ARIS Cloud vs IBM Business Automation Workflow comparison

Software AG and IBM are both solutions in the Business Process Management (BPM) category. Software AG is ranked #33 with an average rating of 7.0, while IBM is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.2. Software AG holds a 1.1% mindshare in BPM, compared to IBM’s 1.7% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Software AG users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of IBM users who would recommend it.

ARIS Cloud

Read 14 ARIS Cloud reviews

1,824 Views
876 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

IBM Business Automation Wor...

Read 25 IBM Business Automation Workflow reviews

1,886 Views
1,886 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

ARIS Cloud

IBM Business Automation Wor...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 18, 2024

ARIS Cloud and IBM Business Automation Workflow compete in business process management. IBM has the upper hand with its robust feature set, while ARIS Cloud attracts price-sensitive businesses with competitive pricing and support.

Features: ARIS Cloud offers comprehensive process modeling, user-friendly collaboration tools, and strong visualization capabilities, all crucial for process-centric organizations. IBM Business Automation Workflow stands out with deep integration capabilities, extensive automation features, and a configurable workflow management system, appealing to enterprises seeking complex automation solutions.

Room for Improvement: ARIS Cloud could enhance its integration options, improve customization features, and expand its automation capabilities to match larger enterprises' needs. IBM Business Automation Workflow may benefit from a more intuitive user interface, quicker deployment processes, and better responsiveness in support services, which can affect user satisfaction.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ARIS Cloud offers a straightforward cloud-based deployment model with responsive customer support for fast issue resolution. In contrast, IBM Business Automation Workflow provides a hybrid deployment option tailored to complex environments but may present a steeper learning curve and slower support responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: ARIS Cloud is known for its cost-effective pricing structure, resulting in rapid ROI, making it appealing to budget-conscious organizations. IBM Business Automation Workflow involves a higher initial investment that delivers substantial long-term ROI, justified by its extensive functionality and strategic advantages for enterprises focusing on advanced capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed ARIS Cloud vs. IBM Business Automation Workflow Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Cloud vs. IBM Business Automation Workflow

December 2025

Download the complete report

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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

ARIS Cloud

Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)

33rd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Process Design (17th)

IBM Business Automation Wor...

Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)

12th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Business Process Management (BPM) category, the mindshare of ARIS Cloud is 1.1%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Business Automation Workflow is 1.7%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Management (BPM) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM Business Automation Workflow	1.7%
ARIS Cloud	1.1%
Other	97.2%

Business Process Management (BPM)

Featured Reviews

Aimad BATAL

Administrator at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees

Collaboration integrates seamlessly with intuitive user interface for effective process management

ARIS Cloud offers easy query writing for retrieving information and includes a user-friendly Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) part that aids risk managers effectively. The simplicity in drawing dashboards is also appreciated. Their collaboration features function similarly to social media platforms, allowing tagging and subject-specific discussions, all while being intuitive and user-friendly. ARIS Cloud is scalable, evidenced by its use in various organizations as a single source of truth, supported by the UMG database and an open e-learning platform.

Read full review

Ateeq Rehman

Unit Head System Implementor at Allied Bank Limited

Customizable features empower seamless workflow automation

The system is fully customizable, very resilient, and fault-tolerant. We have first-line support from IBM, so there are no issues. We have integrations with different banks, ERP systems, and other human resource management systems by integrating through different systems. It provides many ways to integrate, and we are utilizing it effectively.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"In terms of using the cloud version, if you're somebody who, like myself, has got a lot of experience and understands measures and notations and things, basically it's unrestricted. You can do so many things. You can do your Archimaze, you can do BPMN. There's lots of stuff you can do in there and if you're a good field person and you cause yourself re-using things or whatever, then it's very nice, it's very easy to use."

"ARIS Cloud is scalable."

"It's very easy to collaborate with. It's very user-friendly"

"From a total cost of ownership perspective, running this on the cloud is more efficient than having someone in the company take care of the infrastructure."

"It has proved that it also works in complex circumstances."

"Signavio is more intuitive, allowing users with no prior knowledge to navigate and understand its functionality more readily."

"The most valuable feature is GUI; it is very intuitive and easy to use."

"This solution has improved the way our organization does training."

More ARIS Cloud pros

"It performs the basic tasks that are required for the BBM solution as part of the overall integration with ECM or enterprise contact management."

"One of the most valuable features is the way that they are adapting to the market. Initially, it was doing only workflow. Now it has started bringing all the other components like rules within the workflow and then the integration with RPA."

"It provides a solution for integration orchestration. This solution is for any organization in the banking, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and all domains and industries."

"It's a flexible solution."

"The workflow of BAW's automation is handled inside of BPM, so we can see what state it is at and how things are processing through."

"This product is tightly integrated with the RPA automation process."

"The solution reduces the time to the resolution which is essential for businesses."

"The most valuable feature is automation, which is quite strong and we are quite happy with it."

More IBM Business Automation Workflow pros

Cons

"The stability was poor due to frequent outages."

"The stability was poor, with frequent outages."

"If you have multiple tiers of approvals into that update of the policy, or the process design itself, it takes ages to prepare those internal flows within the system."

"I encounter challenges, and I am using Yuri to establish principles, define rules, conduct training sessions, and offer coaching to application owners, SMEs, and individuals responsible for technologies. This aids in providing support during these migrations. Security is a consideration when migrating to the cloud. It's crucial to address potential risks and include security measures in the contract with the cloud provider. While there haven't been issues so far, acknowledging the risks is essential, especially when dealing with applications like ARIS. With the increasing capabilities and advancements in technology, many current challenges are likely to be resolved in the future. Despite security concerns, utilizing opportunities in the cloud and the internet offers significant advantages. Regarding areas for improvement, security remains a key consideration, especially when deploying ARIS in the cloud. However, this is not solely a product-specific concern but also pertains to the cloud environment. Beyond security, the strength of ARIS lies in its ability to serve as a unified repository for enterprise architecture. Having all information in one place facilitates alignment with the company's vision, strategy, and business objectives. Reducing redundancies across departments is crucial for maintaining service quality and minimizing costs. It ensures that everyone is on the same page, fostering collaboration and preventing discrepancies in information and services. While I currently use Guardis for this purpose, the concept of enterprise architecture is applicable, and ARIS stands as a valuable tool to support business processes and technology alignment within the company."

"The trial version of this solution does not give you enough time to learn how to use it, so it should be extended to one year."

"On an enterprise level, the ability to onboard somebody quickly is cumbersome because it just has too many things in it. It's got something like a hundred or more techniques and things in it."

"I would like to see more support for architectural diagrams."

"It seems that there could be innovations in fostering spontaneous cooperation between departments and individuals. This extends to case management and finding new paradigms for enhancing such cooperation. While some approaches, like basic case management tools, have been tried in the past, they may not have met expectations entirely. However, ongoing efforts in administrative science are focused on these areas. Companies with innovative ideas can contribute to progress, possibly involving concepts related to trust, even within the context of web 3. There are intriguing developments in how economic and business organizations can be formed. When it comes to learning about these concepts, starting with simple examples and gradually moving to more complex ones is advisable. Begin with the basics, excluding unnecessary details that might hinder understanding. Over time, you can delve into more intricate aspects, such as Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, to gain a deeper understanding of these technologies."

More ARIS Cloud cons

"Every client is moving to the cloud. We are still a little behind with IBM, but we are catching up from my point of view."

"One significant challenge is the lack of accessible forums or resources to seek help or information when problems arise."

"The initial setup is actually a really complicated process."

"While everything is integrated into one platform, I'd like guidelines on when and how to use ODM. This applies not only to implementation but also to automation processes. Additionally, proper instructions should be provided when installing on the cloud."

"The setup and installation process could be made easier."

"The development UI is sometimes a little slow."

"Sometimes, we feel like we are not getting the full features of the content management capabilities."

"IBM Business Automation Workflow can improve UI flexibility and integration. Additionally, the solutions from IBM have to provide a paperless solution, allowing for digital versions of documents."

More IBM Business Automation Workflow cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cloud deployment is not more expensive. In the cloud, you pay for what you use, and there's no need for maintaining infrastructure or additional personnel, making it cost-effective. On-premises deployment, on the other hand, involves infrastructure costs and maintenance expenses."

"There is a student version of this solution that can be used for free."

"The licensing model of ARIS Cloud is leaner and more beneficial to the customer. The new license model is great. With the on-premise, you needed to subscribe to many more types of licenses. Now there are licensed bundles available on the cloud."

"Nowadays, clients are looking at pricing as one of the major factors. For IBM products, they always think it is expensive for them. We are still educating our clients on the IBM FlexPoints licensing."

"While it can be quite costly, it offers significant benefits for users."

"Licensing varies by use-case."

"The solution has saved us time."

"It is on the expensive side, but it provides excellent supportability and an ecosystem that is proven to be a great fit for our organization."

"The product is expensive."

"There is still a relatively high total cost of ownership to actually implement, support, and stand up solutions."

"Our license is on a three-year term."

More IBM Business Automation Workflow pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

31%

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ARIS Cloud?

The price of ARIS Cloud is relatively high and not every firm can afford it, especially if the company is not mature enough to require such extensive process modeling and optimization.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ARIS Cloud?

It would be beneficial for ARIS Cloud to add more customization options, such as having a landing page. Improving the importation script from Microsoft Visio ( /products/visio-reviews ) would also ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ARIS Cloud?

I am currently working with both ARIS Cloud ( /products/aris-cloud-reviews ) and MEGA HOPEX ( /products/mega-hopex-reviews ), having switched from ARIS BPM ( /products/aris-bpa-reviews ) to MEGA HO...

See all answers

Which is better, IBM BPM or IBM Business Automation Workflow?

We researched both IBM solutions and in the end, we chose Business Automation Workflow. IBM BPM has a good user interface and the BPM coach is a helpful tool. The API is very useful in providing en...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Business Automation Workflow?

The price of IBM Business Automation Workflow is on the higher side compared to the features it offers.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Business Automation Workflow?

Code management lacks merging capabilities. If parallel development requires merging, improvements in this area would be beneficial. Additionally, the user interface could be more visually appealin...

See all answers

Comparisons

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 11% of the time

IBM Blueworks Live vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 10% of the time

Salesforce Platform vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 8% of the time

Visio vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 7% of the time

iServer vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 7% of the time

More ARIS Cloud Competitors

Camunda vs IBM Business Automation Workflow

Compared 19% of the time

IBM BPM vs IBM Business Automation Workflow

Compared 15% of the time

Apache Airflow vs IBM Business Automation Workflow

Compared 8% of the time

Pega Platform vs IBM Business Automation Workflow

Compared 8% of the time

Appian vs IBM Business Automation Workflow

Compared 7% of the time

More IBM Business Automation Workflow Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Cloud

January 2026

Download ARIS Cloud product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Business Automation Workflow

January 2026

Download IBM Business Automation Workflow product report

Also Known As

Process Live, ARIS Simulation, ARIS Aware, ARIS Connect

Business Automation Workflow

Overview

ARIS is the market-leading solution for professional business process management and modeling. Whether you want to document the "as-is" state of your operations for quality or certification reasons or design the "to-be" in terms of continuous improvement in your transformation program, ARIS is the best choice for establishing a single source of truth regarding all process excellence topics in your organization. It is for any organization looking to digitally transform their business, increase operational excellence and customer experience and ensure compliance in execution. ARIS helps you to make the most out of your processes with Process Mining, Risk & Compliance Management, RPA and much more.

What makes the difference?

The most comprehensive platform for process excellence in the market

Easy to use

Covers business & IT architecture from all angles

Full flexibility and >100 diagram types

Customer-driven development based on best practices

Strong partner ecosystem

ARIS is the market-leading solution for any organization and ideally suited to digitally transform the organization, increase operational excellence and customer experience and ensure compliance in execution.

Software AG

IBM Business Automation Workflow combines business process management and case management capabilities in one workflow solution. It integrates the capabilities of business process and case management into a single workflow offering. It unites information, process, and users to provide a 360-degree view of work to drive more successful optimized business outcomes. IBM Business Automation Workflow on Cloud provides the same capabilities that are offered in the IBM Business Automation Workflow offering, all within a ready-to-use, cloud-based environment that is hosted in IBM Cloud data centers and managed by IBM.

IBM

Sample Customers

Tesco, Weifu, Airbus, Siemens, Proximus, Alicorp, Sekerbank, Bancor, Philips,Sky, Emirates NBD, Dubai Municipality, Suva, U.S. Army, Australia Post, Westfalen Weser Energie - ARIS serves customers across all industries and of every size worldwide. Companies trust ARIS as the market leader for process excellence with more than 30 years of experience in the market and 10 million users worldwide, from 1 user companies to the Fortune 500.

Key Bank, Barclays, Control€xpert, MIR Insurance Brokers, Conqord Oil

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Cloud vs. IBM Business Automation Workflow

December 2025

Free Report: ARIS Cloud vs. IBM Business Automation Workflow

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