Control-M vs. Microsoft Power Automate

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Control-M
Score 9.3 out of 10
N/A
Control-M from BMC is a platform for integrating, automating, and orchestrating application and data workflows in production across complex hybrid technology ecosystems. It provides deep operational capabilities, delivering speed, scale, security, and governance.
$29,000
per year
Microsoft Power Automate
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Power Automate is an advanced automation platform offering a range of features, including AI-powered automation, robotic process automation (RPA), business process automation (BPA), digital process automation (DPA), and process/task mining. The platform aims to empower organizations to securely automate their operations at scale by leveraging low-code and AI technologies.
$15
per month per user
Pricing
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Editions & Modules
On-Premise
Contact Sales
SaaS
Starting at $29,000
per year
Power Automate Premium
$15
per month per user
Power Automate Process
$150
per month per bot
Hosted RPA add-on
$215
per month per bot
Process Mining add-on
$5,000
per month per tenant
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Considered Both Products
Control-M
Chose Control-M
We still use Power Automate but for different scenarios where job dependency is not required.
Microsoft Power Automate

No answer on this topic

Features
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Workload Automation
Comparison of Workload Automation features of Product A and Product B
Control-M
8.8
177 Ratings
6% above category average
Microsoft Power Automate
-
Ratings
Multi-platform scheduling9.5173 Ratings00 Ratings
Central monitoring9.3161 Ratings00 Ratings
Logging8.4164 Ratings00 Ratings
Alerts and notifications8.8165 Ratings00 Ratings
Analysis and visualization8.5158 Ratings00 Ratings
Application integration8.6159 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

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Score 9.0 out of 10
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Apache Airflow
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Score 8.7 out of 10
CMW Platform
CMW Platform
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Redwood RunMyJobs
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Score 9.6 out of 10
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Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Likelihood to Recommend
9.3
(162 ratings)
7.8
(81 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.4
(24 ratings)
9.3
(9 ratings)
Usability
9.1
(118 ratings)
9.0
(7 ratings)
Availability
9.0
(8 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.9
(8 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.9
(19 ratings)
7.9
(12 ratings)
In-Person Training
9.3
(3 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Online Training
9.0
(6 ratings)
8.9
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.3
(13 ratings)
7.9
(37 ratings)
Configurability
9.2
(9 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
8.0
(5 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
9.3
(7 ratings)
8.5
(2 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.1
(8 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Professional Services
9.0
(7 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.2
(9 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.0
(9 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Control-MMicrosoft Power Automate
Likelihood to Recommend
BMC Software Inc.
Anytime you have a process that has to do multiple things, transfer data, interact with other systems, Control-M is critical. Not only does it provide the insight to what is going on, but it also lets you keep tight audit controls over access, reduces the need to spend large amounts of time tracking down issues, reduces the need to write custom "code" to do integrations with other systems and helps you better manage and track critical SLAs for workflows across the business.
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Microsoft
Very useful RPA tools for automating processes with minimal coding and drag-and-drop functionality, with a wide variety of triggers, including scheduled time-based triggers and activity-based triggers, such as modifying a file/list in SharePoint to run a Power Automate flow. Very easy-to-use UI with native integration with every Microsoft product, and a very low automation failure rate for deployed workflows.
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Pros
BMC Software Inc.
  • The good thing is that there are so many connectors available. Control-M provides lots of features, and we are using almost 60 to 70% of them. Control-M is providing us with so much capability to use during our daily problem-solving.
  • Most of the job creation is very simple and quick and worked as per expectations.
  • Testing and debugging are also very easy, and you can test multiple scenarios using temporary changes during job runs.
  • Log and output presentations are also very good, short and detailed.
  • To monitor specific job net, we can create viewpoint, which can be use on daily basis.
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Microsoft
  • Sending confirmation email to clients and user once the flow is triggered.
  • Fetching or Dumping files from one location to another if the flow is triggered.
  • Schedule flow helps to send alerts and triggers the flow at a specific interval of time to carry out the required task.
  • Power Automate also be used to convert any file format to a specific file format and save it to the required location
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Cons
BMC Software Inc.
  • I haven't come across too many spots where I'm not happy with the product. Most of the shortfalls were in my knowledge of the product as opposed to the actual product. Currently we're having a little bit of an issue with the deployment of the software to the servers, but it's more of an "us" problem than a product problem. I can't really give any good examples of shortfalls of the product that I've found so far.
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Microsoft
  • Steep learning curve.
  • It can be slow to develop simple solutions compared to other automation platforms such as Smarsheet.
  • Troubleshooting and developing can be frustrating without proper access to edit the code directly.
  • Only able to edit through the GUI and with expressions.
  • Many ways to do the same thing can be frustrating when you need to rework your flow.
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Likelihood to Renew
BMC Software Inc.
It is one of the best solutions on the market, in terms of innovation, reliability and stability. Control-M provides security when used by the largest companies in Mexico such as banks, department stores and logistics. It has proven to be able to integrate with new technologies on the market and provide almost 100% availability, thanks to its automatic FailOver scheme.
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Microsoft
The tool is very useful when used with its various native connectors, taking great advantage of the integration between the components and systems of the Office365 universe. However, its cost is still high, and automation using more advanced components containing AI resources becomes unfeasible for some companies. Due to the financial crisis that many companies are currently experiencing, investment in automation systems or tools is taking a back seat.
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Usability
BMC Software Inc.
User experience is meeting my expectations. We had a manual checklist, which Control-M Reports has now replaced, that helped us check the jobs without any issues. So, being fair with the work, the ratings should also be fair. More to come as the AI progresses; this will not only help motivate the Control-M Developers but also lead to the development of advanced technology.
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Microsoft
Power Automate features a clean and intuitive user interface that allows users to create, manage, and monitor workflows easily. The UI is designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical users, with drag-and-drop functionality for building workflows. Power Automate supports integration with a wide range of Microsoft and third-party applications. This flexibility in integration allows users to automate workflows across various systems, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.
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Reliability and Availability
BMC Software Inc.
Secondary Instances: Control-M supports the installation of a secondary instance of the entire Control-M environment, Control-M/EM, or Control-M/Server.Automatic & Manual Failover: In case of a failure on the primary host, Control-M can automatically failover to the secondary host if using Oracle or MSSQL databases. Manual failover is also an option, enabling a controlled switch during planned maintenance.Fallback: After resolving the issue on the primary host, you can easily fall back to it, or even designate the secondary host as the new primary. Database Replication: For high availability, Control-M leverages database replication from the primary site to a disaster recovery site. While replication is essential, its implementation and maintenance are the user's responsibility.
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Performance
BMC Software Inc.
good page load times, efficient report completion, and minimal impact on integrated systems. Specifically, the well-designed GUI contributes to a positive user experience, and the platform's ability to automate various stages of the workflow, including Big Data processes, is highlighted as a key strength. Fast Page Loads: Control-M is reported to have a responsive user interface with fast page load times, allowing users to quickly navigate and manage their workflows
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
BMC Software Inc.
Support is generally excellent. Getting lower priority ones resolved can take a while, but it's rare for something to have to be dumped in the "unfixable" bin. If you end up speaking to Houston or Tel Aviv, then you know you've got a "live one".
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Microsoft
both Community support and Microsoft official support typically respond to (and resolve) reported issues in a VERY expedient manner, usually going above and beyond for education and bugfixing. I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of support I had been provided in the past.
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In-Person Training
BMC Software Inc.
Very knowledgeable instructors provide a hands-on, collaborative learning experience and can interact directly with instructors to develop our Control-M skills. This format allows for immediate feedback, in-depth discussions, and tailored guidance, leading to a deeper understanding of Control-M concepts and practical application. Face-to-face interaction fosters higher engagement and a more dynamic learning environment.
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Microsoft
after reviewing the main features of Power Automate, the Microsoft trainer focused on some of our real life use cases implementation, from simple to more advanced.
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Online Training
BMC Software Inc.
Simple and easy to use web based, well paced. Available any time. All online courses are simple and easy to access and use. Very practical everyday use scenarios and solutions. Incorporates software simulations, learning games, and built-in assessments to enhance comprehension and engagement. Online subscriptions are regularly updated with the latest product information, ensuring users have access to the most current knowledge.
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Microsoft
although it was productive, it is more difficult to stay focused and in a 7 hours a day online training (including screen share issues and the fact that the trainer just can't precisely show the exact location of your mistake)
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Implementation Rating
BMC Software Inc.
As HA we have depend on the external DB, why don't we have HA feasibility with embedded DB. As with external DB, there are performance issues and fine tuning the DB. As if its embedded DB, Control-M it self take care of the functionality.
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Microsoft
Overall, our experience implementing Microsoft Power Automate has been positive, with a relatively low barrier to entry and a fast time-to-value—especially because it integrates natively with Microsoft 365, which we were already using extensively. With Respect to migration, I had a very good experience where existing workflows were reviewed and simplified. Unnecessary steps were removed. Business rules were reimplemented using Power Automate logic. We migrated Approval workflows, email-based notifications, SharePoint-centric processes, and simple integrations.
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Alternatives Considered
BMC Software Inc.
Control-M: Known for its comprehensive workload automation capabilities, handling complex job scheduling, dependency management, and IT process automation. TWS: Traditionally strong in Batch processing and job scheduling, focusing on high-performance computing environments. TIDEL: Offers a combination of workload automation and IT process management, often used in mainframe environments.AutoSys: Provides job scheduling and workflow management with a reputation for scalability and performance.
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Microsoft
Microsoft Power Automate is worlds ahead of Zapier in so many ways. The looping, DOM access, and flow controls are much better. I feel that accessing different data within previous connectors used in a flow is much easier in Microsoft Power Automate as well. The custom connector creation process is a lot more pleasant in Microsoft Power Automate. The DateTime data type is handles MUCH better in Microsoft Power Automate, which is reason enough to use it.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
BMC Software Inc.
While Control-M offers flexibility with usage-based and subscription-based pricing, some users might prefer more predictable, upfront costs, especially for large-scale deployments. A potential area for improvement could be offering more options for fixed-term contracts with predictable pricing based on factors like the number of agents or jobs, providing a clearer budget for long-term planning
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Microsoft
I have not done any participations
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Scalability
BMC Software Inc.
awesome product.Control-M delivers advanced operational capabilities easily consumed by Dev, Ops, data teams, and lines of business.Control-M Workflow InsightsApplication and data workflow observability: Increased confidence that SLAs are being met for Control-M users and IT leadersComprehensive control and management capabilities: Enhanced dashboards and reporting with constant telemetry and intelligent analysis on executing workflowsSelf-service visibility: In-depth reporting to help teams work autonomously
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Professional Services
BMC Software Inc.
Strengths: The vendor provided strong post-sales support, timely issue resolution, and effective onboarding. Their technical team was knowledgeable and responsive, ensuring smooth integration and minimal disruption. Training resources and documentation were comprehensive. Areas for Improvement: While overall service was excellent, occasional delays in advanced customization or escalations slightly impacted timelines. More proactive optimization suggestions could further enhance value.
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Microsoft
Microsoft's professional services provide hands-on support throughout the implementation lifecycle of Power Automate.This includes initial setup, configuration, integration with existing systems, testing, and deployment. They ensure that workflows are correctly designed, optimized for performance, and aligned with security best practices.
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Return on Investment
BMC Software Inc.
  • Since centralizing all our workflows in Control-M, we've cut end to end processing time by nearly 30%
  • Before Control-M we were babysitting scripts, manually rerunning failed jobs, and chasing ghost errors. With automated recovery, smart notifications, and fewer failures slipping through the cracks, we have saved 3 hours a day across teams
  • Our workflows success rate sits at 99.95% and when things do fail, they are pinpointed immediately
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Microsoft
  • You can automate a lot of process very easy like automatic mails for status updates and such. This will save a lot of time and is more accurate, faster and up-to-date than a user can be.
  • Task approval is centralized and automatic reminders save us a lot of time.
  • The ROI is good if you have a lot of use cases and things to automate
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ScreenShots

Microsoft Power Automate Screenshots

Screenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Work Queues, Initial pageScreenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Signed-in web portal home pageScreenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Signed-in web portal create pageScreenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Desktop designerScreenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Hosted RPAScreenshot of Microsoft Power Automate (Interface Screenshot) - Display of DLP violations (on Run)