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IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management vs. Kantata PSA

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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 end-to-end engineering solution used to manage system requirements to design, workflow, and test management, extending the functionality of ALM tools for better complex-systems development.N/A

    Kantata PSA

    Score9 out of 10
    Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
    Kantata Cloud (formerly Mavenlink + Kimble) provides project management and collaboration software for small to mid-sized professional services companies. Features include resource management, project dependencies, time and expense tracking, file sharing, versatile user permissions, private messaging, planning and reporting.N/A
    Pricing
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Premier
    Contact Sales Team
    per month per seat
    Enterprise
    Contact Sales Team
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeRequired
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    Considered Both Products
    IBM
    No answer on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    78%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    94%
    Would buy again
    17 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    88%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    15 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    16 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    92%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    11 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    12 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    Autotask PSA
    Score7.7 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Jama Connect
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Workday Professional Services Automation
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Jama Connect
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Planview AdaptiveWork
    Score8.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    Likelihood to Recommend
    3.0
    (22 ratings)
    9.1
    (50 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (6 ratings)
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    Usability
    4.0
    (5 ratings)
    8.0
    (8 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.0
    (3 ratings)
    Support Rating
    5.0
    (3 ratings)
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (5 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    IBM Engineering Lifecycle ManagementKantata PSA
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    It is appropriate and even exceeds expectations 90% of the time. It makes project tracking very easy and visually accessible for most cases. The only occasion where Mavenlink came slightly short was for a special project that required more interaction options among project members. I am certain there are ways to work around that issue, but we did not find them.
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    • With Mavenlink when starting to assign tasks to people, set deadlines and milestones, and add files to our projects we can look at it all from a variety of perspectives, including a task tracker view and a Gantt chart view
    • Through Mavenlink each project also includes an activity stream where we can view all project details as they come up, as well as an activity feed for all the projects it is linked to.
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    • The Gantt chart does not allow for baselines to be stored
    • There is no means to upload an excel task tracker and build a plan using an upload
    • The schedule does not allow for planning of holidays
    • The status report functionality needs to 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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    Although the company I currently work for does not use the product I have recommended that we do switch to Mavenlink. We will be opening some new sites internationally this year and I can see that Mavenlink would be a great product for us to use
    Read full review
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    I think Kantata is one of the most robust and best project management tools out there for an organization like ours. However, some of our staff feel like it isn't as user-friendly as it could be. From a Director point of view or a Project Manager point of view, Kantata is exceptional. From the point of view of a task-doer, it could be more visually appealing. Also, the mobile version isn't great.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    Mavenlink gives advance notice for system upgrades, and they're not during our business day. Mavenlink has always been available when we needed it.
    Read full review
    Performance
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    Very good integration with Google apps. Some complexity is called however in the synchronization between Google Tasks and Maven links tasks. This can sometimes lead to duplicate records in Google Tasks. It has been dissolvable that becomes cumbersome if not properly curated.
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    Kantata support is fantastic! Any issues that arise are always handled quickly and efficiently. Granted, we haven't had many issues to report. Typically, my team tends to only reach out to support if they need assistance remembering how to do something or asking about an improvement. We had Kantata build an integration when we first started using the software, and the support team worked hard to listen and improve the integration.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    We prepared questions in advance, and our trainer was an expert in what Mavenlink was and wasn't able to do. We were able to have multiple people trained at once.
    Read full review
    Online Training
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    The training was very well-organized. We were able to send questions in advance so the instructor knew what to cover, and the brought up related topics to maximize the usefulness of what they were teaching us.
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    IBM
    No problems
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    Dedicate as much internal time to the implementation effort as possible, even if you're using a 3rd party or Mavenlink services. Your team knows your processes the best
    Read full review
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    We have since switched over to JIRA and let me tell you, it was probably the best decision we have made as a company. We chose Mavenlink based on promises from the sales team about future roadmap work that really never happened. We thought Mavenlink would easily integrate with our billing software but we couldn't have been more wrong. We ended up never utilizing Mavenlink invoices as they don't even allow you to fully customize your invoices that go out to clients!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    It's very easy to add users and contractors into Mavenlink. There's also an option that let's you manage access for teams in multiple locations.
    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
    Kantata (Kimble + Mavenlink)
    • Manvenlink is perfect for showing expenses and income over time and across people.
    • Manvenlink is adaptable for the integration and automation of the processes of each of our projects in order to optimize resources and improve operational performance.
    • Mavenlink allows us to determine if our projects are profitable or not, as well as save significant time by automating components such as recurring tasks and having templates, among other things.
    • Manvenlink is advantageous for our operations due to its simple portfolio management of our projects: manage several projects at once and receive a complete perspective of the development of each one at a glance.
    • Manvenlink kindly provides us with robust discussion threads, access restrictions, and built-in document management, allowing us to contextualize communications.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Kantata PSA Screenshots

    Screenshot of real-time project status tracking.Screenshot of visualizations that help track resources with confidence.Screenshot of at a glance capacity and staffing monitoring.Screenshot of financials and project margin monitoring.Screenshot of revenue tracking, to scale a business with confidence.