IBM Blueworks Live vs. SmartDraw

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
IBM Blueworks Live
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Blueworks Live is cloud-based business process management software that provides users with a collaborative environment for documenting, analyzing, and building business process mapping.N/A
SmartDraw
Score 8.1 out of 10
N/A
SmartDraw is a diagramming and flow chart building tool from SmartDraw Software in San Diego, California.
$131.40
per year (for a single user on an individual plan)
Pricing
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Team
$119.40
per year per user (3 minimum)
Individual
$131.40
per year single user
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Features
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
IBM Blueworks Live
8.0
36 Ratings
1% above category average
SmartDraw
-
Ratings
Dashboards8.018 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports8.635 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports7.532 Ratings00 Ratings
Process Engine
Comparison of Process Engine features of Product A and Product B
IBM Blueworks Live
7.8
36 Ratings
6% below category average
SmartDraw
-
Ratings
Process designer8.535 Ratings00 Ratings
Process simulation8.331 Ratings00 Ratings
Business rules engine6.532 Ratings00 Ratings
SOA support7.729 Ratings00 Ratings
Process player8.232 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for modeling languages7.834 Ratings00 Ratings
Form builder8.016 Ratings00 Ratings
Model execution7.716 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration
Comparison of Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
IBM Blueworks Live
8.7
37 Ratings
4% above category average
SmartDraw
-
Ratings
Social collaboration tools8.737 Ratings00 Ratings
Content Management Capabilties
Comparison of Content Management Capabilties features of Product A and Product B
IBM Blueworks Live
7.0
33 Ratings
14% below category average
SmartDraw
-
Ratings
Content management7.033 Ratings00 Ratings
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User Ratings
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(37 ratings)
2.8
(14 ratings)
Support Rating
8.3
(5 ratings)
8.4
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
IBM Blueworks LiveSmartDraw
Likelihood to Recommend
IBM
Pharmacies are subject to several regulatory obligations, including FDA and HIPAA rules. Pharmacy teams may record and view compliance-related procedures in a uniform format with IBM BLueworks Live. This facilitates Audit tracking, ensures process compliance at every stage, and keeps audits running smoothly.
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SmartDraw Software
I believe SmartDraw is a great tool for small- to mid-sized organizations for simplifying the production and management of org charts. We've also had the PMO experiment with the use of some of their flow charts as well. If an organization has an HCM with the capability of producing (good!) org charts, that is likely the best option... but many that I have used in my 30-year HR career don't. So there is definitely a need for SmartDraw in the market!
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Pros
IBM
  • Easy to create process diagrams quickly, while collaborating with others.
  • Create linkages to sub-processes and other workflows.
  • Track activities using metadata such as which IT systems are utilized.
  • Use the glossary terms to find where different roles or systems are involved in processes throughout your org.
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SmartDraw Software
  • Provides examples to work off of--these are helpful when you don't know exactly where to start.
  • Provides a number of stylistic options without making things too complex, so you can be creative without getting overwhelmed.
  • Provides a wide variety of templates, meets a wide variety of needs.
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Cons
IBM
  • In particular, we have had problems with the availability of the service because the platform frequently crashed.
  • Is not easy to pull some indicators.
  • We would like to be able to see a different interface, long ago with the same.
  • Payment process is not easy.
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SmartDraw Software
  • A month-to-month plan would be ideal for users that don't have a need to create many projects
  • The sidebar navigation can be a little confusing with all of the tools listed.
  • Offering customizable plans with only the feature you need would simplify navigation
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Support Rating
IBM
I have gotten great response for the very few times I needed support.
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SmartDraw Software
They are always very helpful, we get computers every two years and I have to call them to move the license from one computer to another and they do it with a smile in their voice!
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Alternatives Considered
IBM
Blueworks Live was part of a project deal. We did not keep it after the project. We found there are many solutions offering similar or superior capabilities - the fact that Blueworks does not fully support the universal BPMN standard was a big letdown for us. The pricing also did not make sense as a standalone solution.
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SmartDraw Software
We have used Corel Draw and Adobe Acrobat. Both of those tools were good when they came out but the abilities of SmartDraw far outweigh both those tools. Corel Draw was also more complex to operate and do tasks, as was Adobe Acrobat in which some basic tasks took additional steps to complete.
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Return on Investment
IBM
  • It has helped us reduce miscommunication between our departments, such as production, inventory, and shipping, thus reducing delays.
  • Now, most things are automated; we can quickly know when a product will be in low stock.
  • With the help of custom charts, we are easily able to determine our best-selling product of the month and week, which helps us market according to stats.
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SmartDraw Software
  • SmartDraw has provided good return for our internal purposes. Using it to understand an organization's structure and inner workings has been valuable. On the client side, creating steps and businesses processes has also been a big plus. It has helped decrease confusing reporting structures and has provided a detailed map for individuals to understand where they fit within their organization.
  • Unfortunately, SmartDraw has been somewhat inefficient with some of the more complex projects on our plate and has really deterred certain employees from even wanting to use it.
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ScreenShots

IBM Blueworks Live Screenshots

Screenshot of the IBM Blueworks Live interface which fosters real-time communication and feedback, allowing users to work together on process models. It is used to track changes, share insights, and refine workflows with instant messaging directly within the platform.Screenshot of the Library feature in IBM Blueworks Live, which offers a hierarchical view of spaces, blueprints, decisions, and policies. Users can navigate and categorize processes to streamline business operations, ensuring teams have access the right information at the right time.Screenshot of the Discovery Map in IBM Blueworks Live, a tool used to map out complex workflows with drag-and-drop simplicity, making it easy to capture every step of a processes in a structured and clear format. Users can optimize operations by turning insights into action, aligning teams on what truly matters.Screenshot of the Process Diagram view in IBM Blueworks Live, a feature used to transforms Discovery Maps into standardized, swimlane diagrams that clearly outline roles, responsibilities, decisions, systems and process flows. Users can streamline process design with an interactive interface that simplifies complex tasks, enabling the delivery of results faster and more efficiently.Screenshot of the Details Panel in IBM Blueworks Live, used to access critical information such as cycle time, cost, and involved systems. This feature enables users to connect process details across workflows, make data-driven decisions, optimize resources, and enhance business processes, all while keeping stakeholders aligned.

SmartDraw Screenshots

Screenshot of where to create diagrams, including: flowcharts and swimlanes, organizational charts, mind maps, CAD drawings & floor plans, project charts, network diagrams, and wireframes & mockups.Screenshot of a workspace that combines brainstorming with technical diagrams. SmartDraw can be used to visualize processes, organizations, roadmaps, and even generate diagrams from data.Screenshot of SmartDraw's templates and tools used to make flowcharts, swimlanes, and process maps.Screenshot of the org chart tool, used to document organizational structure and work as a team to plan for growth or manage change. Data can be imported to generate a chart automatically.Screenshot of the CAD drawing and floor plan tools, used to design a home or optimize office space to improve traffic flow in a retail space.Screenshot of an example of the built-in templates for landscapes, gardens, backyards used to design outdoor spaces. Users can drag-and-drop flowers, shrubs, and other plants, or add sprinkler systems, lights, and walkways, and apply photo-realistic textures for a professional finish.