IFS Cloud Platform vs OpenText Service Management (SMAX) comparison

IFS and OpenText are both solutions in the IT Service Management (ITSM) category. IFS is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while OpenText is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.3. IFS holds a 1.6% mindshare in ISM, compared to OpenText’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of IFS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of OpenText users who would recommend it.

IFS Cloud Platform

Read 30 IFS Cloud Platform reviews

506 Views
260 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

OpenText Service Management...

Read 6 OpenText Service Management (SMAX) reviews

825 Views
336 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IFS Cloud Platform

OpenText Service Management...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 19, 2025

IFS Cloud Platform and OpenText Service Management (SMAX) are major contenders in the enterprise software arena. IFS Cloud is often favored for its cost-effectiveness and robust support, while SMAX is preferred for its superior functionality due to its advanced features.

Features: IFS Cloud Platform delivers comprehensive enterprise capabilities with a focus on asset management and manufacturing, ideal for industries prioritizing these areas. It provides robust customization options through its open architecture, allowing businesses to tailor features. Its efficient financial module integrates seamlessly with other verticals, reducing operational complexity. OpenText SMAX stands out with a feature-rich service management solution that includes strong automation capabilities and intuitive design, optimizing service efficiency. Its virtual chatbots and natural language processing tools enhance user interaction and customer support, providing advanced IT service management functionalities.

Room for Improvement: IFS Cloud Platform could benefit from enhancements in mobile functionality to better accommodate on-the-go user needs. Simplified configuration processes could increase accessibility for non-technical users. Some users may also find the integration with third-party systems less straightforward than expected. OpenText SMAX's initial setup complexity might be reduced to improve user experience for new customers. Expanding its deployment options beyond cloud-native setups might appeal to a broader range of clients. Additionally, refining its traditional support structure could enhance customer satisfaction.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IFS Cloud offers a flexible deployment model suitable for on-premise, hybrid, or cloud environments, accompanied by strong customer support, providing adaptability for diverse IT infrastructures. OpenText SMAX's cloud-native design facilitates swift deployment and scalable options, although its reliance on traditional support infrastructures might limit scalability in dynamic environments.

Pricing and ROI: IFS Cloud is praised for its lower initial setup costs, resulting in a faster return on investment, especially in industries where rapid deployment translates to immediate productivity. It provides a complex "go to market" pricing model, customizable to individual client needs. Despite its higher initial investment, SMAX's advanced automation features justify the expense by significantly enhancing efficiency, leading to a higher ROI over time.

To learn more, read our detailed IFS Cloud Platform vs. OpenText Service Management (SMAX) Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IFS Cloud Platform vs. OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

June 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

IFS Cloud Platform

Ranking in IT Service Management (ITSM)

11th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

CRM (21st), Customer Experience Management (7th), Field Service Management (2nd), Help Desk Software (12th), ERP (12th), Activity Based Costing Software (7th), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) (2nd), Local Government CRM (9th), IT Asset Management (10th), License Management (2nd)

OpenText Service Management...

Ranking in IT Service Management (ITSM)

16th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the IT Service Management (ITSM) category, the mindshare of IFS Cloud Platform is 1.6%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText Service Management (SMAX) is 2.1%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IT Service Management (ITSM)

Featured Reviews

Brendan Fisher

IFS Applications Consultant at Zest Business Process Management Ltd

Robust, customizable, and modern

IFS is a very large and complex software, and implementation of IFS can be challenging and may lead to a difficult lengthy project. It can take between 12 and 24 months in some cases to deploy. I have found that not all clients are fully aware of how big the task is that they're undertaking when they make a decision to move to software like this. Companies need to be more aware of the complexity of an ERP implementation project and while I fully recommend moving to IFS, it is not easy and does require business change when adopting an ERP solution. New features are a difficult ask - I work across multiple industries and everyone would probably choose a different feature. Maybe BIM in Construction or Customs link-ups for importers/exporters.

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Evgeniy Kolotilov

Managing Director at Intracom Telecom Ukraine

Offers a range of tools for sales and configuration that can be used in banks and telecom companies

The deployment takes three months. In this process, customers need to allocate resources like networks, data storage, and images. They then need to decide which business functions they intend to use in production and perform some basic configurations. Custom documentation is prepared and provided for user renewals and administration. I would rate the experience of the initial setup a nine out of ten.

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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

"What I like about IFS Applications is that it's easier to use and implement than SAP. I also like that the IFS Applications team is more flexible than the SAP team."

"Individual user profiles that can be configured as templates to minimize data entry."

"IFS Applications' best feature is the user-friendly interface that has a .NET Framework application in the front end and an Oracle database and WebLogic middleware."

"The financial posting controls are quite handy. The user interface is really friendly, highly flexible, and pretty intuitive for end users."

"A high level of ERP can be handled in IFS."

"IFS has been completely rebuilt, modernized, and cloud-based so we don't need bulky software installations."

"The product is quite flexible."

"The platform is reliable and stable."

More IFS Cloud Platform pros

"It offers a range of tools for sales and configuration. It's like a business process improvement platform, suitable for various lines of business operations."

"The tool is very easy to use."

"OpenText Service Management Automation X provides valuable features such as topic analytics for incident and problem management. It also includes natural language processing for analyzing technical descriptions. Additionally, it features a virtual chatbot capable of processing natural language to interact effectively with end users. This service enhances customer support and is not subject to the limitations often found in offerings from other vendors."

"The product provides an interface for the end users to make requests."

"This is a cordless application that can be used throughout any organization."

"The most valuable features of Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX) are that it is user-friendly, easy to configure, and adaptable."

Cons

"Sometimes from the sales perspective, clients don't always fully understand how large a task or a project they're getting involved in when they decide, "We're going to switch across to IFS." They could probably do a little bit more, maybe around preparing people for these projects."

"The next version has already been released, and some of the technical things are a little bit behind the curve in development. This is specifically security, maintenance, security role maintenance, and creation. This is in their new product, called IFS Cloud."

"Some kind of bot assistance, some kind of artificial intelligence to help people solve the problems, would be interesting."

"The CRM was shaky and although this improves in Apps 10, there is room for improvement."

"IFS uses Crystal Report mostly, which isn't too user-friendly. Developing reports isn't easy and requires a lot of dev time. Since SAP bought it, Crystal Report has become more complicated to use on IFS. You have a dashboard for reporting that is good, but it's incomplete. Most of our clients use Power BI or some additional tooling for BI."

"There are certain digital features that need to be incorporated, such as IOP."

"Ability to place approval check-points in the custom workflow, so clients can decide what they want it."

"The solution needs to improve its documentation and user-friendliness."

More IFS Cloud Platform cons

"The tool has negatively impacted our productivity."

"The initial setup of Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX) is complicated, but once it is set up the configuration is straightforward to adapt to the users' or customers' needs."

"The solution lacks sufficient documentation."

"The contract management feature can be improved."

"The product's connectivity with third-party products is an area of concern where improvements are required."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing of the solution may appear to be expensive for smaller companies with only tens of users; however, for larger and mid-size industrial companies, IFS is able to win deals and the pricing is competitive in the market."

"Pricing is an area that could be improved. They could be more competitive."

"We pay for a license to use the solution, which is not very expensive."

"IFS Applications is expensive software, but it's on par with SAP and Oracle. It's for large enterprises and government entities and not for small and medium-sized enterprises. They have one licensing model, but if you want to have a module-specific license, they provide component-based licenses. Unlike SAP and Oracle, it doesn't have different levels of licensing. It's one level of licensing."

"The additional cost that comes with the solution includes the overhead of the people who are trying to fix the tool issues. These people are trying to reproduce the issue and report it to the technical support and testing with them which is huge. It is the cost of quality in the end."

"Licensing is on an annual basis, with no additional costs."

"Ask for all-inclusive pricing, as they are pretty flexible if you ask for custom models."

"The product is reasonably priced."

More IFS Cloud Platform pricing and cost advice

"The cost of the license for SMAX varies depending on the configuration, including the number of seats for users and the customer's specific requirements. It's not a fixed cost and can vary."

"The solution is somewhat cheaper than the competitors."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IFS Applications?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine or ten out of ten since it is an extremely scalable solution that can be used for various use cases with thousands of users.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IFS Applications?

The product is reasonably priced. The costs are justified by the value provided, considering the comprehensive features and minimal need for customization. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

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What needs improvement with IFS Applications?

I am not able to recall much about batch. Documentation-wise, they need more. There is not much available online, and the documentation availability is on the lower side compared to other products,...

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What do you like most about Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The tool is very easy to use.

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What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The solution is used for the end-user portal. It is used for incident management, requests, and other informational purposes.

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What advice do you have for others considering Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)?

The tool is appropriate if we don't have a complicated use case. It is the right tool for simple use cases. It's a lot cheaper than ServiceNow. It is an appropriate tool for a smaller business or m...

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Comparisons

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Compared 16% of the time

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 10% of the time

IBM Maximo vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 9% of the time

SAP S/4HANA vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 9% of the time

ServiceNow vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 36% of the time

JIRA Service Management vs OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

Compared 25% of the time

BMC Helix ITSM vs OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

Compared 22% of the time

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus vs OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

Compared 11% of the time

HaloITSM vs OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

Compared 6% of the time

More OpenText Service Management (SMAX) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IFS Cloud Platform

June 2025

Download IFS Cloud Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

IT Service Management (ITSM)

May 2025

OpenText Service Management (SMAX) report

Download OpenText Service Management (SMAX) product report

Also Known As

IFS Applications, Assyst, IFS Cloud

OpenText Service Manager, Micro Focus Service Management Automation X (SMAX)

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

IFS

OpenText

Overview

IFS is the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI and enterprise software for hardcore businesses that make, service, and power our planet. Our technology enables businesses which manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and manage service-focused operations to unlock the transformative power of Industrial AI™ to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Industrial AI is IFS.ai.

IFS Cloud is a fully composable AI-powered platform, designed for ultimate flexibility and adaptability to our customers’ specific requirements and business evolution. It spans the needs of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), and Field Service Management (FSM). IFS technology leverages AI, machine learning, real-time data and analytics to empower our customers to make informed strategic decisions and excel at their Moment of Service™.

IFS

OpenText Service Management Automation X delivers efficient service management automation with user-friendly configurability across IT, IoT, HR, and finance sectors. It enhances business processes through integrated incident management and natural language processing with virtual chatbots.

OpenText SMAX blends user-friendly design with broad language support and robust storage. It enables organizations to deploy in both on-premise and cloud environments using Kubernetes. SMAX excels in business process improvement, incident management, and uses intelligent agents for autonomous alerts and issue resolution. However, it requires enhancements in integration capabilities and documentation, third-party product connectivity, and contract management. Users face challenges with process automation and search functionality, demanding greater customization and flexibility.

What are the key features of OpenText SMAX?

User-Friendliness: Simplifies service management across departments.
Configurability: Allows customization to meet specific needs.
Adaptability: Effective across IT, IoT, HR, and finance.
Language Support: Broad language capabilities for diverse users.
Storage Capabilities: Efficient and reliable data management.
Process Improvement: Tools for streamlining business operations.
Incident Management: Effective handling and resolution of issues.
Natural Language Processing: Chatbots that enhance customer support.
Automation: Facilitates seamless logistics and service catalog management.

What benefits and ROI should users evaluate?

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlines service management processes.
Improved Customer Support: Virtual chatbots provide superior assistance.
Scalability: Adaptable to growing business needs.
Cost Reduction: Optimizes resource usage and reduces operational costs.
Employee Onboarding: Simplifies and accelerates onboarding processes.

Banks and telecom companies primarily employ OpenText SMAX for service management automation, leveraging its ESM and ITSM capabilities. Deployed on-premise and via cloud, organizations in regions such as Saudi Arabia focus on integrations and upgrades, using SMAX as an end-user portal for incident management.

OpenText

Sample Customers

China Airlines, Electrolux Group, Babcock, Cimcorp, Sky, Multiplex, Veolia.

Zurich Airport, Envirosuite, Norsk Helsenett, Achmea, University of Milan, World Vision, Petroleum Development Oman, Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT).

Buyer's Guide

IFS Cloud Platform vs. OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

June 2025

Free Report: IFS Cloud Platform vs. OpenText Service Management (SMAX)

Find out what your peers are saying about IFS Cloud Platform vs. OpenText Service Management (SMAX) and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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