3SL Cradle vs. IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
3SL Cradle
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
Cradle from UK company 3SL is an application requirements management platform.
$449
IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
Score 6.1 out of 10
N/A
IBM 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
Best Alternatives
3SL CradleIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
Small Businesses
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 out of 10
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 out of 10
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 out of 10
Polarion ALM
Polarion ALM
Score 9.9 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.
Read full review
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.
Read full review
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.
Read full review
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.
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.
Read full review
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.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
3SL
No answers on this topic
IBM
No problems
Read full review
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.
Read full review
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.
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