IBM SmartCloud Control Desk vs Ivanti Neurons for ITSM comparison

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk vs. Ivanti Neurons for ITSM

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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

Automation Anywhere

Featured Reviews

Venkat Sivaprakash

Management Consultant at Accenture

Has significantly improved document-driven workflows and reduced processing time across finance and HR functions

Automation Anywhere has evolved significantly and upgraded itself to provide agentic AI and AI-based automation solutions for document automation. The product has matured considerably over time. We can create workflows that can call an API. We can include prompts in particular workflows for ChatGPT-related functions, connecting to an LLM and RAG to perform tasks. For document automation, modern features are available to train documents, ensuring high accuracy and repeatability over time. The system is very easy to use. I recently completed a course in document automation, typically designed for people involved in coding and technical aspects. Though I understand coding comprehensively, I don't do actual coding. The course was very accessible. Currently, extensive coding isn't necessary due to the hybrid model incorporating GenAI aspects, low-code, no-code capabilities, APIs, and numerous pre-built objects in Automation Anywhere. The features include GenAI-driven prompting methods and workflow creation capabilities. In these workflows, we can create decision boxes and call APIs without coding. We simply pull objects, drop them, connect them, and add minimal coding when needed. The most crucial aspect isn't coding but rather sizing the automation and fleshing out the details. Automation Co-pilot takes notes and performs automated analysis. It can extract details from videos, summarize conversations, and provide detailed information. During calls, it identifies instructions and performs tasks such as preparing reports and reconciliation. Automation Anywhere can also connect with Microsoft Co-pilot. Through Co-pilot, real-time operations can be executed, allowing direct interaction between vendors and automation through this component.

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Klemen Muhvič

Computer System Engineer at Informatika d.d.

Has centralization and asset management features, and a helpful and knowledgeable technical support team

What needs improvement in IBM SmartCloud Control Desk is its graphical interface because it needs to be more user-friendly. IBM is a big company, but this solution is a little bit outdated. The most common comment I get from customers is that IBM SmartCloud Control Desk looks old and needs a refresh. Its frontend needs a little bit of work. The solution needs to be more modern. In the programming world, you see a lot of new technologies, but this particular solution is still on Java. IBM SmartCloud Control Desk isn't like web-based service request tools, and that's an area for improvement. What I'd like to see in the next version of the solution is a more upscale technology. IBM SmartCloud Control Desk has small issues with document links and attachments, and those could bother you when you're using it for a long time. A more user-friendly GUI is also another improvement I'd like to see in the next version of the solution, plus a better user experience, and it would be great if IBM could resolve the current issues I've noticed in IBM SmartCloud Control Desk.

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Rajat_Srivastava

Manager - Technical Support at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Has helped streamline ticketing and change management while offering clear documentation support

Documentation and learning materials are available for Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, and if you check the vendor sites, you will find documents for each feature. I believe that short videos should be created and uploaded for newcomers to learn quickly since time can be limited. If a user believes in Ivanti, they should also believe in all its products including Ivanti Neurons for ITSM and Neurons because they are genuinely putting in hard work. This is reflected in the documentation, though I suggest they work on creating more videos. Other than that, you will find everything you need in the community site and documentation site. On a scale of 1-10, I rate Ivanti Neurons for ITSM an 8 out of 10.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Automation Anywhere has a uniqueness with respect to the IQ Bot."

"Automation Anywhere can grow alongside our automation needs."

"AA brings a lot of benefits for our organization in a number of different ways."

"Time-wise: We have saved hundreds of thousands of hours."

"It integrates with different types of applications, so we can automate our business partners' redundant, repetitive tasks."

"Our experience with technical support at Automation Anywhere has been great. They have been very helpful, especially during the PoC, processes which are sort of early on in their sales cycle, or when we were just starting with Automation Anywhere a couple of years ago. We got great support for getting it onboarded in-house and getting our team up to speed. So, we have found it to be a great partnership."

"I like the new GenAI and Automation Co-Pilot, which is something like attended automation."

"The core RPA capability is valuable."

More Automation Anywhere pros

"In the early stages of our company, all requests were done in notebooks, and none of it was centrally managed. But now we have a central tool which is an entry point for all requests that come in."

"The solution is very easy to work with."

"What I like about the Control Desk is that everything is centralized, you have all the requests in one place, you know which ones are for whom and who is working on them, so you have one big package and nothing is lost."

"The workflow capability is useful. It's not a manual helpdesk operation. It's fully automated, even when an alarm has occurred. It covers the complete cycle of initiation to resolving the events. This is its most strong feature that is easily integrable with a monitoring solution. It creates tickets, and the workflow feature is the most important one."

"A feature I found most valuable in IBM SmartCloud Control Desk is the service request. Another feature I like most about the solution is IT asset management, which tells you who owns a specific asset in the company and from which date."

"In general, it's been pretty stable."

"SLA integrations, reports, and integration with other applications are the most valuable."

"The brand name is the most valuable aspect of this solution for me. It's IBM. It's a global company that supports this product, it's not something open source or something like that."

More IBM SmartCloud Control Desk pros

"I like Cloud Neurons. Since it's a cloud version, it's much easier to enhance productivity because it collects all the information automatically."

"Ivanti Neurons for ITSM is a key tool and is very important to my service delivery efficiency."

"Primarily, I believe the focus lies on discovery, workflow configuration, and automation."

"HEAT Service Management is good for asset and service desk management. It is the focal point for this solution."

"It is relatively cost-effective compared to other options like ServiceNow. Additionally, it is highly stable."

"The interface, workflow, and dashboards are powerful and easy to manage for tracking KPIs and sharing strategies with our customers."

"The solution's installation depends on its customization. It is easy."

"It is easy to set up."

More Ivanti Neurons for ITSM pros

Cons

"Automation Anywhere is easy to use, even if you lack technical skills. People without deep technical expertise can easily develop scenarios."

"The overall product in Automation Anywhere is good, but they need to improve a little bit on the overall architecture side."

"If I want to do something that is more purely business-related and is somewhat complex to write or is nuanced, I sometimes have trouble implementing that inside of the Automation Anywhere script. I feel limited at times with some of the looping and some of the branching and some of the ways to make procedure calls when I have a complex business issue."

"We've had a lot of issues with the installation and performance on a variety of computers, onshore and offshore. Our network bounds multiple domains, and we've had issues there, as well. So, we are looking forward to the web-based development versions."

"Several competing products now offer superior functionality compared to Automation Anywhere's current capabilities."

"There can be some options to connect to the database directly where we should be able to add some data."

"We have had so many stability issues."

"Some things that I do not see as of today are interactive chat or video interface."

More Automation Anywhere cons

"The reporting in relation to updating could be improved upon."

"Technical support can be slow in terms of resolving issues."

"Overall the user experience, as opposed to the system and databases, could be improved. It does work as it should and it's good, but they should invest more in the user interfaces to be less data oriented and more appealing for the user."

"The time calculations can be improved. While working on reports, it was taking the time only in seconds, which was hard for me to work out. While creating some dialogs in the service portal, you have to use certain data types in some fields. It was very tricky to make them work. I was testing a certain type of input, and it didn't work. It didn't show me the domain that the fields have to show. I had to make the change to the database, and only then it worked. It was a tricky thing to make them work with the dialogs. Their technical support can also be improved in terms of response time."

"Support has been the biggest problem for us. I understand that because we use the product of a global company, some changes are not quick to deploy."

"The user interface is not very interesting."

"It could use more facility or flexibility for reporting, and business intelligence in the tool."

"The product is kind of clunky to use."

More IBM SmartCloud Control Desk cons

"The user interface must be made simpler and more effective."

"Configuration requirements are extensive, even in basic Service Desk processes."

"I believe that short videos should be created and uploaded for newcomers to learn quickly since time can be limited."

"I have had to open a few support tickets with the HEAT Service Management. They are very good but there are some areas that they could improve on."

"We'd like more integration with solutions like SolarWinds."

"The support that we're currently getting is just not there."

"There's a lack of integration with other products. This needs to be improved."

"Areas that have room for improvement with Ivanti Neurons for ITSM might include some of the reliability with Mac devices."

More Ivanti Neurons for ITSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We have established a CoE and we take our bot opportunities based on their ROIs. The best ROI opportunity goes to development first. Our ROI opportunities are compliance, profitable growth, productivity enhancements, productivity gains, number of hours the productivity saved, and resources not available that the work can be done by the bot. However, the single most important criteria that we use to measure ROI is how much time does the bot cut down from an analyst's work, as this has the best ROI. E.g., if an analyst is spending a 100 hours of work that a bot can do in one hour, we calculate the 99 hours saved as ROI."

"We are interested in saving manual engineer man-hours. So far, we have saved $100,000."

"The product starts at $10,000 and then it's up to you regarding how much you can consume."

"Although the initial implementation cost of Automation Anywhere is relatively high compared to other options, its annual subscription cost is lower than UiPath's, which has the opposite pricing structure."

"Automation Anywhere is somewhat expensive. The prices are slightly higher, but if you need something, you must pay for it."

"Automation Anywhere is reasonably priced because it can sustain us for a long period."

"I really enjoy the pricing options with Automation Anywhere, as they are able to flex their ability to adapt to the needs of the customer really well."

"It costs up to $1,200 per license."

More Automation Anywhere pricing and cost advice

"The license for IBM SmartCloud Control Desk is paid yearly and is on a per-user basis. You buy the product and pay for its license yearly. IBM is changing the licensing structure, but for now, it's a yearly license. There's no additional cost. It's just the license that you need to pay for to use IBM SmartCloud Control Desk."

"It's basically for a big company because of the costs. A small company can't afford the licensing cost. For medium and large companies, it's the best product. The price of the license is on the higher side compared to others."

"The licensing we have for IBM Control Desk is on a yearly basis. They have a concurrent license and an administrative license. And with these, you get all the products. There aren't any additional fees for extra add-ons or anything like that."

"The price is on the higher side. The support is included in the standard licensing fees."

"I came to know from my team members that my company used to operate ServiceNow but shifted to Ivanti Neurons for ITSM due to its low licensing prices."

"If you want to add more users who can handle support there will be additional fees. What we call our extensions, we need to pay more for. They tell us that we need to acquire more licenses or something like that. I think it's very expensive, because in terms the pula, our local currency, it's about 20,000 per license for each user. It is an annual fee."

"The product is affordable for small businesses."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Construction Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Performing Arts

15%

Construction Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	154
Midsize Enterprise	82
Large Enterprise	536

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	6

Questions from the Community

How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

It depends on your use case. Is it simply to automate a couple of processes? Is it to augment a human team? AA is ver...

How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

From my experience using AA tool, it depends on the applications that you want to automate, because there some applic...

How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

It is a highly preferred RPA tool. You can check my Automation Anywhere Review to know more.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ivanti Neurons for ITSM?

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I think the pricing aspect is cost-efficient.

What needs improvement with Ivanti Neurons for ITSM?

Areas that have room for improvement with Ivanti Neurons for ITSM might include some of the reliability with Mac devi...

What is your primary use case for Ivanti Neurons for ITSM?

I use this product for patch management, remote access, and endpoint control.

UiPath Platform vs Automation Anywhere

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Product Reports

Automation Anywhere

Download Automation Anywhere product report

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk

Download IBM SmartCloud Control Desk product report

Ivanti Neurons for ITSM

Download Ivanti Neurons for ITSM product report

Also Known As

Automation Anywhere, Testing Anywhere, Automation Anywhere Enterprise, Agentic Process Automation System (Now Certified for WorkSpaces)

SmartCloud Control Desk

HEAT Service Management

Interactive Demo

Automation Anywhere

Demo not available

IBM

Demo not available

Ivanti

Overview

Automation Anywhere offers ease of use, robust system connectivity, and GenAI-driven document automation through a cloud-native platform, significantly enhancing productivity across multiple industries with advanced AI features.

Delivering a comprehensive suite of tools designed for easy integration and rapid deployment, Automation Anywhere drives efficiency by reducing costs and automating repetitive tasks. Its cloud-native platform supports broad industry adoption, including advanced AI features like process automation and Co-Pilot, streamlining complex workflows with minimal technical skills required. Users benefit from robust integration capabilities, which facilitate seamless interaction with multiple systems. However, there is room for improvement in areas such as user-friendliness for beginners, stability, flexible licensing, and enhanced OCR functionality. Organizations in sectors such as banking, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare gain from the improved operational efficiency and ROI Automation Anywhere offers.

What are the important features of Automation Anywhere?

Ease of Use: Simplifies automation tasks with a user-centric interface.
Robust Connectivity: Provides seamless integration with multiple systems.
GenAI-Driven Document Automation: Leverages AI to automate document management.
Process Automation & Co-Pilot: Enhances workflow automation with advanced AI.
Cloud-Native Platform: Enables rapid deployment and integration.

What benefits should be evaluated in reviews?

Time Savings: Automation drastically reduces manual processing time.
Cost Efficiency: Decreases overall operational costs by automating tasks.
Productivity Enhancement: Streamlines workflows with AI-driven tools.
Improved Integration: Enhances ability to work with multiple systems.
Scalability: Supports growth with a flexible cloud-native architecture.

In the insurance industry, Automation Anywhere is utilized for automating processes such as enrollment management and compliance checks. Its applications extend to supply chain management, financial transactions, and business performance monitoring across sectors like banking, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, helping organizations to automate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.

Automation Anywhere

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk offers robust integration capabilities, effective SLA integrations, automated workflows, and comprehensive reporting. Its flexibility and centralized request management enhance service efficiency, making it ideal for detailed issue tracking and resolution in IT environments.

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk is designed to streamline IT support, ticketing, and incident management. By integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructures, it centralizes service requests and IT asset management. Its automated processes ensure efficiency from initiation to resolution, reducing the chances of oversight. The platform's adaptability supports both on-premises and cloud deployments, making it suitable for industries like telecommunications and IT services. However, users often face challenges with support responsiveness, outdated interfaces, and difficulties with email integration, particularly affecting images and attachments.

What Are the Key Features of IBM SmartCloud Control Desk?

Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with various systems to enhance functionality.
SLA Integrations: Strong service level agreement management ensures SLAs are met.
Automated Workflow: Full automation of processes from start to resolution.
Robust Reporting: Comprehensive reporting tools for detailed insights.
Request Management: Centralized management of service requests and IT assets.

What Benefits and ROI Should Users Seek?

Efficiency: Streamlines operations with automated processes, increasing productivity.
Flexibility: Adapts to organizational changes for better service delivery.
Reliability: Backed by IBM's trusted brand reputation.
Scalability: Scales with demand for growing businesses.

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk is widely implemented in telecommunications and IT services industries. Organizations utilize it for managing IT support, incident resolution, and system monitoring. Its ability to handle both internal and external requests effectively helps businesses streamline client communications and improve service management across different deployment models.

IBM

Ivanti Neurons for ITSM provides a comprehensive suite for automation, integration, and service management. With AI-driven hyper-automation and flexible self-service, it streamlines ticketing and incident management, enhancing productivity with efficient device management across different platforms.

Ivanti Neurons for ITSM is a dynamic platform designed for IT service management, offering robust features like hyper-automation and AI-enhanced functionalities. With a powerful service catalog, seamless patch and asset management, and advanced incident handling capabilities, it caters to diverse operational needs. Its intuitive interface supports device management across platforms, enhancing productivity through automatic updates. While valuable for its cost-effectiveness and stability, users note areas for improvement, particularly in non-Windows patching, integration versatility, and regional support.

What are the key features?

Hyper-Automation: Leverages AI for efficient task automation and problem-solving.
Service Catalog: Provides a diverse range of predefined service templates for easy access.
Incident Management: Streamlines ticket handling and resolution processes.
Patch Management: Enhances system security with automated patch deployment.
Cloud Neurons: Offers productivity tools with automatic updates to services.

Which benefits do customers look for?

Cost-Effectiveness: Provides stable and affordable service management solutions.
Enhanced Productivity: Increases efficiency with automated processes and updates.
Ease of Use: Facilitates device management with an intuitive interface across platforms.
Flexibility: Adapts to different organizational configurations and needs.

Ivanti Neurons for ITSM is widely implemented across service desks as an ITIL 4-certified system, supporting workflows like server patching, remote access, and incident handling. It aids digital transformation in HR and finance, being user-friendly for end-users while allowing deep configurability for managers. Key sectors benefiting include IT, HR, and finance, where it supports task-specific needs with specialized functionalities.

Ivanti

Sample Customers

Google, Linkedin, Cisco, Juniper Networks, DellEMC, Comcast, Mastercard, Quest Diagnostics

St Vincent's Health Australia, Kalibrate Pty. Ltd., Cognizant Technology

AFS Group, Auckland Airport, Baylor University, County of Maui, Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Elia, Essentia Health, Government Research Laboratory, Groupe Webhelp, HSBC Africa, Midwestern University

IBM SmartCloud Control Desk vs. Ivanti Neurons for ITSM