Excellent SaaS platform for IT service costing.
Updated October 18, 2014

Excellent SaaS platform for IT service costing.

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review

Software Version

Apptio SaaS TBM Solution

Modules Used

  • IT Service Costing, Bill of IT, Service Performance, Benchmarking

Overall Satisfaction with Apptio Technology Business Management

Pros

  • Apptio uses data from IT operational and financial systems to relatively quickly construct a flexible, actionable set of budget, cost, and operational models and reports that are expected to become even more accurate over time. Our visibility to near-real time consumption and related costs of IT Services is a powerful capability presenting important opportunities for decision making and performance improvement progress.

Cons

  • Data normalization, process re-engineering support, predictive analytics.
  • We are expecting at least a 300% ROI in the first year based on service improvement savings. We'll know more in the coming quarters.
BMC, Quest, homegrown alternatives.
Apptio provided the best specific IT Business Management (ITBM) capabilities with the fastest deployment time and least impact overall. SaaS platform was an important plus, as well.
Some may see Apptio as a glorified set of spreadsheets, but ultimately they have done a good job defining a leading product in the space, and although much of the back end data coordination is outside of the Apptio product set (see improvement opportunities section), it has the potential to become the heart of our Consumption-based model. Pulling out could be disruptive, but if ROI's are not achieved, it would be an option. We have a 2 year deal with options, depending on performance.
As IT becomes more and more integrated into the business, Apptio provides a valuable enterprise-level solution to companies with large IT expenditures that don't already have solid IT service costing, planning and performance measuring capabilities in place. Uncovering even small amounts of savings and performance improvement opportunities should more than pay for the relatively easy to implement, SaaS-based platform.

Using Apptio Technology Business Management

250 - Service Delivery across infrastructure, application development and support, Services Finance, Corp IT Finance, IT Planning, Architecture
7 - Data Modeler, Data Operations, Tool Administration and Modeling, Reporting
  • Costing of IT Services, Consumption Reporting (Business consumption of IT Services), IT Planning (annual, 3 - 5 years out), Service Performance measurement and benchmarking.

Evaluating Apptio Technology Business Management and Competitors

We did not previously have a package to manage IT as a Business. This resulted in difficulties consistently and regularly understanding the true costs of IT consumption by our business partners.

Apptio Technology Business Management Implementation

Well, so far. Apptio Consulting covered specific model architecting areas particularly. Most of the heavy lifting is being done in-house with support from Apptio as it relates to tool impacts and needs. Some administrative tasks were redundant.
  • Vendor implemented
  • Implemented in-house
Combination of Apptio Consulting and in-house IT and Business teams.

Apptio Technology Business Management Training

  • Online training
  • In-person training
  • Self-taught
Excellent. We were able to coordinate an onsite course for several vs flying everyone to Apptio Training in Seattle.
Was simply used to get familiar with the tool. Good introduction to the in-person course.
Reporting capabilities may be learned without in-person training, but definitely not Modeling and Costing set up. Training was a full week and was valuable.

Apptio Technology Business Management Support

Solid support so far, primarily focused on implementation.
No - Once fully trained and implemented, we are not expecting a substantial need for support. The tool is not complex, once implemented and trained.

Using Apptio Technology Business Management

Apptio is proving to be a relatively user-friendly product, assuming proper skill sets and training. Enterprise Analytical abilities to support the proper data readiness and implementation are key.

Apptio Technology Business Management Reliability

Excellent, so far. SaaS-based...assuming effective data links and connectivity.
Excellent, so far.

Integrating Apptio Technology Business Management

  • Financial and Inventory systems primarily, ie Oracle, Ariba, BMC, etc.
This continues in progress as there are multiple source data systems feeding Apptio. All via generally available APIs ultimately, some more manual than others.
  • All systems requiring integration will be covered via available or built APIs. Meantime, manually scheduled data pulls work well enough, as needed.

Relationship with Apptio

Retail price is relatively high, negotiate that as well as licensing periods and modules included. Once Apptio is implemented, it becomes the heart of the your organizations IT Business Management structure. Hedge appropriately.

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