Orbus Software iServer Reviews

“Adaptable tool for IS strategic management

Pros

I've been using the database more than the diagramming lately, especially since I can customize attributes. It's made a huge difference because the data feeds directly into my PowerBI dashboards. I use these to communicate with senior management and other stakeholders and it's been incredibly helpful.

Cons

I originally installed this on-premises, which required Windows for both the client and the diagramming tool (Visio). Plus for offsite users, we needed a VPN connection. We're now switching to the i365 product, which should fix a lot of these issues and make things much easier.

“Truly amazing product!

Pros

It comes with tons of templates based on popular frameworks like TOGAF and Archimate, so experienced Enterprise Architects will find it easy to use. The portal view is great for making artifacts visible to everyone and the training sandpits and reference libraries are super helpful for learning and reference. Plus since it uses Visio for diagramming, it's easy for anyone familiar with it to get started.

Cons

Sometimes the app crashes without giving a proper error message, which can be pretty frustrating. It's hard to figure out what went wrong and even harder to explain it to support without doing a screen share so they can investigate.

“Multi-purpose tool

Pros

Being able to trace objects to other objects and their business rules is essential when I have to track hundreds of requirements. Spreadsheets just weren't cutting it anymore. The iServer 'spider' diagrams make everything clear and the visuals are perfect for explaining complex systems to stakeholders who prefer diagrams. plus the export to Microsoft Suite and the web-based portal make presenting so much easier. The templates for creating diagrams are also really handy and the support team? Absolutely top-notch! I feel like I get my money's worth every year with them.

Cons

I really like the Microsoft look and feel of the product but for someone like me who already knew how to use Visio, it was a bit tricky to get the hang of modeling with shared objects in a repository. It's a bit difficult if you're expecting a quick solution. A shared object repository can definitely be helpful for organizations but getting it up and running involves more organization and governance work than just tech stuff. It's honestly the easiest-to-use tool I've tried, though. The licensing could use some improvement, though it'd be great to have one license that covers all the modules up to a certain threshold. The modular approach can feel limiting if you're already running into resource constraints.

“Excellent solution

Pros

This tool is way easier to use compared to others I've tried. The portal and BI dashboards are simple enough for non-technical people to use and the best part? It costs a lot less than other tools we've tested.

Cons

So far we haven't really found any major issues, it's been super easy to use.

“Budget-friendly EA tool

Pros

iServer's integration with Visio is amazing and the familiar Microsoft UI for modeling makes it easy for everyone to jump in. The web portal for viewing artifacts has been crucial for getting business stakeholders involved. plus I love the ability to drill down through the enterprise stack to make more informed decisions. Their customer support is fantastic, always ready to help.

Cons

I wish advanced customizations, like custom visual iconography, were easier to do. A wizard would really speed things up. Right now, the process is a bit slow and takes several steps. It would also be nice if there were some system connectors available right off the bat like ITSM.

“Architecture-supporting tool

Pros

It is so user-friendly and product administration is really simple. It uses standard architecture frameworks, which makes it easy to get started if you're new to the tool.

Cons

There are some performance issues with certain features. I'm not sure if it's the product or the environment causing the slowdown.

“Satisfied with iServer

Pros

There's so much I love about iServer, the modular frameworks, the ability to customize the metamodel and knowing all my documentation is neatly stored in one central place. Their support is amazing too, always flexible and quick to help me make the most of our investment.

Cons

Honestly, I don't have too many issues with the software. One challenge was getting my metamodel and related objects working properly but that's more about figuring out the best approach for my setup. Once I figured it out, it worked fine.

“Risk tracking with iServer

Pros

It has made it possible for us to link our enterprise architecture to our overall risks, which has been incredibly beneficial for our organization.

Cons

It takes a while to get used to the main user interface and how to go through between objects and report views. Once you get familiar with it, though it's okay.

“How iServer supports architecture

Pros

I love how easy it is to find related processes, applications and people with iServer. It really connects the dots in ways I couldn't do before.

Cons

The diagrams look pretty basic with Visio's templates\ which are fine for business processes and architecture but they could use a little more polish for leadership presentations.

“In-house tools for enterprise

Pros

Using It for modeling and being able to generate Excel, PowerPoint and Word docs directly from the central database has been a game-changer. It removes the need for translating between teams and the data exchange features make it easy to keep everything standardized. My team and I can communicate way more efficiently now.

Cons

There were performance issues when checking in and out diagrams using the iServer client but the 2021 version is supposed to fix that. We haven't implemented it yet but I'm hoping we'll see an improvement soon.

“Good software!

Pros

We used to manually update each diagram in Visio but with iServer, we can maintain everything in one place. Changes are updated automatically across all diagrams which is huge for saving time. The impact analysis feature also helps us identify where changes will affect the organization. I've never had any major issues with iServer and if I ever need support, they're quick to help out.

Cons

Sometimes, checking in and out documents can be a bit slow but with the iServer 2021 upgrade we just rolled out, it's much faster and more efficient.

“Strong and user-friendly

Pros

For our organization, it's crucial to have one data set that can be managed at the enterprise level but still be editable at the division level. The ability to lock attributes for editing based on user profiles ensures data is handled appropriately. And the portal license for infrequent users makes product management super easy.

Cons

Uploading large data sets, especially during annual reporting can be super frustrating for me because it takes a while.

“iServer for business process redesign

Pros

One of the best things about iServer is how customizable it is. I've been able to configure it to meet our needs perfectly making everything much more efficient.

Cons

iServer was originally built on Microsoft Visio, which meant you needed Visio to use the iServer client. Thankfully, Orbus realized how limiting that was and now you don't need Visio anymore which is a huge relief!

“Amazingly powerful tool

Pros

iServer covers all the essential architecture domains, viewpoints, artifacts and workflows for Enterprise Architecture. Since we're a TOGAF shop, it's perfect for us. The Visio integration and various views are also super helpful for making us more productive.

Cons

The system is really interactive and flexible which is great but it also means you need to put some thought into how to implement it. Tailoring it to your needs takes time but it's worth it in the end.

“Smooth integration

Pros

The way iServer integrates with Microsoft products is fantastic. The connection between the architecture repository and the underlying diagrams makes everything work so smoothly.

Cons

The SaaS version is pretty expensive and the on-prem version requires periodic upgrades, so you've got to stay on top of that.

“Leading tool

Pros

The integration with PowerBI and MS Visio makes everything so much easier. Plus having a repository to store processes and SOPs really helps in managing everything. I can define architecture levels and the governance capabilities are exactly what I need.

Cons

Creating views takes a bit of training , it's not covered in detail during the regular training sessions but once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad.