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OpenText Vibe

OpenText Vibe
Formerly Micro Focus Vibe

Overview

What is OpenText Vibe?

OpenText Vibe (formerly Micro Focus Vibe) is a web-based team collaboration platform developed by Novell, and was initially released by Novell in June 2008 under the name of Novell Teaming. Novell's acquisition by Micro Focus was completed in April 2015.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Novell Vibe, now known as Micro Focus Vibe, has been tested and implemented in various organizations with positive user experiences. One …
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Good Vibe-rations

9 out of 10
July 07, 2014
Incentivized
Novell Vibe was a huge success in replacing our intranet and introduced a solution to address several problems and wants: department …
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Pricing

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What is OpenText Vibe?

OpenText Vibe (formerly Micro Focus Vibe) is a web-based team collaboration platform developed by Novell, and was initially released by Novell in June 2008 under the name of Novell Teaming. Novell's acquisition by Micro Focus was completed in April 2015.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Details

What is OpenText Vibe?

OpenText Vibe (formerly Micro Focus Vibe) is a web-based team collaboration platform developed by Novell, and was initially released by Novell in June 2008 under the name of Novell Teaming. Novell's acquisition by Micro Focus was completed in April 2015.

Vibe is a versatile collaboration solution that can serve as a knowledge repository, a document management system, a project collaboration hub, a process automation machine, or a corporate intranet. Users can upload, manage, comment on, and edit content in a secure manner. Supported content includes documents, calendars, discussion forums, wikis, blogs, tasks, and much more.

Document management functionality allows for document versioning, approvals, and document lifecycle tracking. Users can download and modify pre-built custom web pages and workflows free of charge from the Vibe Resource Library.

OpenText Vibe Video

Vibe Desktop Introduction

OpenText Vibe Technical Details

Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

OpenText Vibe (formerly Micro Focus Vibe) is a web-based team collaboration platform developed by Novell, and was initially released by Novell in June 2008 under the name of Novell Teaming. Novell's acquisition by Micro Focus was completed in April 2015.

The most common users of OpenText Vibe are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(9)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Novell Vibe, now known as Micro Focus Vibe, has been tested and implemented in various organizations with positive user experiences. One of the main use cases of this software is its ability to automate processes and make them more paper-friendly, particularly in office and work floor divisions. Users have found that Vibe provides a clean and appealing interface, making it suitable for creative individuals working in media production and website design.

For project-driven companies, Novell Vibe offers centralized data collection from clients and allows for the organization of project ideas, meeting notes, and production schedules. This feature has proven beneficial in managing workflows and tracking project progress. In addition to serving as a shared calendar for departmental events, Vibe also acts as the backbone of the organization's intranet. It addresses company-wide communication needs, electronic form usage, file storage, collaboration on projects, and serves as a central repository for documents and contracts.

One notable advantage of Vibe is its flexibility in assigning user rights at any level, which gives content-management control to department managers. This ensures that access remains secure while allowing for efficient collaboration across teams. With its successful replacement of traditional intranets, Novell Vibe has become an essential tool for organizations of various sizes and industries.

Highly Configurable and Customizable: Several users have praised Novell Vibe for its high level of configurability and customization. They have mentioned that the platform can be easily tailored to their specific needs and preferences through the use of JSP.

Effective Access Structure: Many reviewers have appreciated the effective access structure of Novell Vibe. They have found it beneficial to be able to set up forms and workflows, which allow them to control who sees what information. This feature has helped them maintain privacy and confidentiality within their organizations.

Useful RSS Feeds: A significant number of users have highlighted the usefulness of RSS feeds in Novell Vibe. As project managers, they find it beneficial to be updated in real-time as information is posted. This feature enables them to stay on top of progress and anticipate any potential issues.

Cons:

  1. Steep learning curve and lack of findable information: Several users have mentioned that they found the system to be one of the most user-unfriendly they have encountered in their experience of building websites. They have also noted a steep learning curve and a lack of easily accessible information on the internet, making it challenging for them to navigate and use the tool effectively.
  2. Workflow disruptions when making changes to tree structure: Users have reported difficulties working with the interface due to quirks in the Java used. Specifically, when making changes to a tree structure, some users have experienced issues where it gets reset to the top level, disrupting their workflow and requiring additional time and effort to fix.
  3. Lack of copy option interrupts workflow: Some users have found it strange that there is no copy option in the tool, which constantly interrupts their workflow. This means that they cannot easily duplicate or replicate elements within the platform, leading to inefficiencies and extra steps in their tasks.

Users have made several recommendations for Micro Focus Vibe 4.0 based on their experience with the software. Firstly, many users have found the software to be very user-friendly and easy to use for every feature. This ease of use has been highlighted as a key strength of the product, making it accessible and intuitive for users of all experience levels.

Secondly, reviewers have suggested trying the free trial of Micro Focus Vibe 4.0 before making a purchase. This recommendation allows potential customers to explore and evaluate the software's features and capabilities, helping them make an informed decision about its suitability for their needs.

Lastly, users recommend considering the NOWS bundling option when purchasing Micro Focus Vibe 4.0. This bundling option is suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers cost-effective solutions tailored to specific requirements, making it an attractive choice for both small and large businesses alike.

In addition to these recommendations, some users have also pointed out that Micro Focus Vibe 4.0 could be considered as a cost-effective alternative to SharePoint. Moreover, if budget is not a concern, reviewers advise choosing a product with a user-friendly interface.

Overall, these recommendations emphasize the user-friendliness of Micro Focus Vibe 4.0 and suggest exploring the free trial and considering the NOWS bundling option when evaluating this software for business needs.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
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Donna Moyer | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Novell Vibe is being used across our entire organization. We use it for file access and tracking progress of projects and customer support.
We also install Vibe for customers and work with them to design their access as well as set up their complex workflows.
  • Novell VIbe is extremely easy to install and very intuitive to use
  • Novell Vibe provides a secure environment for teams to collaborate
  • Novell Vibe provides the ability to create complex workflows to streamline an organizations process
  • Novell Vibe could be improved by adding the ability to print forms that are completed during a workflow or information entry
Novell Vibe can provide file sharing and team collaboration services for most environments. Teams that need heavy project management functionality like Gantt charts and resource allocation would be better served by using a package like MS Project.
  • Novell Vibe has increased employee efficiency by providing a central file repository for our team.
  • Novell Vibe has increased our customer service capabilities by allowing our team to track customer projects and support issues more effectively.
2

Network consultants who use Vibe for project management.

We have customers for whom we have implemented the product. Staff that uses the product includes purchasing agents, administrative assistants, marketing professionals, project manager and engineers.

1

IT professionals with rights administration experience.


Most of my customers do not need the IT staff to interact with Vibe administration on a daily basis.

  • Project management
  • Document sharing
  • Customer - Project management
  • Customer - Purchase Order Workflow
  • Customer - Project management
  • Customer - Educational assessment workflow
  • Customer - App approval workflow
  • We have a client who is using Vibe to perform and track teacher assessments. We created the environment in Vibe for the customer
  • We have a client who uses Vibe for purchase order approval workflow. We created the forms and workflow for the customers
  • We have a client who uses Vibe for an approval workflow to approve new the purchase of educational apps for iPads. We created the necessary forms and workflow for the client.
  • Vacation approval
  • Customer project portal
Novell Vibe is an extremely cost-effective solution for the services it provides. Novell is also extremely customizable and stable.
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was a minor issue with the implementation
We implemented Vibe in-house ourselves as we are Novell partner who implements Vibe for other clients. The biggest lesson in implementing Novell Vibe in any environment is to provide adequate time for testing and staff training.
  • Staff training
Adequate time for testing and staff training are a must.
December 19, 2014

Vibe Review

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using Vibe primarily for its workflow/work process abilities. It has replaced clumsy spreadsheets that can't reproduce what Vibe does for us.

We now can track the flow of our inventory throughout it's process over multiple sites and know at what state it's in. Our workflow is designed to be extremely user friendly. Most interactions are just one click, where the user checks that their part of the process is complete and notifications get automatically sent to coworkers who need to know that particular step is complete.

We also use the shared calendar as departmental calenders.
  • Workflow management is where Vibe excels
  • Shared file access
  • Shared calendar
  • The most pressing improvement is in printing. In speaking with Novell techs Vibe was designed as a web tool, no paper necessary. However in the real world our folks love their paper printouts. Vibe utilizes views for various functions. A print view that's easily configured would be an awesome upgrade.
  • Customized in JSP. Vibe is completely customized using JSP. I don't know it. I'm not a programmer. I can work things out, but programming isn't my forte.
Vibe is part of our license and if it's part of yours you should take it for a run. I believe the strength in Vibe is the workflow element. If you are looking for ways to track something with accountable processes, then Vibe is worthy of the challenge. It also will fill file sharing needs and calendar needs. There are many aspects that we don't use but could definitely implement, like the wiki. Having a wiki for new employees to learn company lingo is one that comes to mind.The hardest part is collaboration. Some employees don't like to share their knowledge or don't want to since they don't see what's in it for them. The software will allow easy collaboration, but sometimes you can lead a horse to water but can't make them drink.
  • Saved us money and time in maintaining our inventory. We send vehicles to various sites, some off-site, an now we know with precision where and what state they are in. What happened to that vehicle?... look in Vibe!
  • Easier document management. Looking for a doc? It's in the Sales workspace folder.
I have not evaluated any other product as Vibe is part of our current Novell license.
We would never go back to a spreadsheet to manage our inventory!

Since Vibe is essentially free for us there's no reason not to continue using it. We plan on rolling out more processes in other departments for the coming year.

The biggest obstacle is change. People don't want to change doing things they have been doing for years. If the workflow saves time people will embrace it.
July 07, 2014

Good Vibe-rations

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Novell Vibe was a huge success in replacing our intranet and introduced a solution to address several problems and wants: department landing pages (for related news and info), blogs, discussion threads, wiki (we use it for IT change controls), surveys, calendars, LDAP sync to Active Directory (giving users the ability to access it externally), and a mobile app, just to name a few.
The most attractive piece, from a maintenance/administrative standpoint, is that it allows us to assign user rights at any level. From a single entry to an entire landing page. It puts content-management in the hands of department managers.
  • Rights. You can grant users/groups rights to specific entries (i.e. an entry for IT eyes only).
  • Due to how it's built, you can access it via SSO internally, and access it externally (workstation/app) using credentials.
  • Wiki. We created a Change Control wiki to help document changes to our systems.
  • Personal Workspaces. These are very dynamic and useful in keeping track of tasks and projects.
  • Application Integration. We integrated our email and IM systems. Especially useful when working on projects with team members across multiple sites.
  • The app needs some enhancements (i.e. phone numbers aren't touch-and-call)
  • There can only be one global landing page. Meaning you can't have users go directly to their department page. Our work-around was putting links to their pages on the global landing page.
  • The Photo Album capability is cumbersome.
  • Blogs seemed to be the only way to successfully set up a landing page as it offered the most flexibility.
It is well suited in a mid-scale to large-scale, multi-site environment with 150+ employees.

Questions worth asking are:
Given our business requirements, would it be best to implement out-of-the-box, or have some hired-out programming for company-specific needs? There are advantages and disadvantages to each.
With the rights capability, can you get buy-in from department heads to maintain their content, or do you keep it in IT?
  • Collaboration has increased.
  • External access to Vibe has been positive.
  • Managers have taken on more ownership of the system.
  • The learning curve was difficult, and near vertical, at times due to Vibe being so different than what empoloyees were used to.
We are a mixed shop (Microsoft and Novell). We had the entire Novell suite and realized Novell Vibe was included. After meeting with Novell and learning what Vibe had to offer for collaboration and application integration, and since we wouldn't incur have any additional costs, we decided to try it before looking at other solutions. We are happy with our decision.
It meets our current business needs and provides the scalability we need for future growth. It can be installed on Windows or Linux (Our alpha install was on Linux. Our beta was on Windows. We went with Windows). There are additional features, and application integrations, that we haven't taken advantage as of yet due to the lack of current business needs.
Jason Preuss | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
This product is being used as the backbone of our intranet. It is used across the entire organization. The problems it addresses are mainly company wide communication and electronic form usage. We are also using it some for file storage.
  • You can create electronic forms with powerful workflows behind them. This allows for supervisor approval/rejection of forms. The workflows also allow for email alerts when certain stages are met.
  • Built in social media tools. Each employee has a feed which other employees can follow.
  • Allows employees to create teams in which they can chose members and rights.
  • The product has a small user base, have had problems finding solutions online.
  • Upgrades are not as frequent as they could be.
  • Need to know JSP to do advanced customizations.
If you are already using Novell products, it fits seamlessly in. If your company is 100% Microsoft then maybe SharePoint would be a good alternative. For small firms with a limited budget for an intranet solution this could be a good choice.
  • It has improved communication. Before often people who needed to know certain things weren't getting the information, now it is delivered automatically.
  • Made forms more efficient.
The main alternatives were Sharepoint or creating a custom Drupal install. Sharepoint was too expensive and didn't fit into our Novell environment. The Drupal solution we found was beyond our technical ability.
It works and we have invested quite a bit of time in customizing the product. Most other products would incur quite a jump in expenses.
Chantal Kluthe | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We used it on projects and areas in our daily business operations to collaborate with all of our employees involved. It also provides great way to keep communication flowing. We used as a central repository for documents and contracts.
  • Improves communication
  • Keeps track of assigned tasks
  • Document collaboration
  • Team work environment
  • Saving documents from word using the Novell vibe add in is slow and sometimes word will freeze before the document can be uploaded to vibe
Does your team want a collaborative work space?
  • Better communication
  • Improved access to documents
  • Improved team collaboration
Team workspace and project management
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