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BizTalk vs. webMethods A Side by Side Comparison
Biztalk vs. webMethods
WebMethods and Microsoft BizTalk Server both provide leading integration software solutions in the BPM and SOA market. If you are considering or leaning towards webMethods you may be wondering if there is an alternative integration solution that is cheaper from every perspective imaginable: product licensing cost, maintenance, support, deployment, implementation, development etc. Microsoft BizTalk Server is a good alternative.
Pricing
One of the major negatives of webMethods is its very high price. In order to build a complete integration solution with SOA/ESB/BPM architecture, youre going to need to buy lots of products, all of which have a separate price:
webMethods Adapters webMethods Broker webMethods Integration Server webMethods Monitor webMethods EDI Module webMethods Infravio X-Registry webMethods Infravio X-Broker webMethods Designer webMethods Process Engine webMethods Task Engine webMethods Optimize for Process Blaze Rules Engine webMethods Optimize for Process webMethods Dashboard webMethods Deployer webMethods Installer
With Microsoft BizTalk Server, you get all of the equivalent functions above under just 1 license, and everything is included out-of-the-box (Adapters, Broker, Process Server, Business Activity Monitoring, Rules Engine, EDI, etc.). Microsoft BizTalk has a very transparent and easy to understand licensing pricing model.
Ease of Use
webMethod stresses its advanced architectural aspects as to why learning it results in a such steep learning curve for your developers, high-level planning required and expensive consulting fees. BizTalk, on the other hand, stresses ease-of-use, easy deployment and short learning curve. You may have to contact a Microsoft Gold Partner that specializes in BizTalk for a few weeks to give you a good BizTalk foundation, create the proper architecture, maybe do a BizTalk Proof of Concept and mentor your team. But within a few weeks, your team should be up and running, supporting and maintaining your BizTalk solution. All this should amount to less than half of what you would end up paying for the same products and services from webMethods.
Proof of Concept
You would never buy a car without test-driving it. Therefore, in order to properly decide between webMethods and BizTalk, you should do a Proof of Concept (POC). Find something simple youd like to integrate and use both webMethods and BizTalk to do it. If you engage a skilled Microsoft Gold Partner that specializes in BizTalk Server, a BizTalk POC should be completed more than 100-200% faster than a webMethods POC. webMethods will usually shy away or completely avoid doing a POC because of how complicated a very simple integration solution is to do using webMethods.
Integrated Development Platform
Microsoft BizTalk Server delivers a unified platform for customers to integrate their applications, unlike webMethods hosh-posh of acquired products. Microsoft BizTalk Server runs on the .Net platform and its tools all integrate with VisualStudio.Net. This means easier implementations, faster deployment, and the ability to go-live on more integration projects, faster and cheaper.
So if you are between webMethods or BizTalk, do your homework:
Ask hard questions about configuration and require POCs to start from the ground-up.
Forget the flashy demos and make sure you know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line.
Make sure you ask for a total cost of ownership, including ALL adapters, necessary software services that will be required to completely deploy.
Ask for a very clear and easy to understand price sheet.
Think long term. WebMethods can lure you in with low cost of entry promises, and simply gloss over the long term costs of committing to their products and services. When it comes to total cost of ownership, webMethods simply cannot compete with BizTalk.
And dont forget skills training for your staff as well as consulting fees.
Visit this link for Biztalk Consulting
