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Appian vs. Fortra’s Automate vs. SAP Replication Server

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Appian

    Score7.9 out of 10
    N/AAppian is a low-code development and business process management platform. It features drag-and-drop design for app building, automated work processes, unified data management, and cloud-based deployment.

    $0

    Fortra’s Automate

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AFortra's Automate (formerly HelpSystems Automate) is a robotic process automation platform for desktop applications. According to the vendor, it offers the ability to automate almost any business process, and no technical expertise is required—IT and business users alike can understand the drag-and-drop interface.N/A

    SAP Replication Server

    Score9 out of 10
    N/ASAP's Sybase Replication Server is database development and management software.N/A
    Pricing
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Editions & Modules
    Appian Community Edition
    $0
    Application - Input-Only
    $2
    per month per user
    Application - Infrequent
    $9
    per month per user
    Application - Standard
    $75
    per month per user
    Platform
    Custom Quote Priced per user with unlimited apps.
    minimum 100 users, no maximum
    Unlimited
    Custom Quote Priced per development with unlimited apps.
    unlimited
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Free Trial
    YesYesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    YesYesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptionalNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Considered Multiple Products
    Appian
    No answer on this topic
    Fortra
    No answer on this topic
    SAP
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    95%
    Would buy again
    38 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    32 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    93%
    Happy with the feature set
    37 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    25 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    91%
    Implementation went as expected
    30 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    8.1
    9 Ratings
    4% above category average
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    -
    Ratings
    Dashboards8.29 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standard reports8.59 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Custom reports7.69 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Process Engine
    Comparison of Process Engine features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    7.4
    9 Ratings
    2% above category average
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    -
    Ratings
    Process designer7.99 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Process simulation6.49 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Business rules engine6.49 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    SOA support8.29 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Process player7.39 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Form builder7.69 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Model execution8.59 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Data Source Connection
    Comparison of Data Source Connection features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    -
    Ratings
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    10.0
    3 Ratings
    18% above category average
    Connect to traditional data sources00 Ratings00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Connecto to Big Data and NoSQL00 Ratings00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Data Transformations
    Comparison of Data Transformations features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    -
    Ratings
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    10.0
    3 Ratings
    21% above category average
    Simple transformations00 Ratings00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Complex transformations00 Ratings00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Data Modeling
    Comparison of Data Modeling features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    -
    Ratings
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    7.6
    3 Ratings
    4% below category average
    Data model creation00 Ratings00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Metadata management00 Ratings00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Business rules and workflow00 Ratings00 Ratings7.03 Ratings
    Collaboration00 Ratings00 Ratings7.02 Ratings
    Testing and debugging00 Ratings00 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Data Governance
    Comparison of Data Governance features of Appian and Fortra’s Automate and SAP Replication Server
    Feature
    Appian
    -
    Ratings
    Fortra’s Automate
    -
    Ratings
    SAP Replication Server
    8.0
    3 Ratings
    1% below category average
    Integration with data quality tools00 Ratings00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Integration with MDM tools00 Ratings00 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Small Businesses
    Bizagi
    Score8.3 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Skyvia
    Score10 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation
    Score9 out of 10
    IBM Robotic Process Automation
    Score8.4 out of 10
    IBM InfoSphere Information Server
    Score10 out of 10
    Enterprises
    IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation
    Score9 out of 10
    UiPath Automation Platform
    Score8.5 out of 10
    SolarWinds Task Factory
    Score8.3 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.4
    (139 ratings)
    10.0
    (4 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.5
    (19 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.7
    (95 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.4
    (118 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    6.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    1.0
    (5 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    AppianFortra’s AutomateSAP Replication Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Appian
    Appian works great for automating manual processes and integrating multiple systems through its toolset. It gives great flexibility for establishing rules for approvals, routings, escalations, and the like. Because of the low code toolset, it's very easy to deploy and make changes as needed as processes evolve and as the organization learns to utilize the system better. Minimal maintenance is required to support the applications build on the platform. Some of the automated testing integration with tools like Jenkins is limited so that may be an issue for some.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    It's great for repetitive or regularly scheduled activities like reports or file transfers. However, it's not so good for on-demand activities. It doesn't support task shortcuts to run specific tasks. If it did it would be perfect.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    I asked questions about a warm standby and multicast replication. We ended up using bi-directional replication and a warm standby db. Having 3 or more live OLTP DB's where each was read-write was going to be difficult to manage for contention if the same table was being updated. We stuck with an easier solution to have only two OLTP's, and then used additional DB's as read-only DW's.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Appian
    • Allows at a glance workflow documentation which assists in the need we have for information readiation.
    • Drag and drop interface for workflow development greatly speeds our apps time to market.
    • Using the advanced features of Appian, we are able to create working sites in a fraction of the time it would take to do so using "traditional" development.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    • Very detailed task builder. Easy to read step by step a task's operation even if you don't have much programming knowledge.
    • Scheduling for automation jobs is very flexible. Allows us to create all kinds of job schedules as needed.
    • Organization of jobs, tasks, conditions is done well. Allows us to easily manage our items.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    • guaranteed delivery
    • high availability
    • scalable
    • low latency
    • data transformation
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Appian
    • Search issues when type ahead and database search are used in the same field.
    • Buttons implementation where user is require[d] to click on the button description - if clicks on the button outside that text - button will not work.
    • Problems with using certain off-the-shelf performance tools like WebLoad or Neoload. That is because of different dynamic variables being used internally in Appian - which these tools are unable to correlate. We are still investigating using other tools like Jmeter to overcome dynamic correlation problem for performance testing.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    • A reporting capability on tasks: enabled, disabled, by folder, by trigger, etc. Currently there is none.
    • An "OR" in their conditional statements - currently there is only "AND".
    • Some kind of temporary backup when changing a task - separate from the current back up/restore functionality (which works well).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    • Data Reconciliation Functionality.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Appian
    We recently renewed our license with Appian. We are convinced that its flexibility, relative ease of use, the support they provide, there mobile advancements and their general willingness and desire to see us succeed all contributed to our reason to renew our agreement with Appian
    Read full review
    Fortra
    No answers on this topic
    SAP
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Appian
    Appian is a low code environment, because of this, a very good visual interface is required. Appian is providing a feature-rich dashboard [that] we can use for building the dashboards and other interfaces. Appian also provides patches and releases to enhance these features. A developer can start off development just by going through a basic course from the Appian learning community.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    It's just very easy to use, extremely versatile, and very reliable. It's hard to find use cases where it won't work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Appian
    Appian is one of the leading low code business automation platforms that support RPA, decision rules, case management, workflow automation, and machine learning all in a single bundle. But it is also harder to implement and replace the traditional business process.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    Support is very helpful and responsive, although using the tool is very user-friendly, so I hardly use the service.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    SAP support has been outstanding. They have quick response times and always meet their SLAs. Any time we have an issue that needs to be researched they are able to get back to us quickly with resolution.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Appian
    As analyst I participated in a developer boot camp. At times it was hard to keep up but most of the time it made sense. Trainer took the time to explain and slowed pace down to answer questions etc.
    Incentivized
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    Fortra
    No answers on this topic
    SAP
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    Appian
    Very boring; hard to get through quickly, but rather effective in demonstrating the use of the platform.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    No answers on this topic
    SAP
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Appian
    It was really seamless. SaaS in the true definition of the word. We logged on and started using the product. Very easy.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    No answers on this topic
    SAP
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Appian
    Appian has enormously transformed and keeps on updating the product every quarter to meet the latest needs of the world with new innovations & technologies being integrated within the platform. What gives more pleasure than a product that keeps on continuous[ly] improv[ing]?
    Incentivized
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    Fortra
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SAP
    Hands down Sybase has the best replication
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Appian
    • I believe it has negatively impacted our release dates. There may have been a misunderstanding as to the learning curve, even though it is "low code."
    • The look and feel of the applications created using Appian have uniformity and it's easier to have "reuse" between applications.
    • There is less developer control when it comes to features. I think this mainly has to do with the amount of plugins available. I would think there should be many more available plugins. But again, our use case is probably different than most others.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Fortra
    • It's been a net positive as AutoMate requires less eyes on specific tasks so that people can focus attention elsewhere and do more analysis.
    • Less manual work also decreases the chances of mistakes and/or missed jobs. Since Automate can schedule everything, send email notifications, etc., there is less time wasted.
    Incentivized
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    SAP
    • A positive is that it allow quick business decision making on the basis of real time data. Huge time saving for business.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Appian Screenshots

    Screenshot of Low-Code DevelopmentScreenshot of Business Process Management SuiteScreenshot of Dynamic Case ManagementScreenshot of Mobile App DevelopmentScreenshot of Appian RPA with Blue Prism

    Fortra’s Automate Screenshots

    Product screenshotProduct screenshot