IBM Operational Decision Manager vs. SAP NetWeaver BPM

IBM Operational Decision Manager can be used to manage complex business processes with less use of IT infrastructure and more use of centralized decision making. Decision-making depends on a logical framework and the creation of commands for better futuristic decisions with less time consumption and more precision and accuracy. IBM's Operational decision manager application is well suited for such scenarios where complex processes have to be streamlined.

Incentivized

It is well suited when we need to integrate business processes with SAP ERP and SAP CRM - the solution can be integrated with business rules/procedures defined in SAP ERP/CRM and NetWeaver can be used to monitor the rules and flag off exceptions. When there are multiple workflows running, it tends to slow down running of these processes. Also, it entirely depends on SAP portal for it to run efficiently.

Incentivized

• Excellent stability and performance, as well as the possibility to deploy more quickly.
• Simple but effective web-based user interface that enables us to make direct updates to our policies or rules.
• Effective rule Execution Server, which allows us to assess the rules and their performance
• After the rules are delivered, business users can make changes and keep them up to date without having to know a lot about technology.

Incentivized

• Virtual paper trail. Iterations of process and current documentation are all stored as "artifacts", leaving a great trail.
• Configuration of users. BPM somewhat magically determines which users will be impacted and automates rules.
• A pro (that is also a con) is the design interface. If you know what you are doing, it is incredibly powerful and malleable.

• Compatibility with third party software.
• Use interface can be simplified.
• Better Error handling framework.

Incentivized

• Live readings would be nice.
• Easier to maneuver
• Work with all systems with the press of one keystroke

Incentivized

As a big fan of SAP in general, the BPM solution fits right in with all the other things SAP does well, and does it with incredible efficiency

We have our own tech support for systems, I would say they probably could use more training on it, I don't really think it's anything regarding the SAP system, but more the knowledge they have on the system itself. It seems to take longer for them to fix any issues we may come across.

Incentivized

Ease of use Ease of Administration

Incentivized

I found the initial setup of NetWeaver is much simpler than other products especially in an SAP environment where we have SAP ERP/HRM/CRM as it can be well integrated with other SAP products. The only drawback is the need/dependency on SAP Portal. It is better suited in an environment where SAP ERP is running.

Incentivized

• It has a positive impact as it provides a great way to define business rules, execute them, update them, manage different versions of rules.
• Depending on the complexity of the applications, you can have thousands of rules.
• It provides a nice way to test the rules, run simulations with different scenarios, different scales of requests and verify the decisions, performance, etc., and that helps a lot.
• Since the decisions can be exposed through REST interface, it makes it very convenient to integrate with different applications, applications using different technologies.
• The Business console makes it easy for business users to be able to define, modify rules and not have to depend on IT to do a lot of that work. This helps in bringing the time to change and use the rules to be very short as well as lets IT do more IT related tasks and provide better value to the organization.

Incentivized

• Helped us harness integrated benefit from having SAP ERP/CRM by leveraging NetWeaver to define business processes/rules and monitor exceptions
• Did not have any negative experience except for the fact that at times when multiple rules run, it can be somewhat slow

Incentivized