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3SL Cradle vs. IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    3SL Cradle

    Score9 out of 10
    N/ACradle from UK company 3SL is an application requirements management platform.

    $449

    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management

    Score5 out of 10
    N/AIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is an end-to-end engineering solution used to manage system requirements to design, workflow, and test management, extending the functionality of ALM tools for better complex-systems development.N/A
    Pricing
    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Editions & Modules
    Cradle‐RM Desktop
    $449
    Cradle‐RM Pro
    $529
    Cradle‐SE Desktop
    $599
    Cradle‐SE Pro
    $679
    Enterprise
    call
    Floating licences per module
    Enterprise - various deployments available
    call
    Platform and floating licences
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    YesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsPlease note that Cradle is licenced by fully floating concurrent module licences. So pricing will depend on your usage pattern. For example licencing for 10 engineers may require 7 REQ (Requirements Management) , only 2 SYS (Systems Engineering Modelling) and say 1 DASH (Dashboard analytics). Licences are only locked when that function is accessed, which means a large user base can have access to all functionality at a much low cost than usual pricing. That's why it's good to call.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Considered Both Products
    3SL
    No answer on this topic
    IBM
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    78%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    88%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
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    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
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    Medium-sized Companies
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    Score8.7 out of 10
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    Score8.7 out of 10
    Enterprises
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Score5 out of 10
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    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Likelihood to Recommend
    -
    (0 ratings)
    3.0
    (22 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.0
    (6 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    4.0
    (5 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    5.0
    (3 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    Likelihood to Recommend
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    The software is robust enough to handle highly complex software development or other product development and can be used well beyond the range to do what a client needs. However, because of the inability to hold its users to proper best practices, things can get wildly out of hand and cascade over the years, creating unnecessary technical debt. The system has a lot of usable features, but they don't funnel users toward the correct processes and practices.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    • Open Services supporting Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC).
    • Required definition management and managed capabilities enabling.
    • Rational DOORS Web Access for local on the test field presence.
    • On-sites established reporting system.
    • Approved linking requirements to test plans
    • Engineering Requirements Management DOORS traces requirements thereby eliminates manually processes and spreadsheets, for improved productivity.
    • Returns the investment efficiently.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    • I feel like it is too heavy sometimes and updating is not very straight forward. For example, if I want to change an incident ticket (IN) to a service request (SR) and add some comment for the change, I have to first change the IN to SR, then click refresh which takes a few seconds, then add a comment. If I forget the refresh step, my comment will be discarded without warning like my ticket is not in the latest status. This also happens when somebody else changes the ticket during my edit as I can not lock the ticket exclusively.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    At the moment we are required by contract to continue to use the IBM DOORS software for our current client. Given that it can be expensive, if we were to use it after our current client's needs were met, we would have to secure other projects in order to justify the continued use of the software.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    The UI is terrible and not intuitive. Users need training in order to complete tasks. Much like SAP, it's not the clearest tool. The tracing feature is especially complicated because you must write the scripts yourself. There is a learning curve. Also, even the setup, installation, and logging in each time takes a considerable amount of time.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    It does a basic job and has the potential to complete some robust reporting tasks, however, it really is a clunky piece of software with a terrible user interface that makes using it routinely quite unpleasant. Many of our legacy and maintenance projects still use DOORS but our department and company use many alternatives and are looking for better tools.
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    No problems
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    It was easier to do all the change management-related activities, even configurations were handled very effectively. New process definitions and initiatives made it easier for better project deliverables. Effective resource allocations and better reporting and defect management. The overall cost of the tool is great too and well within budget.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    3SL
    No answers on this topic
    IBM
    • It's part of CLM suite so it can be used to manage the whole lifecycle with tight integration with development module (Rational Team Concert) and quality module (Rational Quality Manager).
    • Comprehensive reports and dashboards provide better visibility.
    • License cost is on higher side.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    3SL Cradle Screenshots

    Screenshot of An automatically generated hierarchy diagram, showing the interlinks, in this case between requirements, specifications and regulationsScreenshot of Systems Engineering modelling showing a Data Flow Diagram with main system connecting to external environmentScreenshot of Part of the SysML example project shipped to "get you going"Screenshot of Example of the TEST Module showing Test Execution