

SAP PowerDesigner and erwin Evolve are leading tools in the data modeling and enterprise architecture space. User feedback favors SAP PowerDesigner due to ease of use and cost-effectiveness, but erwin Evolve is noted for superior impact and lineage analysis features.
Features: SAP PowerDesigner offers customizable data model validation, reverse engineering for database documentation, and the ability to create SQL statements. It supports bidirectional traceability and automation through a public meta-model. erwin Evolve provides intuitive extensibility, effective data analysis, and collaboration options with support for complex ecosystems.
Room for Improvement: SAP PowerDesigner could enhance NoSQL support, repository management, and web portal usability. Improving integration with open-source technologies is also suggested. erwin Evolve needs better modeling of non-relational data and improved system integrations, emphasizing better collaboration tools and streamlined functionalities.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP PowerDesigner primarily operates on-premises but has some hybrid options; it faces mixed reviews in customer service responsiveness. erwin Evolve offers public cloud deployments with good, though costly support.
Pricing and ROI: SAP PowerDesigner is competitively priced with criticism in some markets for being expensive. It offers good ROI through its feature set. erwin Evolve is seen as expensive, especially for smaller consultancies, with higher long-term value potential for large organizations.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| SAP PowerDesigner | 7.5% |
| erwin Evolve | 3.4% |
| Other | 89.1% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 7 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 12 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 18 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 18 |
erwin Evolve provides comprehensive graphical support for handling large data models. It offers features such as metadata access, version control, and model comparison, enhancing operational reports and system analytics through its collaborative web-driven design.
erwin Evolve facilitates reverse engineering and database integration, fostering collaboration and process exploration through its web interface. Customizable and easy to configure, it supports workflow configuration and architectural modeling. Users can utilize its capabilities for developing industry models, managing transformation programs, and presenting standard operating procedures. Despite its strengths, there are demands for improved integration, enhanced UML support, and a more modern user experience. Users also express challenges with legacy system updates and call for better connectors and collaborative features.
What are the key features of erwin Evolve?Data-driven organizations in sectors like finance and healthcare implement erwin Evolve for data warehousing, enterprise architecture, and business process modeling. They leverage its capabilities for cataloging architectural elements, linking to CMDBs, analyzing system interfaces, and describing business processes. Utilization extends to IT solution registration, business capability planning, and strategic modeling, with frequent deployments on cloud platforms to support transformation initiatives.
SAP PowerDesigner is a valuable solution for developing several different types of data models according to business process needs. Data models can be logical, conceptual, and physical, and can also include dimensional and relational models. PowerDesiger has the ability to integrate a designed business process model with the actual database design to ensure that all the data process steps are included in the logical model. PowerDesigner is able to use the physical model to create the actual database, and from there, design various physical iterations from a single logical model.
PowerDesigner can perform excellent reverse-engineering of existing databases to create a model diagram. The solution integrates well with many of today's most recognized database management systems (DBMS). Some of the solution’s featured outputs include custom or standard reports of every object in the design (relationships, field, and tables), design impact analysis, and entity-relationship (ER) designs.
PowerDesigner offers intuitive capabilities such as metadata management, link and sync, and data modeling. Users can instantly view architecture layers and essentials, access the robust metadata repository, and share findings with the user’s entire team.
SAP PowerDesigner Features
SAP PowerDesigner Benefits
Reviews from Real Users
“The most valuable feature of SAP PowerDesigner is the testing of the models, it has the best function. Reverse engineering is very helpful too. I use SAP PowerDesigner for data modeling and documentation. It interacts well with the other tools. Additionally, we use it for all of the business requirements, such as CDM and PDM.” - Saadat T., Emerging Cloud Solution Architect at a tech services company
“It's a great tool for documentation. A new data scientist can easily understand the data just by looking at it. Once you are managing your physical data with a logical data model, by looking at this data model, you can understand what it means, the business meaning of the elements which are maintained by the relational database.” - Michael R., DA
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