ConceptDraw PROJECT vs. Fortra’s Automate

Getting started - using the Gantt chart to enter tasks in any order and then using those tasks to initially define a MindMap to further explore alternative dependencies. The alternative works better when initiating a project with significant unknowns.

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

• Integration with ConceptDraw Mindmap makes work breakdown very easy.
• We have cross-functional teams where team members often work on different projects in parallel. The multi project management feature has been a blessing over these years.
• Another import feature is the availability of many different predefined report generation templates that made it very easy to communicate different aspects of the project to different stakeholders.

• 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

• Non-intuitive keyboard shortcuts
• No advanced reporting or estimates

Incentivized

• 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

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

Online tutorials always available + chat, email and phone. Questions answered promptly and completely.

Support is very helpful and responsive, although using the tool is very user-friendly, so I hardly use the service.

Incentivized

ConceptDraw has a much simpler licensing and pricing model. Perpetual license and ability to use in offline mode was an important criteria for us. Perfect bundle for small and medium business.

Incentivized

• Inexpensive way to present a professional project plan when needed

Incentivized

• 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