The workflow design is the solution's most effective feature.
Senior Vice President Information Technology at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Provides valuable workflow design features and efficient initial setup process
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup process is easy."
- "I suggest establishing a developer forum for better communication and issue resolution. Also, the administration panel could be improved for task management."
What is most valuable?
What needs improvement?
I suggest establishing a developer forum for better communication and issue resolution. Also, the administration panel could be improved for task management.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with IBM BPM for the last five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the platform's stability a seven.
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IBM BPM
September 2025

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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around 200 IBM users in our organization. I rate the platform's scalability an eight.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process is easy. Although it took time to establish, we have automated many processes.
Following the SDLC can prolong the timeline, but utilizing a DevOps environment can speed up the deployment.
What other advice do I have?
We design independent workflows using Business Process Diagrams (BPD). We identify different roles and entities in various departments and create dummy workflows to visualize these entities and processes.
A dedicated enterprise integration department uses IBM SOA services. We design various services for enterprise applications, including integration with content management systems like IBM FileNet.
Overall, I rate IBM BPM a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Senior Manager at PT Permata Anugerah Abadi
Easy to use, good price, easy for developers, easy to install and configure
Pros and Cons
- "Integration is a big plus for me."
- "There is room for improvement in the stability."
What is our primary use case?
The use cases include security and network processing for internal purposes.
How has it helped my organization?
It streamlines processes, benefits other projects, and integrates with other solutions.
What is most valuable?
I appreciate its high user capacity and standard compliance. It's also helpful for multi-project deployments, design assessments, and general deployment processes.
Integration is a big plus for me.
What needs improvement?
There is room for improvement in the stability.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for ten years. I work with the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Overall, I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. We have below 100 end users in our company.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support are good. They are responsive.
How was the initial setup?
The configuration and installation are easy. The deployment took around one to two days.
What about the implementation team?
The deployment began with an assessment, followed by requirement confirmation and sign-off by various stakeholders. We deployed it on the cloud and managed the process internally.
We only needed two people for the deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have a yearly licensing model. It is not expensive. There are no addition costs to the standard license.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the product an eight out of ten. I would recommend using this solution.
It is easy to use, good price, is easy for developers, easy to install and configure.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
IBM BPM
September 2025

Learn what your peers think about IBM BPM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
867,676 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Infrastructure Manager at Dts
Is easy to configure and set up and is stable, scalable, and user-friendly
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is straightforward and easy. I would give it a nine out of ten."
- "The analysis reports could be much better."
What is our primary use case?
Our clients use IBM BPM for loan origination and for opening accounts.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features include the workflow, ease of use, and the ease of configuration.
What needs improvement?
The analysis reports could be much better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for a year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
IBM BPM's stability has been good so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable because the licensing cost is per the number of cores. Our clients are medium-sized companies.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate IBM BPM's technical support at ten on a scale from one to ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and easy. I would give it a nine out of ten.
The deployment can take one to two months depending on the company. We have a deployment team of four people including an engineer, an architect, a technical support person, and a project manager. For maintenance of the solution, we have two staff members.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Price wise, IBM BPM is cheaper than other similar solutions and has excellent pricing.
What other advice do I have?
If you're considering IBM BPM, my advice would be to understand your environment so that you know your exact requirements and can get the most benefit from the solution.
I would recommend IBM BPM and rate it at ten on a scale from one to ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
General Manager - Information Technology at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Simple to set up with a good look and feel and responsive support
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is stable."
- "The pricing is a little bit high. It's gone up in cost."
What is our primary use case?
We have taken the BPM route in BAW.
What is most valuable?
I don't know whether we started using all the features or not. There are many.
So far, it works well and we are satisfied with the product.
It's got a good look and feel as compared to whether it is in a Case Manager or Case Foundation, which was there earlier.
It's simple to set up.
The solution is stable.
Technical support is good.
What needs improvement?
I can only speak from an end-user perspective. I don't know, from the development perspective, what would be improved. From a general improvement perspective, it's probably a little too early to judge as the implementation is still going on.
The pricing is a little bit high. It's gone up in cost.
The response time needs to be better. Every time when you click a link or a button or something, the response could be faster - although, I know it also depends on the network connectivity. However, I've noticed even when we are working on the office network with very good network connectivity, we still feel, a slowness. It could have responded much better or faster.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability has been good. We haven't dealt with bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We are in the implementation phase. We have done the basic things which are in place and now we are doing the enhancements. As we are doing the enhancements now, there might be various feasibility checks and so on. Then we would come to know whether the product is feasible to take care of our requirements. Only then, I would be able to comment on scalability.
How are customer service and support?
From IBM, we get good support. There are no issues with that. We are satisfied with the level of support we get.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used to use IBM's Case Foundation before. From there, we have now moved to the BPM route.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was pretty easy. There were not any complications involved in that.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We found the product to be on the higher side. We recently purchased it last year, and, when you purchase the whole product, about ten years back, that was a very reasonable amount. However, now, this time, we see that the amount could have been better - although we still went ahead and bought it. That said, it could have been better.
We pay for the solution annually.
What other advice do I have?
We're a user and a customer.
We're using something around version 20. I'm not sure of the exact version number.
From a system perspective, once we have something and we keep doing hundreds of enhancements on it, that's where sometimes the user experience might go for a hit in terms of ease. That said, if you are a new user and you have the requirements correctly captured, then starting might be easier. Yes. The tool will start functioning from day one, onwards, in a much better way.
I'd rate it at a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Techincal Architect at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
Highly stable, good support, but more flexibility needed
Pros and Cons
- "IBM BPM is a stable solution."
- "We have had to use Mule as an alternative integration tool because it is more flexible than IBM BPM."
What is our primary use case?
IBM BPM is used for integrations. We are an enterprise application integration team. We integrate most of the companies' integrations and business process modeling.
How has it helped my organization?
Our organization has improved by using IBM BPM because our development time has reduced and connectivity improved.
What needs improvement?
We have had to use Mule as an alternative integration tool because it is more flexible than IBM BPM.
In a future release, the solution should add more APIs. That's why we moved to Mule. It should not be a drastic change. What we found out is in the new release, of IBM, it has completely changed. I would like my old features to run on the new server so that I don't have to migrate some of the APIs.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM BPM for approximately 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
IBM BPM is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I have used the support from IBM BPM.
I rate the support from IBM BPM a three out of five.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Mule previously.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of IBM BPM is complex.
What about the implementation team?
In the initial stages, we have used consultants for the implementation, but as we have had some experience we are using them less.
What other advice do I have?
Stability is one of the most important features of this solution.
I rate IBM BPM a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
BPM Solution Designer | Consultant at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Ample functionality, effective integration, but lacking documentation
Pros and Cons
- "IBM BPM is equipped with all the functionalities which are needed for building BPM enterprise-level applications."
- "There needs to be better documentation for IBM BPM in a central place. There is not any standard documentation for each component available and has been a barrier for developers."
What is our primary use case?
We have encountered different use cases with our clients. For example, in the financial, oil field, and automotive areas, we have used the solution for onboarding applications.
What is most valuable?
IBM BPM is equipped with all the functionalities which are needed for building BPM enterprise-level applications. The integration is very good by using the restore service. The UI has improved and it is now a lot better.
What needs improvement?
There needs to be better documentation for IBM BPM in a central place. There is not any standard documentation for each component available and has been a barrier for developers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately nine years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The IBM engine is very powerful, it is highly stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
IBM BPM has been scalable our my experience.
How are customer service and technical support?
The support needs to improve.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was complex and can be made simpler by starting with better documentation.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated Pega and Appian which have come to be major competitors for IBM in the market. IBM BPM site is lacking documentation and that is why customers are going to other solutions.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise those wanting to use IBM BPM to have very experienced consultants at the time of implementation because it is essential to have the infrastructure properly configured. The solution is available on-premise and on the cloud, it is important to follow best practices with the developers, if they are ignored, then the infrastructure and applications will be in trouble. It is important to have good supervision from an architect, without one, IBM BPM will not be as useful as it could be.
I rate IBM BPM a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Director, Digital Transformation at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
A highly scalable tool that needs to be streamlined and updated
Pros and Cons
- "Initially, the process architecture studio was very helpful and it was compliant with BPMN standards."
- "I would like IBM to consider including AI-enabled process mining, robotic process automation, and very good OCR capabilities from the computer vision side."
What is our primary use case?
We use it to architect our core services and business processes. For example, my company is responsible for issuing licenses to oil and gas vendors who operate petrol and gas stations. This is a very complex process starting from submission of the license request to the approval by the minister's office, and then checking the localization policy to see where they can give approval. We use IBM BPM in a plethora of complex processes in different areas of our business.
What is most valuable?
Initially, the process architecture studio was very helpful and it was compliant with BPMN standards. In the beginning it definitely gave us mileage in terms of business process designing, but nowadays, there are very good and smart tools that have OCR and AI facilities. Currently, the tool looks quite ineffective in a digital transformation environment. We're a mix of proprietary and open source tools, and we don't find IBM very inclusive.
What needs improvement?
IBM, as a suite, is becoming more and more obsolete because it obliges the customer to buy multiple tools for the same purpose. For example, BPM is only for architecting the business process workflow, and then you need to integrate it with the DataPower solution to bring in the data. There are also other tools for the process mining part that are not a part of BPM. From a business perspective, to achieve one goal we have to license multiple IBM tools on-premise, whereas there are other competitive tools that are assembled and engineered on one platform, and can be utilized in a much simpler and more seamless way. That is why we're finding it very difficult to continue working with the IBM stack. They need to unify the process landscape into one engine.
AI-enabled BPM tools are more relevant these days, where you use artificial intelligence to understand process pitfalls and you apply that in your process design and logic. I would like IBM to consider including AI-enabled process mining, robotic process automation, and very good OCR capabilities from the computer vision side.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good. I would give it a seven out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the solution is high. It's a seven out of ten.
We have a team of about six people, our business analysis team, who run the solution. There are about 2,000 end users.
How was the initial setup?
From a user-friendliness perspective, I would rate it as a six out of ten. There was definitely a learning curve to adopt the tool and understand all of its features, but once learned, it was a very good tool for that period of time - about four or five years ago.
What about the implementation team?
Our deployment was done by SBM, Saudi Business Machine, which is the Saudi partner of IBM Global. Our solution designer worked with a business process architect, middleware solution designer, and tool specialists from IBM. There were around eight consultants on the IBM team from different technical backgrounds. Our deployment involved the entire middleware with BPM and DataPower. It took around one and a half years.
Now, our IBM BPM maintenance is outsourced. There is a contract team of three engineers who are maintaining the software because a lot of processes are housed on IBM BPM and the processes need tweaks from time to time.
What was our ROI?
I would say the ROI is moderate because the license prices are high and the operation and maintenance cost is high. Just like Oracle ERP, you rarely see an ROI, but it becomes intrinsic to your organization. It's the same with any BPM tool. Even if you don't have a very high ROI, somehow you get captivated, locked into the tool.
I would say the ROI is a six out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is very high. On a scale of one to ten, if ten is high, I would say it's an eight. The total cost of ownership over a period of time is very high.
It is usually a one-year license. Last time, for a better price, we paid for three years upfront.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as a six out of ten.
I suggest that those looking into this tool do proper benchmarking and visit the Gartner and Forrester reports and PeerSpot reports before choosing IBM. Also, if they are going for this tool, it is better to have a strong in-house team for not only deployment, but also utilizing the tool later on.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Principal Technical Consultant at Intercom Enterprises
Simple to maintain, low code design, and good support
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of IBM BPM is the low code design, and ease of maintenance. Additionally, the integration is good and easy to do."
- "IBM BPM can improve the dashboards and reports. It only has two dashboards, and reporting is very difficult to build."
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of IBM BPM is the low code design, and ease of maintenance. Additionally, the integration is good and easy to do.
What needs improvement?
IBM BPM can improve the dashboards and reports. It only has two dashboards, and reporting is very difficult to build.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM BPM for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
IBM BPM is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of IBM BPM is good. It's easy to add features and applications to the platform.
I have approximately 10 customers, with each having an average of approximately 300 users.
How are customer service and support?
The support for IBM BPM is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used other solutions in this category.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of IBM BPM is easy to do. The implementation time depends on the business that the solution is being put into. It typically takes six months to one year to complete the process. For a deployment that is easy, the process could take only a few hours.
What other advice do I have?
We have two to three administrators that support IBM BPM.
My advice to others is this is a good solution and they can find a lot of advantages. I recommend this solution to many users.
I rate IBM BPM an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner

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