IBM Workload Automation Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.0 out of 5

33 reviews
97% willing to recommend

1,487 followers

What is IBM Workload Automation?

IBM Workload Automation helps companies manage operations, portfolio management, resource collection, and dependency scheduling. It facilitates transitions from legacy apps to web services, executing batch processing for tens of thousands of jobs daily with hundreds of users.

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IBM Workload Automation is the #11 ranked solution in top Workload Automation solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM Workload Automation an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. IBM Workload Automation is most commonly compared to Control-M: IBM Workload Automation vs Control-M. IBM Workload Automation is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 74% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 33% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

IBM Workload Automation

May 2025

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Featured IBM Workload Automation reviews

Ilhami Arikan

Cloud Services Automation Technologies Manager at Garanti Teknoloji

Sometimes we have issues with the solution's stability. So, stability can be improved. Reporting and visibility of the solution need improvement. These days, we need more visibility. We need to access the logs and databases easily. You need to keep track of the running number of logs, like which ones are executed, completed, etc. So if there would be a good reporting dashboard, then it would be good. There's room for improvement in the solution since it is a challenging thing when we want to use the solution's technology with our new technologies. For example, if we need to use TWS on our OpenShift platform, the solution's API is not capable enough. So the product itself needs to be aligned with new technologies.

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it_user499683

Sr. Tivoli WLA admin at a logistics company with 10,001+ employees

Today, TWS (TWA) has evolved into version 9.x and the product is now also available as a cloud-provided service (the management parts, from IBM SmartCloud). I think that is a good and modern development, but the first v9.x releases (and maybe also the latest, I don’t know) lacked the event-driver WLA functionality that was already available for years in older on-prem versions of the product. That doesn’t help IBM have customers migrate from older on-prem versions to these modern cloud-provided versions, when they would like to migrate. IBM should have its cloud service deliver at least the same functionalities as their on-premise service has been delivering for years.

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reviewer2701716

Technical Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

One valuable feature of IBM Workload Automation ( /products/ibm-workload-automation-reviews ) is the ability to combine different applications and platforms to organize jobs together, creating dependencies. It's akin to an orchestra. Another feature is dynamic workload balancing, which I find enhances efficiency by automating job setup to run daily. Moreover, having a backup setup allows for immediate recovery if the master setup fails.

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IBM Workload Automation mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of IBM Workload Automation in the Workload Automation category stands at 6.9%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Workload Automation

PeerResearch reports based on IBM Workload Automation reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Workload Automation	May 16, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 16, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Workload Automation vs Control-M	May 16, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Workload Automation vs Automic Automation	May 16, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Workload Automation vs Redwood RunMyJobs	May 16, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Control-M	4.4	21.8%	98%	121 interviews Add to research
AutoSys Workload Automation	4.2	12.2%	94%	81 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM Workload Automation's most valuable features include automation capabilities with dependencies, diverse scheduling options, real-time database updating, and seamless integration with applications like Oracle and SAP. Its GUI and console facilitate ease of use and job monitoring. Event-based scheduling with dynamic workload balancing, high availability, and disaster recovery support enhance efficiency. Users appreciate its ability to automate processes, manage diverse platforms, and create custom scripts for mass job updates.

"I recommend IBM Workload Automation as it's a well-established and stable product."
"It offers features like MDM and a Windows workstation, although there are some technical dependencies. It is more user-friendly and also includes failover and failback capabilities. While both systems offer high availability, Control-M's high availability is superior to AWS's."
"The solution helps automate processes so that the workload can be handled on a daily basis."

Room for Improvement

IBM Workload Automation can be improved in areas such as user interface simplicity, built-in SFTP/FTP capabilities, and improved integration with modern technologies. There are also challenges with SLA monitoring, dependency management, and time zone control. Users find the web interface slow and navigation cumbersome. Enhanced reporting, better training materials, and reducing the cost of maintenance would also be beneficial. Technical support and more robust automation and monitoring would increase efficiency.

"IBM Workload Automation could be improved by reducing its cost. The maintenance charges have increased significantly, and a lower cost would be beneficial."
"IBM needs to move away from its native terminology and adopt a more cloud-centric approach."
"The solution should offer more free technical sessions to customers so that they can gain more experience or learn more about how to use it."

ROI

Users mention difficulty in calculating ROI in monetary terms but agree it was a worthwhile investment. Some find ROI low with slow realization in simple networks yet valuable in high investment complex scenarios. ROI is noticeable though ongoing maintenance costs are a concern, leading to the consideration of alternatives. Familiarity with other systems like BMC exists; however, with a trained team, IBM Workload Automation is satisfactory. Efficient cost management could retain more users.

Pricing

IBM Workload Automation pricing is perceived as expensive by users, often involving complex licensing models like Processor Value Unit (PVU) and pay-per-use for cloud services. Prices can be discounted through negotiations with IBM or third-party vendors. Some users discuss transitioning from server to per job licenses for cost savings. Licensing costs depend on factors like the number of agents installed and the level of virtualization technology used. Initial setup can be costly for first-time buyers.

"The solution's pricing is affordable."
"The solution is a little bit expensive."
"Pricing depends on the number of agents that you install."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily utilize IBM Workload Automation for operations management, batch processing, and scheduling tasks. It facilitates integration with services and applications, supports transitions from legacy systems to web-based jobs, and manages network automation. Companies utilize it to run and schedule numerous jobs daily, optimize backend workloads, and automate tasks for industries, including banking and government. IBM Workload Automation assists in workload scaling, data collection, and resource management.

Service and Support

IBM Workload Automation’s customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Some praise the knowledgeable and helpful support staff, while others highlight delays and challenges in reaching technical support directly. A direct contact system sometimes bypasses the ticketing process. Users appreciate engagement from dedicated specialists and account managers, but technical expertise varies, impacting the experience. Complex issues sometimes require internal or third-party help, especially for older versions.

Deployment

IBM Workload Automation's initial setup is often seen as complex, especially for those lacking in-depth technical expertise. Some users find configuring elements like TDWC challenging, requiring support intervention. Linux installations are perceived as more difficult compared to Windows, due to platform-specific complexities. Though some find setup straightforward with adequate experience, many note that multiple IBM components and agent configurations necessitate detailed guidance and customizing setups can lead to difficulties for large environments.

Scalability

IBM Workload Automation offers good scalability with most users not facing any significant challenges. A few have noted minor issues related to parameters and mail server IDs. Users have managed substantial deployments and job executions efficiently. Some find the scalability challenging and suggest improvement, particularly with cloud integration and user expansion. Many users are satisfied with its capacity to support a large number of tasks and recommend it for larger organizations.

Stability

IBM Workload Automation is highly stable, earning ratings of nine out of ten for stability. Many users report no issues and praise its reliability, particularly in Unix/Linux environments. Some caution about occasional problems in unstable environments, particularly with dependency resolution. Proper administration is key, and older versions experienced more issues. Current versions, including 8.6.02, show improved stability. Continuous stability issues typically relate to specific conditions or software interactions, not the main application itself.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM Workload Automation Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

33%

Computer Software Company

10%

Retailer

Insurance Company

Manufacturing Company

Government

Healthcare Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Construction Company

Educational Organization

Media Company

Comms Service Provider

University

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Logistics Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Wholesaler/Distributor

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare IBM Workload Automation with alternative products

Learn more about IBM Workload Automation

Teams rely on IBM Workload Automation to optimize backend workloads, maintain service levels, and offer support in remote environments. Its interface and job scheduler are appreciated for their value and effectiveness. Users benefit from batch automation, multiple node job triggering, stability, and batch app tracking. It provides a holistic view to resolve technical issues and leverage AI for updates. Its user-friendly interface simplifies workload management. Performance, monitoring, request features for adding functionalities, and workload management are key advantages.

What are the most important features?

Interface and Job Scheduler: Highly valued for managing processes efficiently.
Batch Automation: Facilitates the automation of batch processing tasks.
Multiple Node Job Triggering: Enables triggering jobs across multiple nodes.
Stability: Ensures a reliable and consistent performance.
Batch App Tracking: Allows tracking and monitoring of batch applications.
Holistic View: Helps in resolving technical issues and leveraging AI.

What are the benefits or ROI items to look for in reviews?

Performance: Enhanced system performance and monitoring capabilities.
Workload Management: Effective management of various workload types.
Request Feature: Ability to add new functionalities as needed.

IBM Workload Automation is implemented across several industries for diverse tasks. Companies executing high-volume batch processing, managing complex job dependencies, and transitioning from legacy systems find it valuable. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing utilize it to maintain operational efficiency, enhance system performance, and automate critical processes.

IBM Workload Automation was previously known as IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler, IBM TWS.