LeanIX Reviews

We use the solution for:

• Application Portfolio Management
• Portfolio Rationalization
• Democratizing the EA decisions rolled up to CIO/CxO Dashboards
• Model the current state architecture and prepare for the target state architecture
• Business architecture-related activities like business capability model, and landscape views for change management/transformation/tech refresh. 

It helps to map the EA components with project/program management data, costs, and where to invest next (risks and opportunities) based on the TIME framework (tolerate, invest, migrate, eliminate).

It increases the synergy of architects, project managers, business analysts, and infra. The solution provides a single window view of business, application, data, and technology views of the IT ecosystem. Now the stakeholders collaborate more effectively like a workbench like the system LeanIX, so the data and insights that the CIO office wants are projected in real-time; it's become more dynamic instead of static Visio diagrams/PowerPoint presentations. The decisions are taken more democratically and as a shared responsibility, with transparency of how the data is collated and presented as a wholistic picture to senior management.

The most valuable aspects of the solution include its factsheets, easy data capturing, coarse-grained security access control, surveys for automatic data collection and embedding into the platform data (mapping to meta models), technology life cycle management (with industry data) out-of-the-box dashboards like business capability modeling, matrix reports, etc.

It offers out-of-the-box data sync with ServiceNow (ITSM platform), and REST API for integration.

There's a cloud integration for listing the services/applications an organization uses in AWS, to provide a single window listing in the EA Platform for SSO, license cost, etc.

There can be more factsheets covering technology capability, application capability, application services, etc. 

The whole integration architecture view of interfaces/data exchange could be improved. It would be better if the diagrams generated could be exported as Visio files. 

We need a way to create programmable/customizable dashboards/reports. 

The whole underlying meta-model should have been exposed for easy integrations; it's not good at documentation for easy integration (like AWS Lambda/Python/C#) in the use case of writing a batch application for data sync. 

The export of dashboards is not good or useful for printing or projecting.

We've used the solution for the last three years, starting with Enterprise Architecture Management, then Transformation, Value Stream, etc.

There are frequent releases of the application. In many cases, the vendor helps with underlying existing data porting as well. Availability is not an issue.

It is scalable system since it is a fully cloud-based SaaS solution.

Often the tickets are responded to within a day. We have dedicated success managers as well that help make this solution really able to deliver value to the organization.

Positive

It is built using bleeding-edge technologies hence the application is more intuitive.

It is a fully SaaS-based solution and is very straightforward to get this delivered as a portal and start using it. The exception is taking into consideration the sustainability needed for keeping data alive with data sync of other ITOP systems.

We implemented the solution as a team (no vendor involved) and kept the success managers of LeanIX highly engaged to get online quickly and effectively.

We were able to optimize/rationalize 30% of the applications.

LeanIX licensing is calculated per application count; hence the cost will need to be assessed upfront while keeping in mind that the M&A or business strategy changes/roadmaps must be anticipated for the next few years.

I have used both Essential Projects and Avolution Abacus. Both are suitable for different types of organisations; LeanIX being a SaaS-based solution, helps and is quick to market with a bit more intelligence in-built than a typical reporting solution.

Users should see dashboards before buying and see it aligns with the CIO organization style of leadership expectations. It is very important to sustainability that users are keeping the system up to date by automating/integrating with other apps in the ecosystem/ITOPs. 

It offers neat visualization and referencing functionality while enabling the creation of landscape maps and showing the relationship between different applications. It allows logical mapping and basic architecture design, making it similar to other tools used for creating schemas. The tool is easy to adopt and has a low barrier to entry in terms of usability. Overall, it is a user-friendly and comprehensive solution for optimizing IT landscapes.

I highly appreciate its usability and capabilities for enterprise asset management.

It would be beneficial to have additional features and capabilities to enhance mapping between applications, especially across domains where the relationships may not be direct. Adding a basic intelligence layer that could suggest connections and dependencies based on labels metadata assigned to applications in the future would save time.

I have been using the solution for a year.

We didn't face any issues regarding the performance stability.

Being mostly used as a repository, documentation and design solution, we didn't have scalability issues with the solution.

I had experience with similar tools in the past and I consider LeanIX to be one of the best alternatives on the market.

Prior to choosing LeanIX, I would suggest verifying the ability to adopt it and its features to utilize its full potential. It does require significant expertise and technical proficiency, as it is a tool primarily used by a limited number of experts in the architecture field. I would rate it eight out of ten.

Cataloguing the application and system inventory. Develop data driven decision for business goals, Identify gaps in application presence are few key use case that we wanted to achieve.

The most valuable features are that it's user-friendly and the user experience. It's easy to map the fact sheets. Instant access to data and reports

They should improve the right adoption in native connectors that they provide with clients. They should see if clients are really ready to adapt them during evaluation and it will help client to take informed call to purchase those connectors to other products.

We also use ServiceNow and during our LeanIX evaluation phase, the native connector from LeanIX and Service now was looked into it. But we didn't realize that it would cost almost half of Core LeanIX subscription, it is considerable amount. Then we realized that we were not actually ready for them and we opted out. We didn't understand how this integration were going to help our organization. It make sense only if we are matured with other product(Service now) to get full benefit of this integration in organization. Please, get the quote of cost involved before you plan for checking feasibility of any native integration that comes out of LeanIX.

After the contract signed for specific year with ServiceNow integration in LeanIX,  Amidst We wanted to discontinue from the later year(due to non readiness of ServiceNow data and situation, it really not yielding any value/benefits ) and we got push back from LeanIX when approached for any workouts on this deal. We really want to go ahead with core LeanIX. We are completely happy with the core LeanIX, the only part where we want to disengage is having those additional connectors conditions.

We are even looking at alternative vendor  in industry reluctantly due to unsettling discussing with LeanIX. The relationship with the vendor is very important to us and would always want to have long year tenure. They should as well reciprocate the same.

I used LeanIX for one year in my previous company and with the company, I am with now, I have been using it for two years, so three years total.

I would rate the stability an eight out of ten. It is a fast platform. I'd take away two points because they rarely respond if you have an issue. 

The support is good. We have weekly calls with them and they offer continuous support. The best part is that there is no additional cost involved. 

It depends on luck though. If you get somebody experienced, it's very good but if it's a rookie then it can be a challenge as in any other product support. They also provide open channel to reach to director of customer success team, he never fails to address us.

I have also used Power Designer before in my career. It was complex and heavy as learning. I have experience using other tools but LeanIX is good for end-users and the admin to go in action quickly.

The initial setup was straightforward. It took us more than six months because we started from the ground up and we were also building the data catalog.

LeanIX is typically a data center application. So first prepare your internal organization for data repository and where you want to conceptualize. Have that in hand and then speak to businesses, gather all the system information, and process information. Then go to LeanIX and start building based as per their model. So your part is only bringing your data to support the application. The native connectors look very attractive but comes with a huge price for certain products.

Please be informed on price part before getting attracted towards the benefits that you are going get from those native connector, Because like us, we may not be in a position to have more ROI than the actual expense that we incur for that native connectors. Its good to avoid the surprises later stage and struck with contract sign without learning the actual impact. 

Overall, we are very happy with the LeanIX features and functionalities, the way they are with customers but the bitter part is their customer payment strategies for native connectors. LeanIX CEO Andre Christ is real visionary in EA, appreciate that, sincere suggestion is addressing customer concerns in win-win mode would greatly help in long relationship.

I would rate it an eight out of ten. I would recommend this tool for sure.

I primarily use the solution for business capabilities maps.

The flexibility in the reporting has been extremely valuable. We've been able to develop some nice looking reports and the dashboard's capability to map is very easy compared to Enterprise Architect.

The solution is limited compared to some other solutions like Enterprise Architect, which is less user-friendly, but you can do everything on it.

They should also automate support.

The solution is quite stable.

The solution is very scalable.

I've never used technical support. I've never had any issues.

The initial setup was straightforward.

The pricing is a bit painful in the sense that it depends on the number of elements you fit in the system. The price can be expensive if you use it a lot. It will cost you compared to other solutions if you have a lot of documentation. It's hard to predict the pricing of the system.

In terms of advice I would give to others thinking of using this solution, I would say that you need to be aware of what you want to achieve in terms of functionality and documentation. It has some limitations. 

I would rate this solution eight out of ten. It's a good solution in the sense of what it was designed for: formulating business capabilities, application factors, and managing dashboards. It's a very powerful and flexible tool for making nice reports. However, it's not made for handling tasks such as architecture design like Enterprise Architect is.

I use the product primarily for architecture management purposes.

One of the product's most valuable features is its ability to configure the hardware devices and provide deployment views in the architecture. It can get an updated overview of your inventory, which is a good part.

At present, I need to integrate LeanIX with the modeling tools to automate VPN. They could include a combination of the product and some modeling extensions. It would be a great idea.

I have been using LeanIX for three months.

It is a stable solution. I rate the stability an eight or nine out of ten.

I had a good experience using the product on small and large-scale projects. It works fine.

I rate the product's initial setup process an eight out of ten.

It is overall a good tool. I rate it nine out of ten.

I like the tool’s integration and maps.

The solution’s API integration needs to improve. I would like to see a digital screen watch feature also in the solution.

I have been working with the solution for a few months.

The tool needs to include more flexible licensing options. We do not use the tool all the time. So pricing should be considered only when we use the tool.

I would rate the overall product an eight out of ten. It is always good to do a POC and validate what you are trying to achieve with a product before using it. You need to know the integration capability of LeanIX to make the choice meaningful.