iServer offers seamless integration with Microsoft Office for effective process mapping and workflow management, accompanied by versatile reporting capabilities. Its interface, resembling Microsoft's, is user-friendly, while supporting architecture modeling and change management with customization options.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| iServer | 4.4% |
| Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect | 8.9% |
| LeanIX | 7.6% |
| Other | 79.1% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 6 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 9 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 78 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 60 |
| Large Enterprise | 204 |
iServer stands out for its advanced collaboration through Office 360 and SharePoint integration. It is widely used in enterprise architecture, focusing on solution architecture, modeling, documentation, artifact management, and governance. Users also benefit from its effective decision-making and enterprise architecture definition, with strong support for change management and flexible visualization matrices. Although iServer is highly valuable for enterprise tasks, it requires enhancements in automatic visualization of process maps, performance improvements, and expanded modeling features, particularly in forecasting and scenario capabilities. Enhanced integration with other tools, as well as additional customization and selective access control, are sought after improvements.
What Are iServer's Key Features?iServer is implemented across industries for managing enterprise architecture. In government, it excels in cataloging systems and modeling infrastructure networks, providing technology architecture support. The tool's capabilities in reporting and database tracking make it a valuable asset for business process management and enterprise architecture tasks.
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| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Senior IT Solution Architect at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees | 4.5 | We use iServer for establishing an enterprise architecture function due to its flexibility, ease of use, and integration with Microsoft tools. While it's user-friendly and customizable, the embedded drawing tool, draw.io, needs improvements. Competitors considered included LeanIX and MEGA HOPEX. |
| Consultant at a government with 11-50 employees | 4.0 | I use iServer to catalog systems and trace them to business processes. Its reporting capabilities are valuable, though clarifying details with the vendor can be time-consuming. Integrating it with Sparx enhances functionality, resulting in seamless and high-quality performance. |
| Enterprise Architecture practice head at Positive Side Consultancy | 4.0 | iServer assists us in governance and workflow management, especially useful in our government entity. While valuable features include document management integration with Microsoft Word, it lacks updates and new features for its on-premise version since 2021, such as process mining. |
| Business Architect at Netcompany | 3.5 | We use iServer for enterprise architecture documentation and find its customized model valuable. However, the platform's user interface could be improved, and we wish for better options in the security model to allow selective access for users. |
| CEO at TargetState | 4.0 | In my experience with iServer, I found the integration with Microsoft Office valuable and appreciated its familiar interface. However, performance issues need addressing. We have seen a return on investment, but it typically takes three to four years. |
| Architect at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees | 3.5 | We find iServer good for governance and artifact management, offering a central repository and strong support. Its stability and scalability are valued. However, modeling capabilities, especially forecasting and scenarios, need significant improvement. We rate it 7/10. |
| Principal Process Consultant at Process Rescue Ltd | 4.0 | I'm procuring this SaaS for business process management, valued for collaboration, Office 365 integration, and scalability. Setup seems straightforward, and costs are being finalized. Other solutions lacked features or were too complex. |
| Data Governance Specialist at PSP | 4.5 | I found iServer useful for building components, mainly for its UI, which can be customized like Microsoft Office, and its flexible factory settings. However, improvements could include added reports or templates, as Spark can sometimes be overly complex. |
| Information Architect at a government with 5,001-10,000 employees | 5.0 | I am an enterprise architect working on an infrastructure architecture project, and I find iServer valuable for modifying application behavior using Microsoft Visual Basic. However, I wish it could run faster. Previously, I used IBM Rational System Architect. |
| Specialist Business Analysis with 10,001+ employees | 2.5 | I use iServer for architecture. While stable, scalable, and easy to set up, I find it unfriendly, not business-focused, and requirements management needs improvement. I rate this solution 5/10. |
We use iServer to establish an enterprise architecture function in our organization.
iServer is a very flexible platform for defining your own enterprise architecture model. It is very easy to import data, and we also have good integration with Visual Drawing Tools and SharePoint. The solution is very user-friendly, and it is easy to modify it according to your model.
iServer should invest in enhancing the capabilities of the embedded drawing tool, draw.io. draw.io is a drawing tool used to draw architectural diagrams, flow diagrams, etc. It is an alternative to Microsoft Visio.
I have been using iServer for six months.
We have no issues with the solution’s stability.
Currently, we have five users using the solution in our organization, and we plan to increase the usage.
I rate the solution’s scalability ten out of ten.
We are very satisfied with the solution’s technical support.
The solution's initial setup was really easy, and we used the iServer cloud. The solution's integration with SharePoint and every tool we used was also very easy.
The solution is cheaper than its competitors.
LeanIX and MEGA HOPEX were the main competitors of iServer in our evaluation process. We chose iServer because of its ease of use, flexibility, and integration with our Microsoft environment.
I would recommend the solution to other users.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
We use iServer to catalog all systems and their characteristics. It helps trace these systems to business processes and capabilities, providing a comprehensive view.
We use ArchiMate from a modeling perspective. Our primary goal was to select ArchiMate for this purpose, and the reporting pricing is based on the ArchiMate metamodel. We used ArchiMate to model the ecosystem and utilized reporting packs to display details and provide insights.
The most valuable feature is its reporting capability. It offers various packages for different types of reports, such as business and project management reporting packs.
iServer is a solid tool. Occasionally, we needed to contact the vendor to clarify details such as porting issues, missing components, and model specifics. This process sometimes took some time, but we ultimately received the needed responses.
iServer is a stable platform, but some significant considerations must be remembered. Since it is based on Microsoft technology, integration with Microsoft products, such as Visio, is seamless.
However, it's essential to understand how to manage synchronization and access permissions effectively. The platform offers valuable features like document templates and document generation, but you need to ensure you have the necessary access to all components and properly configure security settings. Keeping track of versions is also essential. Due to these requirements, it's recommended that the team undergo training to fully grasp how to use the tool and handle these aspects effectively.
Seven people are working with this tool.
iServer allows you to perform modeling, and while it does leverage Sparx for various functionalities, the platform integrates seamlessly with Sparx to enhance its capabilities. Sparx (EA Sparx) can be integrated with the tool as they both use the same XML-based file exchange format. After some struggle, I managed to exchange the files.
The graphics and other features are well-integrated, ensuring high-quality work and ease of use. The company has developed everything and used Microsoft technology to some extent. Sparx is a critical component of their solution, and while there are pros and cons, my experience with Sparx has been positive.
The initial setup took some time, which reminds us that no system is perfect. A team member required training, which extended the setup process. For comparison, with a tool like Sparx, you can buy it, install it, and start working immediately. In contrast, it took us about two months to become fully operational with iServer.
When I joined the team, iServer was already set up. However, we encountered some issues with our setup and required external help. Although the tool was installed, we had one team member responsible for specific tasks. If that person was unable to address a problem, they contacted the vendor for assistance.
It is very pricey.
We did have some problems with the adjusters. The main issue with this tool is its complexity; while it offers many features, learning and understanding how to use them effectively can be challenging. This difficulty was due to our learning curve rather than any limitations of the tool itself. It took some time to figure out how to use it properly and ensure it worked as needed.
I recommend this tool.
Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
We use the product for various critical functions within our environment, particularly in a government entity, where it assists in governance, workflow management, and generating reports and live database activities. It enables flexible parameters for any process model.
iServer has valuable features for workflow and document management. We have installed it on Microsoft Word, enabling users to extract the content directly from the data center.
They haven't introduced new features for the product's on-premise version since 2021, similar to the SaaS version. There could be features for process mining, process simulation, and analytics.
We have been working with iServer for more than six or seven years.
I rate the platform's stability a nine out of ten.
We have 20 iServer users in our department. I rate the scalability a seven out of ten.
The technical support team is responsive. However, they have yet to resolve some of the cases.
Neutral
We have used Mega HOPEX before. At present, we use Sparx Systems.
The initial setup is easy. It takes one to two hours to implement all the components. It requires specific knowledge about database and web server administration.
They offer annual subscriptions for developing countries, which are not affordable for small or medium businesses. It costs around $50,000 to $70,000. Earlier, they offered perpetual licenses that required one-time payment.
I rate iServer an eight out of ten. With the help of sample databases, we can minimize some of the features in predefined models before creating customized objects. It aligns them with industry best practices and established standards.
We use the product for enterprise architecture documentation.
The product has a valuable customized model.
The platform user interface needs improvement. Regarding the security model, they should provide users with an option for selective access. We could allocate permissions to use only specific components to the users rather than the entire instance.
I have been using iServer for a year. We are using the most recent version.
It's a very stable product. I rate its stability a nine out of ten.
I rate iServer's scalability an eight out of ten.
I never contacted the technical support team directly. The customers reached out to them in case of any issues. They provide a good response time.
The initial setup is very simple.
The product has a moderate pricing.
An interface that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office applications like Excel and Visio is a significant advantage.
I rate iServer a seven out of ten.
The most valuable features of iServer are the integration with Microsoft Office and the interface is similar to Microsoft applications making them easy to use.
There can be some performance issues using the solution that should be improved. When you make modifications modify to files there are embedded data within that can take a while to process.
In a future release, it would be helpful to have a web application.
I have been using iServer for approximately two years.
iServer is reliable.
I rate the stability of iServer a nine out of ten.
We have 10 people using the solution and another 60 using the portal.
The support I have received has been responsive.
Positive
The initial setup of iServer is not difficult. Most of the deployment can be done in one day.
I did the deployment of the solution.
We have received a return on investment but you have to be patient. After three to four years is when you would typically see a return.
The price of iServer is reasonable compared to other solutions.
There is an initial cost for the solution and then were are monthly a subscription.
I rate iServer an eight out of ten.
Central repository holding single version of truth.
We really like the governance.
The modelling needs improvement, specifically forecasting capabilities and scenarios. The existing capabilities have integration with the office, and it's flaky.
We have been using this solution for two years. The version we're using is not the latest. It is deployed on-premises.
It is stable, but there are a few parts that require areas of improvement.
It is scalable because we have an enterprise setup. It is up to us to scale up or not. If you go for cloud, it's highly scalable, but we are not exploring that. We have over 50 people using this solution, mostly architects, business analysts and solution designers. It requires one person for maintenance, usually a technical expert with DBS skills.
The technical support is very good. They are responsive and have a good customer portal to interact with. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
Positive
We used Archimate before this solution. We switched because Archimate didn't have the governance capabilities we were looking for, and iServer does the governance well.
It was a low-complexity installation, and it took a couple of hours. We have a mix of skills, so we used in-house skills for some parts and experts with special skills for others.
We have an annual contract. I can't share the details of the costs.
I rate this solution a seven out of ten. I would recommend this solution to others, and they should include modelling capabilities and forecasting based on scenario in the next release.
We're using this for business process management. We're currently procuring the solution. This is a SAS solution.
There will be five designers and a thousand viewers and collaborators using this solution.
There were lots of different requirements, and collaboration and review is one of the biggest things. There is also Office 360 integration, and there's flexibility to use it as a database as well.
I haven't used this solution long enough to know what areas could be improved.
It's easily scalable. It's almost unlimited.
We haven't deployed it yet, but it sounds straightforward.
Because it's a service, maintenance is done by the vendor and we don't really need to do anything.
We're doing a trial evaluation. It's about 13K to set up and 9K for the license for three months. I think it's about 20K a year, but we haven't firmed up on pricing yet because the price depends on how long we commit to the solution.
We also evaluated ORBIS, Signavio, GB Tech, ARIS.
We chose iServer partly because of the suitability of the product. ORBIS, for example, doesn't do hierarchical structures and also doesn't cater for policy integration into the solution. Some of the other ones were because of price and complexity. ARIS was just way over the top for the use case that we had. GB Tech and Signavio were very close, but I just felt that iServer was better this time.
iServer mainly helps with the build component of the organisation.
If you change the UI similar to Microsoft Office, it enhances usability. The second important feature is the ability to choose and customise the factory settings to match your brand, including all the interconnections. This flexibility is the most helpful part in the standard version.
The dashboard has been very helpful.
The solution could add reports or add templates.
The solution is stable. I rate it a nine out of ten.
Five to six users are using this solution.
Spark has been very popular but sometimes it becomes more complicated.
We needed professionals for the deployment.
The product is more expensive than Spark. I rate it an eight out of ten where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
The tutorials are very impressive. I recommend the solution.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
My work is business applications and I'm currently dealing with an infrastructure architecture project. iServer is an enabler for me to deliver value and information. I'm an enterprise architect and a user of this product.
iServer is excellent at capturing, organizing, and most particularly, presenting knowledge about the strategic, and operational information about the behavior, structure, and motivation and for providing the insights needed for all forms of change.
This solution is valuable for me in the sense that I can get at the behavior of the application, modify it, and get it to do what I need it to do, and get clients to understand the challenges and opportunities. Most other solutions require a lot of programming but I use Microsoft Visual Basic, so it simplifies things further.
I'd like the solution to run more quickly than it does.
I've been using this solution for close to five years.
I think iServer is very scalable, it's built on Microsoft components and is generally used by application, solution, enterprise and business architects.
They provide excellent technical support.
The initial setup doesn't require too much manpower and only takes a couple of hours. One of the positives is that they will only provide support once training has been completed. Without that, installation and setup can't be carried out. They know that it's not an easy out-of-the-box implementation. Following training, implementation is a matter of following the script.
I recommend this solution. It's best to start small and grow from there. I work primarily in Ottawa with the government of Canada, and I think iServer is pretty high on their list because it integrates with Microsoft and they have a cloud-first strategy.
I rate this solution nine out of 10.
We primarily use iServer for architecture.
I do not find it friendly to use.
iServer needs to be more business-focused.
It needs to be more conceptual.
Requirements management needs to be improved.
I have been using iServer for a few years.
I have not experienced any issues with management, the dashboard, or the interface. It's a stable product.
This is a scalable solution.
We have not had any issues that required us to contact technical support.
The initial setup is easy.
I was not responsible for the deployment. It was set up by other people.
This is not a product that I recommend for business process design tasks.
I would rate this solution a five out of ten.
