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IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management vs. IFS Applications

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management

    Score5 out of 10
    N/AIBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is an integrated suite for managing requirements, engineering work, system and software models, and verification activities across complex product-development programs. It is used by systems engineers, software teams, test organizations, project managers, and compliance teams in industries such as automotive, aerospace and defense, medical devices, and public infrastructure.N/A

    IFS Applications

    Score7.6 out of 10
    N/AIFS Applications is presented by the vendor as an agile application suite that offers enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM) and enterprise project management, handling 4 core processes: Service & Asset Management Full Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Field Service Management (FSM) Manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with support for process manufacturing, discrete manufacturing…N/A
    Pricing
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    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 Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Considered Both Products
    IBM
    No answer on this topic
    IFS
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    78%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    88%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    4.7
    3 Ratings
    46% below category average
    Pay calculation00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration00 Ratings7.43 Ratings
    Direct deposit files00 Ratings6.43 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    8.7
    5 Ratings
    14% above category average
    API for custom integration00 Ratings8.75 Ratings
    Plug-ins00 Ratings8.75 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    9.9
    5 Ratings
    16% above category average
    Single sign-on capability00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions00 Ratings9.85 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    8.8
    5 Ratings
    16% above category average
    Dashboards00 Ratings8.55 Ratings
    Standard reports00 Ratings8.35 Ratings
    Custom reports00 Ratings9.55 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    7.5
    5 Ratings
    3% below category average
    Accounts payable00 Ratings9.55 Ratings
    Accounts receivable00 Ratings9.55 Ratings
    Global Financial Support00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers00 Ratings9.34 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting00 Ratings8.84 Ratings
    Standardized Processes00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    9.1
    5 Ratings
    13% above category average
    Inventory tracking00 Ratings9.35 Ratings
    Automatic reordering00 Ratings9.55 Ratings
    Location management00 Ratings9.55 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    6.3
    5 Ratings
    23% below category average
    Pricing00 Ratings9.05 Ratings
    Order entry00 Ratings8.25 Ratings
    Credit card processing00 Ratings8.74 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold00 Ratings8.35 Ratings
    Order Orchestration00 Ratings7.84 Ratings
    Subledger and Financial Process
    Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    3.9
    4 Ratings
    64% below category average
    Billing Management00 Ratings8.34 Ratings
    Cash and Asset Management00 Ratings8.84 Ratings
    Travel & Expense Management00 Ratings8.84 Ratings
    Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting00 Ratings7.84 Ratings
    Period Close00 Ratings9.34 Ratings
    Project Financial Management
    Comparison of Project Financial Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    2.7
    1 Ratings
    95% below category average
    Budgeting and Forecasting00 Ratings3.01 Ratings
    Project Costing00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Cost Capture00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Capital Project Management00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Customer Contract Compliance00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Project Revenue Recognition00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Project Execution Management
    Comparison of Project Execution Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    3.5
    4 Ratings
    67% below category average
    Project Planning and Scheduling00 Ratings9.54 Ratings
    Task Insight for Project Managers00 Ratings8.54 Ratings
    Project Mobile Functionality00 Ratings7.54 Ratings
    Definable Resource Pools00 Ratings8.54 Ratings
    Grants Management
    Comparison of Grants Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    9.3
    2 Ratings
    21% above category average
    Award Lifecycle Management00 Ratings9.32 Ratings
    Procurement
    Comparison of Procurement features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    3.5
    4 Ratings
    68% below category average
    Bids Analyzed and Compared00 Ratings9.33 Ratings
    Contract Authoring00 Ratings8.33 Ratings
    Contract Repository00 Ratings8.33 Ratings
    Requisitions-to-Purchase Orders Integrated00 Ratings9.24 Ratings
    Supplier Management00 Ratings9.24 Ratings
    Risk Management
    Comparison of Risk Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    5.0
    4 Ratings
    30% below category average
    Risk Repository00 Ratings8.54 Ratings
    Control Management00 Ratings8.74 Ratings
    Control Efficiency Assessments00 Ratings8.54 Ratings
    Issue Detection00 Ratings7.54 Ratings
    Remediation and Certification00 Ratings8.04 Ratings
    Logistics
    Comparison of Logistics features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    7.8
    4 Ratings
    11% above category average
    Transportation Planning and Optimization00 Ratings8.32 Ratings
    Transportation Execution Management00 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Trade and Customs Management00 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Fulfillment Management00 Ratings7.73 Ratings
    Warehouse Workforce Management00 Ratings8.54 Ratings
    Manufacturing
    Comparison of Manufacturing features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    6.8
    4 Ratings
    10% below category average
    Production Process Design00 Ratings9.33 Ratings
    Production Management00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
    Configuration Management00 Ratings8.84 Ratings
    Work Execution00 Ratings9.34 Ratings
    Manufacturing Costs00 Ratings9.54 Ratings
    Supply Chain
    Comparison of Supply Chain features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    9.1
    4 Ratings
    21% above category average
    Forecasting00 Ratings8.84 Ratings
    Inventory Planning00 Ratings9.54 Ratings
    Performance Monitoring00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Product Lifecycle Management
    Comparison of Product Lifecycle Management features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and IFS Applications
    Feature
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management
    -
    Ratings
    IFS Applications
    4.8
    4 Ratings
    42% below category average
    Proposal Management00 Ratings8.33 Ratings
    Product Master Data Management00 Ratings8.83 Ratings
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    User Ratings
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Likelihood to Recommend
    3.0
    (22 ratings)
    8.5
    (5 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    4.0
    (5 ratings)
    8.5
    (4 ratings)
    Support Rating
    5.0
    (3 ratings)
    1.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementIFS Applications
    Likelihood to Recommend
    IBM
    The software is robust enough to handle highly complex software development or other product development and can be used well beyond the range to do what a client needs. However, because of the inability to hold its users to proper best practices, things can get wildly out of hand and cascade over the years, creating unnecessary technical debt. The system has a lot of usable features, but they don't funnel users toward the correct processes and practices.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    Order to cash processes and scenario are implemented natively in IFS. An HR module exists for career management also (objectives, comportments, training, mobility) but may be improved in terms of workflow validation (e.g. training to validate by a manager) or reporting.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    IBM
    • Open Services supporting Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC).
    • Required definition management and managed capabilities enabling.
    • Rational DOORS Web Access for local on the test field presence.
    • On-sites established reporting system.
    • Approved linking requirements to test plans
    • Engineering Requirements Management DOORS traces requirements thereby eliminates manually processes and spreadsheets, for improved productivity.
    • Returns the investment efficiently.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    • It supports the web version in most later versions.
    • It provides various mobile versions of the applications as mobile apps to cater various areas.
    • IFS Applications allows easy configurations of the application without going for costly customization.
    • It covers almost every areas of an industrial company so any other third party applications are minimum.
    • It allows safer and easier built-in options for integrations capabilities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    IBM
    • I feel like it is too heavy sometimes and updating is not very straight forward. For example, if I want to change an incident ticket (IN) to a service request (SR) and add some comment for the change, I have to first change the IN to SR, then click refresh which takes a few seconds, then add a comment. If I forget the refresh step, my comment will be discarded without warning like my ticket is not in the latest status. This also happens when somebody else changes the ticket during my edit as I can not lock the ticket exclusively.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    • Handling massive volumes of data can be improved.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    IBM
    At the moment we are required by contract to continue to use the IBM DOORS software for our current client. Given that it can be expensive, if we were to use it after our current client's needs were met, we would have to secure other projects in order to justify the continued use of the software.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    IBM
    The UI is terrible and not intuitive. Users need training in order to complete tasks. Much like SAP, it's not the clearest tool. The tracing feature is especially complicated because you must write the scripts yourself. There is a learning curve. Also, even the setup, installation, and logging in each time takes a considerable amount of time.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    The system is very difficult to use, overly complex, and difficult to learn. It also has limitations that are hard to overcome.
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    IBM
    It does a basic job and has the potential to complete some robust reporting tasks, however, it really is a clunky piece of software with a terrible user interface that makes using it routinely quite unpleasant. Many of our legacy and maintenance projects still use DOORS but our department and company use many alternatives and are looking for better tools.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    We have been unable to get answers to our questions, solutions to our problems, and they don't seem interested in working in the construction industry.
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    IBM
    No problems
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    IBM
    It was easier to do all the change management-related activities, even configurations were handled very effectively. New process definitions and initiatives made it easier for better project deliverables. Effective resource allocations and better reporting and defect management. The overall cost of the tool is great too and well within budget.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    IFS Applications is based on Agile Technology which allows organizations to reconfigure user interface as per user requirements and make it user-friendly. Other applications are lagging on many fronts like User Interface, Online help document availability, Implementation methodology, and post-implementation expenses.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    IBM
    • It's part of CLM suite so it can be used to manage the whole lifecycle with tight integration with development module (Rational Team Concert) and quality module (Rational Quality Manager).
    • Comprehensive reports and dashboards provide better visibility.
    • License cost is on higher side.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    IFS
    • Reporting is now centralized and managed. Previously, reports were outside the information systems and there was a risk of incoherence.
    • Accounting controls are now in place on the overall processes, including production, which helped the company to reduce closing periods or to produce more easily official mandatory accounting files yearly.
    • Interfaces between the CRM forecast tool and IFS helped to keep the tools in sync, and to decrease the processing times prior to production launch.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    IFS Applications Screenshots

    Product screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshot