IBM Blueworks Live Reviews

I have experience with process mapping on IBM Blueworks Live, as IBM Blueworks Live does not have the mining tool yet.

For almost two years, I have completed multiple projects using IBM Blueworks Live.

The previous organization I worked with was a partner with IBM Blueworks Live, and the organization I am currently working with is not a partner with IBM Blueworks Live, but we are using the client's IBM Blueworks Live.

I have been working with ARIS for approximately three years, but specifically with ARIS mining for the last six to seven months. I am being trained in it. I would say I'm not a pro at it, but I'm learning.

For ARIS, I am primarily using it for process modeling purposes, similar to IBM Blueworks Live. It depends upon which tool the clients are comfortable using. We explain the features, advantages, and disadvantages of each tool to them, and then let them decide which tool they would prefer. I am doing the same tasks on ARIS that I do on IBM Blueworks Live. I am currently learning ARIS mining and comparing it with Signavio's mining.

The pricing of the solution can be quite expensive when compared to competitors, though IBM Blueworks Live stands out from a technical standpoint. IBM Blueworks Live provides clear ROI as it saves both time and money.

I have successfully imported Visio flowcharts into both IBM Blueworks Live and ARIS. Both tools handled the imports successfully, though some manual intervention was required because Visio is quite a basic tool. Importing flowcharts into advanced tools such as ARIS and IBM Blueworks Live requires some manual effort.

The primary advantage is the ease of use. I have not encountered any features in other tools that I couldn't find in ARIS. This is a major factor because I don't have to switch between tools to find specific features. Using ARIS for the past three years has built confidence and trust in the tool.

Some features could still be enhanced in IBM Blueworks Live. The solution is easily scalable, but it can be expensive to scale and there may be some limitations.

The solution is stable, but there are some glitches and latency issues. IBM technical support is excellent, though sometimes there are problems with support.

For ARIS, the installation of the on-premise version is quite challenging. Normal business users or consultants cannot perform the installation as it requires extensive technical knowledge. This is why ARIS made the decision to discontinue their on-premise versions.

For almost two years, I have completed multiple projects using IBM Blueworks Live.

The solution is stable, but there are some glitches and latency issues.

For stability, the on-premise version rates at six out of ten, while the cloud version rates at eight out of ten.

Regarding ARIS issues, the cloud version can become very slow. For the on-premise version, there aren't speed challenges, but sometimes the server goes down, preventing work. Additionally, to work on the on-premise version, you must be near the server, and connecting via tools such as My Desk or Any Desk can result in slower performance.

In terms of features, ARIS deserves a nine out of ten rating. However, due to occasional slowdowns, server issues, and work disruptions, the overall rating would be seven out of ten.

IBM Blueworks Live is easily scalable, but it can be expensive to scale and there may be some limitations.

The scalability functionality is adequate but not perfect, earning a rating of seven out of ten.

IBM technical support is excellent, though sometimes there are problems with support. Support deserves a rating of nine out of ten.

The support team listens to concerns, acknowledges issues, and responds, but sometimes takes time to resolve problems.

Positive

For scalability, I would rate it seven out of ten.

Regarding stability, the on-premise version rates at six out of ten, while the cloud version rates at eight out of ten.

IBM Blueworks Live provides clear ROI as it saves both time and money.

The pricing of IBM Blueworks Live can be quite expensive. When comparing IBM Blueworks Live with ARIS and other competitors, IBM Blueworks Live stands out from a technical standpoint.

The collaborative feature eliminates the need to download files and send them via email, waiting for replies and accommodating changes. Everything happens within the tool.

I have successfully imported Visio flowcharts into both IBM Blueworks Live and ARIS. Both tools handled the imports successfully, though some manual intervention was required because Visio is quite a basic tool.

The ARIS on-premise installation is challenging, requiring significant technical knowledge that normal business users or consultants typically don't possess.

When using the ARIS cloud version through client servers or connecting via Citrix or other tools, the performance becomes notably slow, which isn't an issue with IBM Blueworks Live.

There are many advantages to IBM Blueworks Live, though there are some areas for improvement. The overall rating for this solution is 7 out of 10.

IBM Blueworks Live and security management are my primary products within the IBM suite. I particularly work on automation-related items, so most of my automation work lies with IBM, and I oversee the IBM portfolio.

I use IBM BPM, and security manager is part of it because Security Verify allows users to log into BPM. My domain is software development, and I perform process automation using IBM tools, with the relevant tools being particularly related to BPM.

IBM Blueworks Live is a utility tool used for design purposes when orchestrating processes and conducting brainstorming and mind mapping sessions with clients, business users, or power users. We do not use it aggressively because most organizational requirements are predictive and traditional, so we create detailed documentation and move forward.

I use IBM Blueworks Live very rarely, specifically in cases where requirements are uncertain and need more clarity, necessitating detailed orchestration to get end user buy-in. This is rare because most domain knowledge is with us, and having worked in the same domain for a long time, most things are within my grasp.

The major use case for IBM Blueworks Live involves document automation and process automation, such as automating approval processes and memos, and office notes that require approval, whether financial, technical, or regulatory. We automate these processes on BPM so users can easily initiate requests, get them recommended, and approved via competent authorities in their line hierarchies across functional managers or above the line. There are many processes in this area.

IBM Blueworks Live helps improve operational efficiency, especially where requirements are uncertain and clarity is needed. It helps determine and provide visibility to clients and enables an easy shift to the design phase.

The benefits I see from IBM Blueworks Live stem mostly from it being cloud-based, so we generally do not perform deep dives on such solutions. We use it as a utility on a high level. If it had an on-premises solution, we might have had proper implementation and utilization of it, so I cannot comment in detail on this product.

I do not use Security Identity Governance and Intelligence, as it is not implemented here.

I would prefer an on-premises solution for IBM Blueworks Live, and this could be a recommendation. Regarding other integrations related to IBM Cloud Paks, this might be an area to look into.

I would rate the stability of IBM Blueworks Live an eight.

I can rate the scalability of IBM Blueworks Live as always available with that architecture, so I give it a positive rating.

I would rate the technical support from IBM between seven to eight.

Positive

At times I worked on Microsoft products, but not currently.

The installation process for IBM Blueworks Live is easy since it is a cloud-based solution that is readily available with no need for configuration.

At the moment, with respect to BPMN and other standards, IBM Blueworks Live seems very easy to use compared to similar products on the market.

I do not have exposure to IBM Blueworks Live pricing since this is managed by other personnel who handle the financial aspects of licenses.

If considering any comparison or linkage between cloud-based solutions versus on-premises options, my insight is limited since the mode is entirely different.

We use an on-premises solution, and being a financial institution regulated by a governance body, most of our solutions are on-premises.

Most scenarios involve use cases where human intervention is needed, and we take these use cases from human resources to automated processes.

I do not use the process mapping feature in IBM Blueworks Live much since my involvement is to grasp the requirement. I generally use it on a high level.

At the moment, IBM Blueworks Live is for preliminary documents only.

I have not used the analytics feature in IBM Blueworks Live because I have not had the opportunity to explore it, as my usage is at a preliminary or basic level.

I am satisfied with document and process automation overall, and it is a very good tool.

I do not see many areas for improvement for IBM Blueworks Live because I do not see it in detail since it is a cloud-based solution.

I am satisfied with integration in IBM Blueworks Live since it is primarily a different architecture, and the cloud approach is definitely far different from on-premises mechanisms, so there is generally no connectivity and no collaboration.

The procurement for IBM Blueworks Live is not handled by me, so I did not buy it directly from IBM or through a marketplace.

I believe IBM Blueworks Live might be on a hybrid cloud, but since I have not utilized it that way, I cannot comment.

I rate the overall solution as a seven out of ten.

We prepared some process artifacts using IBM Blueworks for our internal process architectures. We also used it for consulting purposes. We used IBM Blueworks to document the as-is and to-be process architectures whenever we processed transformations.

The ease of documenting and digitizing the processes was valuable to us. Most of our clients were using Microsoft Office tools to document their processes. They were not centralized repositories. We recommended and sold the solution as a single source of complete enterprise processes, including integrating metamodels like controls, roles, or application systems. It also had unified repository access so everyone could see a single source of truth. That was our major use case where we used to sell IBM Blueworks.

IBM Blueworks is BPMN 2.0 compliant, but it does not adapt to the overarching BPMN 2.0 concepts. There is only one kind of BPMN 2.0 diagram. It is a process diagram. It doesn't have the concept of separate tools, which other products offer. If I had to do a hardcore BPMN 2.0 modeling, the product would have its own reservations. There were features we could not explore from a BPMN 2.0 perspective.

Most of the time, people who are shifting from Microsoft Office tools to a digitized way of working still want the reporting capabilities to be strong. Some tools, like ARIS or Signavio, offer customized solutions from the reporting perspective. If I have documented my whole finance process and want to fetch out a complete SOP report in a very customized manner, IBM Blueworks cannot provide it. We have to rely on some other services. So that's one area in which we always struggled, how to really customize the reporting aspects.

I understand that we need to keep the tool a little more asset-light. It's very difficult to keep adding many options, but at least a few BPMN 2.0 options were needed. We have been suggesting to IBM that we should have some way of customizing the reporting.

At least we should get a custom way of reporting it into different formats like Excel or putting up a logo for one of the clients so that their SAP can be printed that way.

I have worked with the product for six years.

We've never faced any stability issues. It was a very, very stable solution. Even if we had to ramp up or ramp down in numbers, it was very, very simple.

The tool was very easy to scale. If someone understands how to read a process, then the learning curve is very, very simple. We had a three to five-hour training session. After that, it was very easy for anyone to scale. It was pretty easy to onboard. Blueworks mostly works with enterprise businesses.

The technical support was very good.

Positive

My team was a center of excellence for Signavio and Software AG’s tool Aris. IBM Blueworks is placed in a different zone. From an enterprise modeling perspective, tools like Aris and Signavio are better because they also have connectivity from the implementation layer. Suppose we are considering digitizing the processes of an organization that is in a very early stage of maturity. In that case, IBM Blueworks is a better fit because of its cost and simplicity. I would not compare them because it would be apples to oranges. I don't think these products compete with each other.

IBM Blueworks is a good choice to give clients a taste of digital processes at a centralized repository. Suppose a client is mature enough and is looking for a much more robust and capable tool for getting things like organization view, application system diagrams, and data modeling. In that case, IBM Blueworks is not the right tool. We have to choose costlier tools like Aris and Signavio.

The initial setup is very easy. It's a plug-and-play model. Once the purchase is made, getting into the onboarding phase seems very easy. It is a completely web-based tool that doesn't need any installation. It's very easy.

The solution was deployed on the cloud in our organization. IBM Blueworks is a cloud-only solution. For the clients, we had the option of going public and private depending on their data residency requirements. We have used both. However, internally, for our organization, we have always used the public cloud. It takes a few hours to deploy the solution.

We used to leverage our licenses in a rotation mode for internal purposes. We would need more than 300 people to deploy the product internally. The number would vary for clients.

In six years, on average, we had around 15 modelers, 20 to 25 collaborators, and enterprise-wide users per project. We typically deployed groups of 100 licenses. Around 200 to 300 people per project were needed for the process.

It's a very low-maintenance tool. IBM was managing all kinds of maintenance work for us. In my six years of experience, I have never experienced any downtime. It never happened. There were scheduled maintenance times that IBM always gave us a heads-up for, so we could manage the work. We never faced any maintenance issues or out-of-the-blue breaks in the connectivity.

The hardcore USP of IBM Blueworks right now in the market is its pricing strategy, which is very, very good. It is very sweetly prized to bring people onto a digital view, and that's one we have always noticed. It helps us convince clients who do not see a lot of return on investment. The pricing strategy is amazing. The solution is very, very cost-effective.

The license for the solution is on an annual subscription basis. Additional costs depend on whether the customers choose private clouds. If they choose private clouds, then there's a fee. However, they must only pay the license cost if it is a public cloud.

IBM Blueworks is one of the most simple tools to try and start talking about digital processes. It is something which we should really, really try. We should not expect the tool to capture all the organization’s requirements. It is at a very early stage of maturity. We should choose the tool Depending on the requirement and how serious the organization is. IBM will be the right choice if it is a testing mode. If there's an element of implementation and integration of all the aspects of legacy systems, then IBM Blueworks would not be a great investment.

Considering all the parameters, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten overall.

Our primary use case is process mapping and analysis. 

It's very easy, very quick to create a process map. It has templates. The look and feel is very nice. What we want to achieve out of the process map, we can achieve it using Blueworks.

There is an area of improvement. For example, if I have to put some comments or if I have to, in between, if I have to create some comments in the process map, it is not possible. We have to go by adding annotations or our text messages somewhere, so it doesn't really fit it. So it's, like, if you print a paper and you wanna write something on top of the process map, that's how it should be. So now it is not possible. 

Moreover, I can't insert any images. For example, within the process map, if I want to put it in the box or rectangle, or circle. If I have to use one image or icon, that's not possible. So these kinds of things which I thought would be very useful.

I would love to see these functionalities in future releases. So , for now, it's just an impossibility to write a command on top of a given code.

I have been using this solution for the last three years. I currently use the latest version because I'm using the cloud product.

I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. 

I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten. 

There are ten users are currently using IBM BlueWorks Live in our organization.

I haven't approached the technical team in the last three years.

We don't do any maintenance. It is done automatically by the vendor. 

I have used Visio. 

Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. There is still room for improvement. In terms of flexibility, like Visio (Microsoft), you can create a text box and put comments nicely. But in Blueworks Live, it is not possible.  

We use the solution to analyze the business flow.

The solution is easy to operate. Also, there is an automatic mode to make the business flow. You don't have to put any lines or arrows in a decision point in IBM Blueworks Live; it's very automatic.

Sometimes, the tool is automatic, which can complicate it, but once you're accustomed to manipulating it, you can use it very effectively.

The product is very stable.

The solution has the capability to scale up to other colleagues but it's too hard to advise them to use.

20 persons are mainly working on the solution.

We are satisfied with customer service.

I explored the Japanese versions, but they were overly convoluted. I needed to create business flowcharts instantly. IBM Blueworks is very straightforward. I checked some other solutions, too. Compared to IBM Blueworks, they're too complex, more versatile, complicated, and expensive.

The initial setup is very straightforward.

We received two sessions with IBM experts.

The solution costs around 600-700 dollars/year, which is quite affordable.

The software is well-fitted for those who don't know much about the business flow.

You don't have to use many arrows or other symbols to create the usual business flow. We used to rely on Excel or PowerPoint for such applications, but it's pretty time-consuming. Sometimes, we need to change the processes to improve work efficiency, which can be cumbersome with Excel or Microsoft PowerPoint. IBM Blueworks Live is automatic. It's easy to manipulate and more cost-effective. $600 per person is affordable and reasonable.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

IBM Blueworks Live is a process management tool. 

IBM Blueworks Live is cloud-based and provides easy access to all your processes in one place. 

The objects that the solution creates are not unique. 

I have been using the product since 2017. 

I rate the tool's stability a ten out of ten. 

My company has more than 25 editors and 50 editors. I rate the tool's scalability a seven out of ten. 

IBM Blueworks Live's tech support is good, but I have never had any experience with it. 

I rate the product a seven out of ten. It is a reasonably good tool. 

We use the solution mainly for the process flow chart.

It is valuable that the licenses are transferrable between different users.

Since you require a license per user to access the information it would be nice to have the ability to print the information out in large font for review. Currently, you can PDF but the text size is so small it can't be read properly.

I have been using the solution for three years.

Although I don't have direct knowledge of the stability of the solution it does appear to be stable.

The scalability is good.

The initial setup is neither straightforward nor complex however you do need to know what you are doing.

The implementation was done through a vendor.

Blue licenses are sold per 100 and I am not familiar with the cost. There are editor licenses that are around 50 euros per month, and contributor licenses that are around 30 euros per month.

I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

We use the solution mainly for the process flow chart. If you are looking for a process management portal or something similar that is a wider solution I suggest researching additional solutions.

We use the tool to document and re-engineer business processes.

It helps us to map core business processes that are in need of review. We utilize the IBM Blueworks Live tool to conduct analysis regarding the redundancies and other related issues within processes. After which we undertake benchmarking and create a new design using this amazing software.

The solution allows us to automate processes but also be able to seamlessly create a process with little effort compared to Visio, which we used years prior.

When using Visio, it takes a lot of time to design a process flow whereas the IBM Blueworks Live tool makes it easier to quickly design a flow.

The IBM Blueworks Live tool allows you to add key details to every step within your process design. For example, we were mapping a process that utilizes a number of forms. We were able to attach those forms and even legislation associated with particular steps within the process. This enabled the team to review these inputs in relation to streamlining the process.

There are challenges in ensuring that when a detailed process flow is designed using the IBM Blueworks Live software, the steps are easy to follow.  At times the system places boxes and lines in a manner that is very complicated and convoluted as the lines begin to crisscross. Sometimes you can't follow the steps in the map and it is difficult to structure them in a way that is not cluttered. 

In the Visio software, you can move boxes and lines to any area within the chart easily. In the Blueworks Live software boxes and lines are automatically placed by the programme and can't be easily manipulated.

I have been using IBM Blueworks Live for seven years.

I have not experienced any instability with the solution.

I rate the scalability an eight out of ten.

The online support is good.

Positive

We used VISIO, we switched because the IBM Blueworks Live software is more robust and offers greater functionality.

The initial setup was straightforward. We created our accounts and immediately began to utilize the tool.

We implemented the solution through an in-house team.

I rate the level of expertise of the vendor team from IBM a nine out of ten.

It's value for money. Our team has been able to create and re-engineer core business process more efficiently than ever before. 

Setup, costing, and licensing are reasonable considering the functionality of the tool as compared to other solutions.

I urge those planning to use the solution to join the online tutorials and the courses offered by IBM to understand the software and its functionality better. I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.

We use IBM Blueworks Live to map processes. We start with discovery and then go on to map a detailed process. It's a cloud-based solution and is very easy to use.

It provides clarity to IT and business users regarding their needs and requirements. It also helps document policies, risks, etc. Collaboration is easy and fun to use. Another great feature is automatic presentation preparation for management.

I like the two-tiered approach, that is, discover and then drill down to the main steps. You can right click and attach risk, policies, and much more. It is a user-friendly solution.

I would like to see integration with ERP systems. This would help us to simulate the process and see where the problems are. Though IBM Blueworks Live is a good tool for documenting, it can improve the simulation. It also must grow to automatic process intelligence and discovery (example: Sigovia).

I've been working with it for about five years.

We have not faced any issues with stability.

We have not had any problems with scalability. You can do collaborative tasks as well. We have 50 users of this solution at our organization.

I'd rate scalability at nine out of ten, with ten being the best.

We never had the need to contact customer service.

We previously used Aris, but it was too expensive.

The initial setup is straightforward and easy.

It is implemented out of the box. There is no need for an ‘implementation’ per se.

ROI is in terms of saving time and avoiding costly mistakes during development.

Price wise, IBM Blueworks Live is in the middle range, and I would give it a five out of ten.

We compared IBM Blueworks Live with Celonis. Celonis is a powerful tool, but it is complex and more expensive as well.

Overall, I would rate IBM Blueworks Live at nine on a scale from one to ten.

The reporting that we can generate from IBM Blueworks Live has been interesting. We found the KPIs, risks, process modeling, format, and colors, to be very good. We use the EY template and it is interesting to generate reporting in this format.

In the solution Signavio, they have a customer journey mapping feature that should be added to IBM Blueworks Live. It's valuable to map or document the customer journey to identify the pains and opportunities in this process.

Indeed, the Signavio solution allows us to design the customer journey (actions made by the customer in the process) using pictograms and icons. So, we can indicate tasks, tools, goals, and frustrating points.

I have been using IBM Blueworks Live for approximately one year.

IBM Blueworks Live sometimes has a period of repairing and during this time the solution is not available for some hours. However, it's not disturbing or very frustrating.

We have three or four people using this solution in my organization. We use it for some projects, but not on a large scale as we do with ARIS Connect.

We have not used technical support.

We have used ARIS Connect.

IBM Blueworks Live deployment was not difficult, it was easy.

We did the deployment in-house.

We don't have a precise assessment for the return on investment because we didn't use it on a large scale as we have with ARIS Connect. However, when we do demonstrations for the customer, they appreciate IBM Blueworks Live reports because the modeling is much easier than ARIS Connect. We try to convince our customers to use IBM Blueworks Live.

I rate the pricing of IBM Blueworks Live a four out of five.

The solution is not very expensive.

I rate IBM Blueworks Live an eight out of ten.