OptimaJet VS Nintex: Pros and Cons
Reading time: 7 minutes
Reading time: 7 minutes
The BPM software market has been estimated at $11.84 billion in 2021 and is expected to double by 2028. There has been increasing competition among BPM solutions vendors, with at least a dozen players dominating the market, which makes choosing one anything but simple.
Today, we’ll compare two popular BPM solutions, OptimaJet and Nintex, so that you can decide which one better suits your business needs.
One of the primary things to look for when choosing a platform for business process management is user-friendliness and a fast learning curve for new users. Most of the modern BPM solutions have intuitive visual interfaces with drag & drop functionality; however, they might vary greatly in terms of customization and ease of use. To make sure that your employees are comfortable working with software, it’s best to take a test drive, which many vendors provide for free.
Nintex is a comprehensive BPM solution with rich functionality. And while it might be a good choice for enterprises that are already using BPM software and are looking for another vendor, it’s probably too sophisticated a solution for SMBs that are just planning to implement it as their business is growing. Here’s what’s Nintex’s users are sharing in their reviews of the product:
OptimaJet’s Workflow Engine offers a more intuitive user experience for first-time users, although it, too, might require some additional expertise when dealing with non-standard tasks:
Before making a decision in favor of this or that product, it’s crucial to make sure you clearly understand the desired functionality and the type of processes you are going to automate. Based on this, it will be easier to pick the right software for your specific use case(s).
For example, Nintex is positioned as a single solution for multiple applications, from tracking user data and invoice management to help desk support and employee onboarding. On the other hand, users note that, given the large range of possible applications, the efficiency of automation largely depends on the complexity of the processes: “If your use cases are simple, Nintex can work great for you. If they approach the complex, the usefulness of Nintex will diminish with the increase in complexity.”
Workflow Engine has a more restricted area of use and is mainly intended for business entities' life cycle management. For example, it can serve well for automating such processes as document approvals, data processing and long-lasting workflows. Here’s one of the possible applications: “Scheduling pharmacists hours using the tool helps keep track of when and where I'd need to input someone to fill a hole and it allows me to track the hour usage.”
Such factors as performance capabilities and access rights are also to be taken into account. Working with BPM software often implies various access rights and permissions for users and requires a certain level of scalability, which is especially crucial in large enterprise systems.
Nintex is a corporate solution that is often praised for its ability to connect across multiple platforms and works especially well in the corporate SharePoint environment. However, according to users’ reviews, it does not scale for large (500 user+) installations. There are also concerns that the development environment can be slow to work with compared to other platforms.
Workflow Engine’s business processes editor uses its own notation system, which requires less computational resources, resulting in greater performance. It can be deployed both on-premise and in the cloud. Besides, Workflow Engine provides customers with its source code so that they can make necessary adjustments to maximize productivity.
Most BPM software solutions nowadays use a subscription model, which means users need to make regular (monthly or annual) payments if they wish to continue using the service. Some vendors also include ongoing payments for updating licenses, maintenance, and/or support. So, in the long run, the total costs might get much higher than expected.
The prices for Nintex’s Workflow automation solution start at $910 per month for ten workflows. Enterprise licenses which include RPA are offered at $1,400 per month, with volume discounts available. This is definitely not the cheapest solution on the market, which is often noted in user reviews.
OptimaJet offers its solutions at a fixed price starting from $6,000 per perpetual license, with no need to make recurring payments. The updates are free of charge for the first year of use. There’re also no limits for the cloud implementation, which means the solution can be easily upscaled with no need to pay for each additional server or virtual machine. Therefore, the total costs of implementing OptimaJet solutions are lower than on average.
When implementing BPM solutions, the need for technical support or additional information from vendors often arises, which makes customer support an important part of the equation. Besides, keeping in touch with their customers helps solution providers to better meet their requirements and introduce new features.
Nintex offers access to standard customer support as part of the subscription, which is available for the duration of the subscription contract. To get support, it is necessary to submit a request through the Cases menu. Although some users report problems when dealing with support (“Support has much to be desired, generally requests are answered next day and not in-depth.”), there’s also a large user community, which can be helpful when solving different problems.
OptimaJet provides customers with free two months of professional support, after which they can obtain an annual technical support plan for the Workflow Engine for 50% of the license fee. If purchased together with the product version updates, then the total fee is 70% of the license cost.
Here’s a brief comparison chart to sum up the features of both solutions:
| Nintex | OptimaJet | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy of use | for more experienced users | for all types of users |
| Functionality | wide application range, low process complexity | a narrower application range, high process complexity |
| Performance | good for medium load (up to 500 users) | can be upscaled at no additional price |
| Price | $10,920 per year | $6,000 per perpetual license |
| Customer support | included in the subscription | 50% of the license fee per year |
Both Nintex and OptimaJet’s Workflow Engine can serve well for automating business processes; however, both have benefits and restrictions. Depending on your automation needs, budget, and technical requirements, you might find one of these solutions better meeting your business needs. In any case, both products have a free trial period, which can help you make the right choice.