.
How was the initial setup?
Very straightforward – download executable, select repository type, apply the license, and go to work.
What about the implementation team?
Implementation is straight-forward but if this is for a group or large community then having an experienced database administrator and support resources in stewardship roles definitely help. Implementation of product like Sparx Enterprise Architect into Enterprise level Architecture practises usually warrants the establishment of principles practises and procedures to provide governance and support expected results. Tools are only what you make of them.
What was our ROI?
My ROI was well within the acceptable range for a small engineering firm.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Initially we were able to deploy to 15 end users for less than $5,000. Use of floating licensing provides for acceptable coverage at a lower per user cost.
What other advice do I have?
If you are looking for something to just get the job done that does not box you in, then this product is for you, if you are looking for something more, this product grows with you and can address your incremental needs. If you are looking for a rapid implementation repository for projects that can contribute to an overall enterprise approach I think this product greatly helps with the caveat that it is the basis of a buy and build up approach. Lots of add on lend to the enterprise solution.
The above diagram was the basis as a context for architectural capability for a recent client it covers areas that have been implemented around a Sparx based tool set.
The diagram above demonstrates the product’s ability to support Governments of Canada Strategic Reference Model (GSRM) Services Integration and Accountability Model (SIAM) resulting from GRSM Service Pattern Analysis.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Innovative ICT Architect at a tech company with 201-500 employees
A good solution for modeling or automated testing but the interface is not user friendly and is outdated
Pros and Cons
- "It is a useful tool for modeling and testing automated processes."
- "When collaborating with other people, it needs to be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
We use it mainly for enterprise and business architecture including application landscape and interface landscape. In some instances, we use it for business processes and roadmapping.
How has it helped my organization?
I am not a big fan of using Sparx. The interface is not user-friendly and is outdated. For example, it is not possible to only open a view you've created or to open one project at a time instead of the entire package.
I'm not looking into expanding the use of Enterprise Architect, but I'm looking into replacing it.
What is most valuable?
It has been a useful tool for modeling and testing automated processes.
What needs improvement?
It would be beneficial to incorporate features like document management usage of video models or PowerPoint visuals that you can import and easily use, instead of having to buy extended modules. When collaborating with other people, it needs to be more user-friendly. I cannot get businesses to use enterprise architect as it is too complicated for them.
For how long have I used the solution?
Our organization has used this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of this solution depends on the availability of the license server. If this connection is set up properly, the stability is okay. It does take a long time to load model projects.
How was the initial setup?
It was straightforward. It involved connecting to the license server and deploying the solution.
It was deployed within two weeks.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We purchased it once off for 1200 euros. If we want to build integrations with other systems such as Word or SharePoint, we would need to pay approximately 300 euros for this.
What other advice do I have?
Sparx is a good tool for extended usage such as modeling or automated testing. It allows you to do good testing upfront. If the only intention is to use it for architecture modeling and visuals, it may not be the best solution.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Updated: October 2024
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