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ActiveBatch by Redwood vs Rocket Zena comparison

ActiveBatch by Redwood and Rocket Software are both solutions in the Workload Automation category. ActiveBatch by Redwood is ranked #19, while Rocket Software is ranked #20. ActiveBatch by Redwood holds a 2.8% mindshare in WA, compared to Rocket Software’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of ActiveBatch by Redwood users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Rocket Software users who would recommend it.
ActiveBatch by Redwood
Read 36 ActiveBatch by Redwood reviews
  • 1,943 Views
  • 1,477 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Rocket Zena
Read 8 Rocket Zena reviews
  • 1,347 Views
  • 1,347 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 27, 2025

Rocket Zena and ActiveBatch by Redwood compete in the IT automation space. ActiveBatch is viewed as superior overall due to its comprehensive features, while Rocket Zena has advantages in pricing and customer support satisfaction.

Features: Rocket Zena includes robust scheduling, monitoring capabilities, and specific-task automation, making it apt for precise task management. ActiveBatch offers extensive workflow integrations, customizable automation options, and detailed orchestration features, catering to businesses needing versatile solutions.

Room for Improvement: Rocket Zena could enhance its user interface intuitiveness, expand integration options, and improve scalability for larger enterprises. ActiveBatch may benefit from simplifying some complex features, reducing initial setup time, and enhancing real-time monitoring capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Rocket Zena is known for a straightforward deployment process with effective support, suited for businesses seeking quick implementation. ActiveBatch has a more complex deployment but compensates with comprehensive customer service for users needing detailed guidance.

Pricing and ROI: Rocket Zena is cost-effective with a strong return on investment, appealing to businesses prioritizing affordability. ActiveBatch, with a higher initial cost, delivers substantial ROI through its extensive capabilities, attracting companies willing to invest for long-term benefits.

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Buyer's Guide
ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. Rocket Zena
September 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

ActiveBatch by Redwood
Ranking in Workload Automation
19th
Average Rating
9.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
36
Ranking in other categories
Process Automation (34th), Managed File Transfer (MFT) (18th)
Rocket Zena
Ranking in Workload Automation
20th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
8
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Workload Automation category, the mindshare of ActiveBatch by Redwood is 2.8%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Rocket Zena is 2.5%, down from 3.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Workload Automation Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
ActiveBatch by Redwood2.8%
Rocket Zena2.5%
Other94.7%
Workload Automation
 

Featured Reviews

Shubham Bharti - PeerSpot reviewer
Flexible, easy to use, and offers good automation
Occasionally, I find myself contemplating if there is room for improvement in the user interface (UI), and envisioning that with certain enhancements. The UI could potentially offer a more refined and user-friendly experience, fostering smoother interactions and facilitating easier navigation for users engaging with the application. New users might encounter a minor setback due to the absence of readily accessible training videos, which could have otherwise proven to be an invaluable resource in aiding their initial familiarization with the platform, potentially hindering their seamless onboarding process and delaying their ability to harness the software's full range of capabilities to its utmost potential.
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JuanGonzalez6 - PeerSpot reviewer
A continuously evolving, stable solution, with responsive support
The visual whiteboard for design and execution included with the solution is very crucial to those who are new to Rocket Zena, especially so that the learning curve is minimized and they can focus on accomplishing the task. We process our system's payroll through Rocket Zena. The fact that it's a multi-process, multi-layered application, means that we can rely on the solution for kicking off processes, notifying user vendors of the steps, completions, error logging, and historic events from the previous run times. Rocket Zena's ability to automate jobs on the mainframe as a distribution workload automation solution is good. The solution continuously improves over time. We're eager to start the latest upgrade this coming year that'll put us on the cloud. Hopefully, this will improve the product even more. We can run things natively without the scheduler if needed. The solution working properly and up to date without the need for a mainframe scheduler is crucial. We use the solution to manage a few complex operational workflows end-to-end across multiple technology stacks. Rocket Zena does a great job of simplifying our cross-platform processes through automation. The solution helps speed operations up and keeps them automated allowing us to focus on other priorities. The solution helps increase our completion rates by working overnight to meet our SLAs. Rocket Zena completes 30 percent of our workload outside of our standard work hours. Rocket Zena's cross-platform job scheduling helped us save around 40 percent of programming time by automating repetitive tasks. We use the solution to transfer our current files and keep up with our infrastructure on a few automated jobs, such as refreshing our database which happens overnight. The solution helped free up around 15 percent of our engineer's time to focus on more value-added work.
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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Easy to configure and simple to develop new features."
"ActiveBatch by Redwood has positively impacted my organization by efficiently managing a significant volume of data and workflow between our database and applications on the web browser."
"The nice thing about ActiveBatch is once we have created a specific job that can be easily be replicated to another job, then minimal changes will have to be made. This makes things nice. Reduction of coding is substantial in a lot of cases. The replication of one job to another is just doing a few minor tweaks and rolling it into production. This decreases our development costs substantially."
"We are able to integrate it into multiple third-party tools like email, backup, tracking systems, SharePoint, Slack alerts, etc."
"The software offers real-time monitoring and reporting features that let IT teams keep tabs on the progress of their batch operations and workflows."
"Since I started using this product, I have been able to easily track everything as it mainly monitors, alerts, and looks after all the services - even across platform scheduling - which has helped me immensely."
"The user interface is really incredible."
"The product offers a centralized platform for managing activities across many environments, applications, etc."
More ActiveBatch by Redwood pros
"I like the whole product, but specifically, I like the license part. It's very easy to acquire a license for this product."
"In the latest upgrade, Zena added a web-based client. The more I use it, the more I like it. It's an excellent interface. They do a good job of steadily improving the solution to make it more useful."
"We haven't had any problems since we installed it. It runs as expected, we haven't had any critical problems. It helps keeps the business running 24/7."
"You can click Ctrl-G and bring a diagram view. You're able to view in a diagram format. The view that it provides is easy, and you can move to the left, up, or down. You can double-click on a certain process. It'll drill into that process and all of its underlying components. You can double-click on an arrow or a component, and it'll bring up a screen that'll have all the variables that are assigned to that particular piece, as well as the values at run time. So, the diagram feature of it, at least for me, is pretty valuable."
"From a Linux configuration point of view, Rocket Zena is straightforward. It's fairly easy to set up the server and agents once you know how to do it."
"The most valuable feature is the FTP file transfer."
"I have found the scheduling feature the most valuable. I can map dependencies by using ASG-Zena. It gives a nice, quick visualization as to where things are."
"Its FTP feature is very good, as is scheduling any process or task with the Zena client. I have found it to be very helpful. If a task fails, it gives you a prompt."
 

Cons

"One thing I've noticed is that navigation can be difficult unless you are familiar with the structure that we have in place. If someone else had to look at our ActiveBatch console and find a job, they might not know where to find it."
"We have faced a couple of issues where we were supposed to log a defect with ActiveBatch. That said, the Active batch Vendor Support is very responsive and reliable."
"The user interface can be improved so that it is more appealing and accessible to new users."
"Providing some detailed training materials could be very helpful for new users who have very limited technical information about the tool."
"Between version 10 and version 12 there was a change. In version 10, they had each object in its own folder. But on the back end, they saw it at the root level. So when we moved over to version 12, everything was in the same area mixed together. It was incredibly difficult and we actually had to create our own folders and move those objects—like schedules, jobs, user accounts—and manually put those into folders, whereas the previous version already had it."
"ActiveBatch UI could use a little more help, and video tutorials would be greatly appreciated for user guides."
"Except for the GUI, everything looks good."
"They have some crucial design flaws within the console that still need to be worked out because it is not working exactly how we hoped to see it, e.g., just some minor things where when you hit the save button, then all of a sudden all your job's library items collapse. Then, in order to continue on with your testing, you have to open those back up. I have taken that to them, and they are like, "Yep. We know about it. We know we have some enhancements that need to be taken care of. We have more developers now." They are working towards taking the minor things that annoy us, resolving them, and getting them fixed."
More ActiveBatch by Redwood cons
"One area where it could be improved is communication between the different servers. Sometimes there are processes that have already been completed but we get a status notification that they're still active."
"Another one that is probably a little bit bigger for me is that when there is an issue or there's an error, it writes on a different screen. I have to find the actual process name and go to a different screen to view the alert that got generated. On that screen, everyone's processes, not just the processes of the folks in my department, are thrown. It takes me a while to find the actual error so that I could go in there and look at the alert. It could be because of the way it was set up, but at least for me, it isn't too intuitive."
"In the web interface, it stacks the tasks across the top, and they accumulate until you close or clean those out. That seems a little cumbersome. You must right-click and close all tabs constantly to keep the console clean and manage your views."
"In the next release, I would like the user experience to be improved. The user interface should be more appealing to gen-z."
"The documentation has room for improvement."
"The UI is not intuitive, and it would be nice if there was a web interface."
"The scheduling mapping is a little disjointed. There is no wizard-type approach. There are a lot of different things that you have to do in completely different areas. They could probably add the functionality for creating all components of a mapping or an OPA schedule. The component creation could be done collectively rather than through individual components."
"Rocket Zena is a mainframe-based job scheduler. I would like it to be more open so that we can use it on a distributed platform."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Currently, we are paying approximately $7,000 yearly, which includes support."
"ActiveBatch is currently redesigning themselves. In the past, they were a low cost solution for automation. They had a nice tool that was very inexpensive. With their five-year plan, they will be more enhancement-driven, so they're trying to improve their software, customer service, and the way that their customers get information from them. In doing that, they're raising the price of their base system. They changed from one pricing model to another, which has caused some friction between ActiveBatch and us. We're working through that right now with them. That's one of the reasons why we're why we were evaluating other software packages."
"I like ActiveBatch Workload Automation's licensing model because they're not holding you down on an agentless model or agent model, where every server needs to have an agent. That's the main selling point of the solution and I hope they stay that way."
"The pricing was fair. There are additional costs for the plugins. We have the standard licensing fees for different pieces, then we have the plugins which were add-ons. However, we expected that."
"The price was fairly in line with other automation tools. I don't think it's exorbitantly expensive, relatively speaking."
"It allows for lower operational overhead."
"I don't think we've ever had a problem with the pricing or licensing. Even the maintenance fees are very much in line. They are not excessive. I think for the support that you get, you get a good value for your money. It's the best value on the market."
"If you compare ActiveBatch licensing to Control-M, you're looking at $50,000 as opposed to millions."
"The pricing and the licensing are good. It is affordable and can be used to improve and optimize productivity."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Insurance Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Retailer
7%
Financial Services Firm
29%
Insurance Company
10%
Computer Software Company
9%
Government
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise13
Large Enterprise47
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Large Enterprise6
 

Questions from the Community

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Today, we will look at the legacy systems, the red flags that point at the system getting old and rusty, and the ways a reliable custom software. This guide: https://www.cleveroad.com/blog/legacy-s...
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Comparisons

Control-M vs ActiveBatch by Redwood Logo
Control-M vs ActiveBatch by Redwood
Compared 16% of the time
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform vs ActiveBatch by Redwood Logo
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform vs ActiveBatch by Redwood
Compared 12% of the time
Redwood RunMyJobs vs ActiveBatch by Redwood Logo
Redwood RunMyJobs vs ActiveBatch by Redwood
Compared 9% of the time
AutoSys Workload Automation vs ActiveBatch by Redwood Logo
AutoSys Workload Automation vs ActiveBatch by Redwood
Compared 8% of the time
IBM Workload Automation vs ActiveBatch by Redwood Logo
IBM Workload Automation vs ActiveBatch by Redwood
Compared 4% of the time
More ActiveBatch by Redwood Competitors
Control-M vs Rocket Zena Logo
Control-M vs Rocket Zena
Compared 46% of the time
IBM Workload Automation vs Rocket Zena Logo
IBM Workload Automation vs Rocket Zena
Compared 16% of the time
Rocket Zeke vs Rocket Zena Logo
Rocket Zeke vs Rocket Zena
Compared 13% of the time
AutoSys Workload Automation vs Rocket Zena Logo
AutoSys Workload Automation vs Rocket Zena
Compared 6% of the time
JAMS vs Rocket Zena Logo
JAMS vs Rocket Zena
Compared 5% of the time
More Rocket Zena Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
ActiveBatch by Redwood
October 2025
ActiveBatch by Redwood reportDownload ActiveBatch by Redwood product report
Buyer's Guide
Rocket Zena
October 2025
Rocket Zena reportDownload Rocket Zena product report
 

Also Known As

ActiveBatch
ASG-Zena
 

Overview

ActiveBatch by Redwood enhances efficiency with features like job scheduling, integration, and real-time monitoring. It supports diverse platforms, automates tasks, and offers a single-pane view with robust security.

ActiveBatch streamlines automation by offering drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built job steps, and native integrations. Its customizable workflows and alert system aid in managing complex workloads like data processing and server monitoring across hybrid environments. While it effectively reduces manual errors and enhances productivity, areas like navigation and support for cloud platforms need enhancement. New users may face challenges due to its complexity and steep learning curve, and further improvements in reporting, mobile access, and training could provide additional support to users.

What important features does ActiveBatch offer?
  • Comprehensive Job Scheduling: Manages and automates complex workloads efficiently.
  • Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with different platforms and applications.
  • Real-time Monitoring: Offers a single-pane view for quick issue identification.
  • Customizable Workflows: Tailors processes to specific organizational tasks.
  • Robust Alert System: Ensures timely notifications for critical events.
  • Data Protection: Incorporates strong security measures for secure operations.
What benefits should be considered when evaluating ActiveBatch?
  • Enhanced Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks, reducing manual intervention.
  • Improved Productivity: Streamlines processes across hybrid environments.
  • Error Reduction: Decreases likelihood of manual errors.
  • Platform Support: Provides integration with diverse systems.

In finance, ActiveBatch is implemented for orchestrating batch processes and data management. The healthcare industry utilizes it for automating patient data updates and server monitoring, while the retail sector benefits from file transfers and inventory management automation.

ActiveBatch by Redwood

Rocket Zena offers scheduling and dependency mapping, intuitive interface, and containerized deployment. It simplifies workflow automation, enhancing efficiency across platforms.

Rocket Zena's strengths lie in its scheduling capabilities, graphical interface, and efficient deployment. It supports users in task management with cross-platform scheduling, streamlining repetitive tasks through automation. The web-based client facilitates process visualization and workflow management, while the notification system enhances task handling. Users can manage mainframe, Linux, and Windows environments while integrating with SAP and Oracle, ensuring comprehensive automation and efficient job execution.

What are the key features of Rocket Zena?
  • Scheduling and Dependency Mapping: Manages tasks efficiently with a graphical interface.
  • Containerized Deployment: Simplifies deployment and improves efficiency.
  • FTP Capabilities: Facilitates secure file transfers and backups.
  • Web-based Client and Whiteboard: Enhances process visualization and control.
  • Cross-Platform Scheduling: Automates repetitive tasks, reducing manual intervention.
What benefits and ROI should users expect?
  • Enhanced Efficiency: Automates complex tasks, freeing time for value-added work.
  • Improved Accuracy: Minimizes manual errors with reliable automation.
  • Streamlined Task Management: Simplifies workflow with intuitive notification systems.
  • Easy Integration: Supports SAP, Oracle, and other enterprise platforms.

In industries like finance and manufacturing, Rocket Zena plays a vital role in scheduling batch jobs and automating file transfers. It helps adapt task scheduling to business calendars and integrate with existing platforms, ensuring a smooth workflow that meets business objectives.

Rocket Software
 

Sample Customers

Informatica, D&H, ACES, PrimeSource, Sub-Zero Group, SThree, Lamar Advertising, Subway, Xcel Energy, Ignite Technologies, Whataburger, Jyske Bank, Omaha Children's Hospital
Fraternidad Muprespa
Buyer's Guide
ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. Rocket Zena
September 2025
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