Feature Comparison Table for Enterprise Architecture Tools

Enterprise Architecture Tool Selection Guide 

Whether you’re working through a tool RFP or RFQ or familiarizing yourself with enterprise architecture tools…

This table is designed to provide a useful overview of key questions, features, capabilities you can assess to fine tune your evaluation for success.

Enterprise Architecture Tool Selection

Modeling & Roadmapping

Modeling current and future state architectures and a range of viewpoints is a core capability for architecture disciplines, including Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture and Data Architecture. ABACUS allows practitioners to build models and roadmaps appropriate to their industry, methods & stakeholders.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Frameworks
 

ABACUS is an Open Group Certified TOGAF tool and Open Group Certified ArchiMate tool. Over 100 other frameworks and notations are also included eg. BPMN, BIAN, NIST, SABSA etc. Architects can also  combine and configure frameworks in-house.

 

Check if tools support all frameworks you need now and in the future. Can framework modifications be done in-house or will this incur additional costs?

 
Modeling
 

Document systems, processes and dataflows. Create business, information, technology & solution architecture viewpoints. Import and integrate Visio, UML or BPMN diagrams. Draw with a native drag-and-drop canvas and stencil. Lightweight web-based diagramming for easy enterprise-wide use. Model current- and future-state architectures (multiple scenario states)

 

Do you need a diagramming environment which is properly integrated with your data? (Third party tools and manual diagram updates are time-consuming)

What viewpoints do you need and can you customize these? Do you require ‘As-Is’ and ‘To-Be” architectures for scenario analysis?

 
Types
 

ABACUS provides templates and stencils for technology architectures, business capability maps, business process, customer journeys, cloud architecture diagrams.  Plus many additional frameworks and modeling techniques are included.

 

Check if modeling is restricted to a framework or vendor style. Are industry standard icons & shape libraries available eg. AWS, Azure, ArchiMate? Can you add your own custom icons? Are modeling types included or do you need to purchase them separately?

 
Integrated diagrams
 

Draw and collaborate on diagrams and flowcharts which describe business processes, dataflows, systems, infrastructure, etc. Changes to diagrams are inherited in your ABACUS data repository, so data is updated automatically. Updates to data also flow through to diagrams and dashboards.

 

Check if third party tools are required for modeling/diagrams. Is a canvas-and-stencil or toolbar available to edit diagrams online? Are diagrams static images (manual redraw required when data changes) or integrated? Can existing EA diagrams, solution architectures etc. be imported easily?

 
Roadmapping
 

Use heatmapping, recommendations, lifecycle properties, and interactive Gantt Charts to visualize roadmaps. Build detailed business, technical, strategic and innovation roadmaps. Customize roadmaps for your teams.

 

Check if roadmapping is limited to framework or vendor-proscribed solutions. What styles are available: eg. color-mapping and timeline-based approaches?

 

Configuration

Architects need to be able to define, customize and manage architectures and metamodels to fit their business.  The repository and connected artifacts need to be modified as the business moves forwards. Avoid being dependent on costly customizations, rigid frameworks or generic industry and domain artifacts which can’t be adjusted in-house by the architecture team.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Modify metamodels
 

ABACUS users can customize metamodels quickly and easily. This allows architects to guide contributors with templates, data constraints (customizable), and predefined list values. Define and modify artifact types, attributes, standards and notations in-house.

 

Check if metamodels are limited by the frameworks a tool supports. Check whether costs are involved for each instance of customizations to fit your enterprise

 
Usability
 

Drag and drop functionality to modify existing frameworks or create hybrid frameworks. Over 100 different frameworks and notations are included with ABACUS. No coding or application modifications required to tailor frameworks to your enterprise.

 

Check if vendor outsourcing (including database modifications) are necessary to update or adjust frameworks. Can the tool adapt to fit your data, structures, naming conventions and other aspects of your business?

 
 
 
 

Adapters & Integrations

Enterprise architecture tools need to allow organizations to collate information into a single source of truth and share data with management, operations, and technical departments. ABACUS integrates with other tools and presentation applications via adapters that enable data to be sent and received. A readable and writable RESTful API, allows stakeholders to benefit from EA via their preferred applications.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Microsoft
 

Import/export with Word, Excel, and Visio. Store and share data and views via SharePoint, and Teams to collate and share information

 

Check if integrations are restricted or limited. Eg: one-time vendor upload or limitations on file types

 
In-built syncs
 

Roundtrip and sync data right within ABACUS using in-built integrations for Google Sheets, ServiceNow, SharePoint.

 

Some tools require custom scripts developed by vendor per client at cost

 
Integrations
 

Integrate technical, business, and operational data through popular formats and a range of external sources including XML, XPDL, SVG, CMDB, ERP, SQL, DBMS, and others

 

Check for query-based and swivel chair dependency requiring extended workflows

 
API
 

Send live data to and from data sources using ABACUS’ readable and writeable REST API. Automate data uploads to create a data feed from other sources on a regular basis. 

 

Check whether an API is available to avoid being restricted to limited third party sources and writeable end-points. Check whether integrations are managed manually or can be automated.

 

Data Visualization & Reporting

Enterprise architecture is more than just creating models and portfolios. Providing insight which is interactive, highlights impacts and support multiple scenarios for both business and IT stakeholders is crucial to delivering value. ABACUS produces signature-ready proposals and self-service details and metrics for stakeholders.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Pre-configured dashboards
 

Deliver your chosen KPIs directly from the repository in real-time using dashboards showing calculations, query-results and interactive charts and diagrams. Tailor dashboards for roles, projects, departments etc.

 

Do you need dashboards which are configurable for roles, frameworks, stakeholders, etc? Do metrics need to be specific to departments or projects?

 
Live Data
 

Assemble dashboards for monitoring digital operations. Visualizations change automatically as data is updated via ABACUS, through syncs, API integrations, or browser contributors

 

Check if dashboards refresh with data updates so all users are in sync

 
Dynamic visualizations
 

Analyze data using interactive and easy to configure charts: Pie, Bar, Column, Bubble, Line, Sankey, Gantt, Treemap, Hierarchical Bar, 5×5 Risk Matrix and Graph View visualizations.

Use visual filtering to zero in according to properties such as time, cost, risk. etc.

 

Consider what visualizations your team needs to communicate effectively with stakeholders

 
Stakeholder dashboards and reports
 

Customize dashboards to report on projects. Tailor headlines/titles and select roadmaps & timelines, charts, KPI indicators, diagrams, capability maps etc. Use visual filtering for quick impact analysis.

 

Check if dashboards are restricted or template-only with. Can data and diagrams be filtered, edited and updated during a meeting, or are they static visualizations.

 
EA & Business Views
 

Visualizations for self-serve queries of business analysis, change impacts, and scenario planning directly from the central repository, via your browser

 

Consider whether you may need to respond to queries with data in meetings, or whether a delayed response is sufficient

 
Export
 

Create signature-ready reports with ABACUS and directly export to Word, PDF, Excel. Export enterprise architecture diagrams to image formats including PNG, JPG and SVG

 

Check whether reporting systems or analytics and calculations rely on third party systems.

 
Comparisons
 

Design reports comparing projects and future-state architecture options including costs, benefits, risks and more. Automate publication and distribution as needed

 

Check if comparison reports are comprehensive

 

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Digital Business Collaboration

Enterprise architects shouldn’t need to act as data stewards, but they do need to make sure data is maintained. Set up data owners across the business to collaborate on and co-author data via secure browser-editable lists and catalogs. Use permissions and notifications to control data quality.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Single Repository with Easy Data Updates
 

Data owners and contributors can update and edit catalogs/lists in-browser via secure browser-editable digital portfolios. Any data and diagram changes update the central repository in real-time.

 

Check if the EA team needs to handle updates. Are data entry options limited to specific field inputs or feedback loops? How is data entry managed and administered?

 
Live Collaboration
 

Users can edit data catalogs and diagrams online in web-based ABACUS dashboards, with changes visible in real-time. Permissions and change logs provide governance.

 

Check how data is updated and how clean data entry is achieved. Does the EA team need to process data updates themselves from review notes?

 
Democratization
 

Embed digital portfolios in Microsoft Teams, Confluence, intranets etc. for easy access across the business to dashboards and digital portfolios

 

Check if collaboration is limited to email or comments via vendor systems

 
Tailored Access
 

Browsing of the repository in-app and via secure websites with role-based permissions screening eliminating need for obfuscation via duplicated views.

 

Check what is required for setting up and varying access and permissions

 
Permissions & Data Governance
 

Segment data for different users/consumers of that data. Validate/ensure data quality with fine-grained CRUD permissions, including role definition, authorization and user provisioning

 

Check whether role-based access for different user groups is available for data quality governance. Check whether your in-house administrators can adjust permissions easily.

 
Authentication
 

Streamlined access with Single Sign-On and Open ID for digital portfolio users and AD integration for desktop users

 

Authentication for some tools can be complex and limit adoption

 
Multi-user Scalability
 

Securely scale so hundreds of users can collaborate from different locations & time-zones

 

Do you have, or need to plan for, teams of architects who need to collaborate with stakeholders across many departments and global regions?

 
Version Control & Audit Trail
 

Full log of all repository changes with roll-back, diff and sync to ensure data consistency

 

Understand whether audit trails are available and what is required for configuration and maintenance

 

Business Analysis & Design, Scenario Analysis, Gap Analysis, Algorithms

Understanding current business landscapes using data and metrics, and generating reliable future state scenarios is core to business success. ABACUS supports this with powerful analytics and scenario analysis features. Architects and strategy managers can undertake gap analysis, trace impacts and relationships, test future state architecture designs, and guide businesses forward.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Impact Analysis
 

Predict the impact of change incl. technical, financial, business, operational, regulatory and compliance, based on integrated enterprise data

 

Check if what-if analysis is available, and whether it is limited to specific datasets

 
Gap Analysis
 

Identify the steps needed to move between the current state and future-state architecture options with diagram, table-based, visualization and architecture comparisons

 

Check if the differences between baseline and target architectures are easy to identify and compare

 
Scenario Analysis
 

Model current, target, and, future states and compare values attached to different architectures with visual recommendations to guide your business

 

Consider if you require only ‘As-Is’ modeling, or if you need to map out scenarios and alternative future states options

 
Traceability
 

Discover detailed relationships between customer interactions and operations, applications, data and resources using connections visualized in matrices, diagrams, catalogs, charts and Graph View.

 

Understand how a tool defines relationships and if it allows traceability enabling impact, dependency, and what-if analysis

 
Predictive Analytics
 

Use algorithms to predict the outcomes of scenarios, strategies and future state architectures

 

Do you require whole-of-architecture analytics, in-depth modeling, and scenario analysis?

 
No-code Algorithms
 

Design calculations which roll up data across your architecture layers (eg cost of a specific Business Capability or Process). Calculate metrics specific to your business, technology structures and industry without writing a single line of code

 

Consider whether you require strong analytics functionality: cost and risk forecasts, technical KPIs, trends in metrics, business & technical fit scores etc.

 
Pre-built Algorithms
 

Calculate Costs, TCO, ROI, Risk and Security Scores, Complexity, Reliability, Cloud Readiness, Resource Utilization, Response Times, Performance, Maturity, Availability, ESG metrics etc. with algorithms out-of-the-box

 

Are analytics integrated or is a tool reliant on third party tools or manual calculations.

 

Essential to Enterprise Architecture

Tools for enterprise architecture come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging in functionality and maturity. ABACUS includes key features which are essential for successful enterprise architecture. These include user and view configuration, powerful repository search, and guidance for contributors, collaborators, and consumers of business insights.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
User Interface
 

Intuitive UI with online tutorials and guides or in-person training available

 

Assess user-interface and on-boarding processes for both experts and stakeholders

 
Configurable
 

Easily adjust metamodels, object properties and catalog, matrix, dashboard, and chart settings and manage permissions within ABACUS

 

Check whether data entry permissions setup is tied to separate or third party processes

 
Tailor Views & Icons
 

Using familiar technical icons and standards in diagrams and visualizations (eg. ArchiMate, AWS) or business-friendly icons. Easily upload new icons from Visio to ABACUS.

 

Understand what stakeholder views are available and whether they can be tailored in-house

 
Data Management
 

Set up hierarchies benefiting from a graph database back-end rather than storing data in “flat” lists. Fill in missing or incomplete data using Machine Learning.

 

Understand how data storage and improvement can impact time-to-value and ease of use and modification of data

 
Remote Working
 

Cloud-based management of portfolios: application lists, asset registers. Editable web-based diagrams and process models etc. Customizable and interactive dashboards for self-service access to reports. ABACUS supports remote work and real-time collaboration

 

Consider whether your team can move easily to work from home or when travelling, and whether you may need to scale up quickly as demand and buy-in increases.

 
Flexible Categorization
 

Drag and drop ordering of hierarchical structures to allow intuitive as opposed to alphabetical or numerical ordering

 

Is the ability to re-order categories easily required for your team

 
Guided Roadmapping
 

Synchronize or merge architectures using architecture “Diff” comparison tool, plus guidance on whether to sync / merge according to the specific differences

 

Comparing architectures manually is standard for many tools, but can be time-consuming for large enterprises

 
Democratized Details
 

Supports detailed descriptions of business processes via standardized notations and the relationships of any connected data and application objects

 

Support for framework defined business notation and directly associated objects so users see the appropriate details of objects in the model

 
Familiar Diagramming
 

Provides modeling options for BPMN and UML libraries incl. UML Sequence Diagrams and elements such as swimlanes, interactions, events, and gates. Cloud architecture icons libraries (AWS, Azure, GCP) available. Customize and add icons as needed.

 

Consider if you require “with purchase” support for key frameworks including BPMN and UML

 
Search & Filtering
 

Full-Text search, filter functionalities on all elements, views and dashboards

 

In some tools search can be limited to filtering on catalogs and portfolios

 
Secure Access
 

ABACUS supports seamless access with Single Sign-on (SSO) and Active Directory (AD) integration. TLS technology protects your information using both server authentication and encryption of data. ABACUS Cloud users can also enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

 

Consider the sensitivity of enterprise architecture data, and the importance of maintaining regulatory compliance as well as strong security for your team. Make sure data is encrypted.

 

Deployment

Every organization is different and every user has different access requirements. ABACUS can be deployed on-premise, via secure hosted cloud or both, giving users access from their preferred OS and browser anywhere in the world.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Less Maintenance
 

Full cloud deployment available with zero client install and configuration

 

Cloud deployment available from some tool vendors or third party providers

 
Flexible Setup
 

On-premise, cloud and hybrid deployment options available. Dedicated or Multi-tenant deployment for cloud and hybrid setups

 

Does your team require on-premise or cloud deployments or options for hybrid solutions

 
Predictable Pricing
 

Predictable contracts based on user numbers, with bundles designed to suit a range of team sizes.

 

Some tools use consumption-based pricing, where charges increase with the number of applications or elements. Clients tell us that this pricing can be unpredictable and expensive.

Check also if additional tools are needed for process modeling or analysis functionality.

 

Customer Success & Support

ABACUS is a fully supported platform built to deliver value for enterprise architects and organizations. With programs designed to get teams up to speed quickly using their own business data, extensive training options for various users, and resources covering technical and scenario-driven aspects, teams can achieve quick time-to-value.

 
ABACUS
 
Your Tool Requirements
 
Readily Available
 

24/7 email support; weekday phone support and online or in-person training

 

Support and training equip teams with the skills to deliver value. Check if support is available locally for your time zone.

 
Knowledge Base and Self-Service Learning
 

Online Knowledge Base with searchable introductory tutorials, expert guides and peer-to-peer forums

 

Peer-to-peer and community user groups can provide valuable guidance and ideas

 
Expert Assistance
 

Dedicated Customer Success and Rapid Start Programs tailored to business outcomes

 

Tailored training using company data can accelerate enterprise architecture programs

 
Extendable Services
 

As-needed technical and discipline specialist advice and masterclasses

 

Understand the level of expertise and and support expecatation required for your team

 

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