BMC Helix ITSM vs ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between BMC Helix ITSM and ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Help Desk Software solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed BMC Helix ITSM vs. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution is already aligned with the framework, so it is easy for us to proceed with any ISO 27K certification.""In general, for incident management, it's okay.""Technical support has been fine.""Customer support is always fantastic and willing to help. No matter what time of day we have a problem.""Currently, the Service Catalog has the most value to it. Mainly, because we are able to offer IT functionality to non-IT people.""BMC Smart IT is somewhat rigid, but they have a powerful backend that supports our complex need for extension versus customization. Between extension and customization, you can achieve complex business processes. That's one of the main advantages of BMC.""Initial, out-the-box setup was easy with no problems.""It has the power to automatize several different tasks in the ITSM world."

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"I can't think of any single feature that stands out, but it's an excellent product for a fair price. Nothing is missing. ServiceDesk has a lot of features, and we aren't using all of them. We have to implement the ones we already have before we move on to the others.""Its interface is most valuable. It is easy to use, and our customers find it amazing because of that. Nowadays, it is not only IT technicians who deal with tickets. People from HR and finance also handle tickets, and not all of them are tech-savvy, so it is nice for them to have an interface that they can easily relate to. They appreciate that.""The solution offers a lot of opportunities for integrations.""The solution is free for up to five users.""There are a lot of great templates that you can take advantage of.""This solution has helped a lot by freeing up valuable time allowing the IT personnel to work on other more critical areas, key projects, and perform their fundamental job requirements on time without interruption.""Referring to its on-premises deployment, it is easy to use and easy to deploy. Cloud deployment is done on its own. It is very easy to navigate, and the GUI is quite friendly. In terms of product functionality, we really like the ESL version. We can host multiple instances of services on a single server, such as one help desk and multiple instances.""ManageEngine provides additional modules that we can integrate in the future."

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Cons
"The notifications that the solution is providing are very helpful, they should keep improving them for the future.""Compared to ServiceNow, BMC Remedy is somewhat "closed." I can go to the ServiceNow website and learn everything there is to know about the product, and training is available. That really wasn't available with BMC Remedy.""The initial setup of BMC Helix ITSM is complex because it has different integrations with other tools. Additionally, it needs to be integrated with the active directory and have different databases. The environment will dictate how difficult the process is.""If I'm working with a client who wants to expand and move into other areas - they want to expand their workflow and other parts of the organization, they want to do some work with project management, they want to do some work with HR - I'm not sure that BMC Remedy is doing that. And it's because of their platform. Any software has a lifecycle. To me, BMC is a dated architecture.""Adding additional fields does not work very well.""They should add some of the bolt-ons into the initial setup, such as chat.""Working with numerous processes can be complex, and the processes are not always transparent in the solution.""We have experienced outages, because some other customers did something on the same cluster that we share."

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"The UI for the app needs improvement.""It would be better if they could just bring up interface changes because, from the past five years, I don't see any difference in the way or look and feel of the application.""The timing reporting module, and how it's used is a bit difficult to understand.""There's no native integrations between the systems.""The self-service feature for end users and the knowledge base need to be improved.""Compared to other ITSM tools, ServiceDesk will have to step up their knowledge base tools. If they could make it open enough to be integrated with other applications or other systems it would be very useful.""They could improve the screens.""The service delivery could be improved."

More ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Please always get the latest quote from a BMC partner or from BMC. Check for the latest offerings."
  • "While purchasing, try to negotiate on per user licensing costs, associated maintenance, and purchase 20% more then what you think you should have. Bulk is always cheaper."
  • "If Customer and IT agents are happy, that is one of the greatest ROI. However, one of the major factors is Leadership, because at the end they have to justify the cost."
  • "It is costly, but it is well worth it."
  • "Just make sure you really sit down and look at what you will be using per user, therefore you will not be surprised with a big bill. You do not want every user having every license, it really is not needed."
  • "If you are looking for some kind of professional services form the OEM then you would have to purchase that."
  • "It is too expensive for a small business."
  • "It is not very expensive and not very cheap. It is somewhere in-between. Some of the features are more expensive. There are also additional costs. If you want to use most of the features, you need to pay more."
  • More BMC Helix ITSM Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The prices are attractive. Customer can use a subscription if they do not have enough budget."
  • "The cost of licensing is approximately ten dollars per suite, per month. When scaling up, there are a lot of other expenses such as infrastructure, the telecommunication companies, etc."
  • "For our 500 assets that are using the professional version of the solution, we pay somewhere between $4,000 and $5,000 per year."
  • "The only issue for us is the pricing, which is quite high in comparison with the competition."
  • "Its price is very lucrative. It would be great if the price can come down, but overall, its price is great. It is half or maybe one-third of the price of other market leaders."
  • "For 90 service agents and our need for a cloud solution with incident management and service request management, it annually costs around 12,000. If you need additional development or deployment support from the vendor, there might be an additional cost."
  • "We use the cloud model, which is subscription-based, and each year, the subscription fees seem to go up, making it a more expensive solution."
  • "It is cheaper than the competitors."
  • More ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:It is suitable for the present circumstances, providing reliability and adhering to the necessary procedures Having ITSM and proper knowledge is essential for our work to be acknowledged and… more »
    Top Answer:Regarding reporting, when sharing information with leadership, we utilize BI support and data or more analytical tools. These tools provide accurate and comprehensive reports, covering various… more »
    Top Answer:We used to support VMware applications, focusing on distributed applications such as data from ETW, Snowflake, and SAP. Our role involved processing critical data systems through internal mechanics… more »
    Top Answer:The strength is its pricing. It is easy to use.
    Top Answer:I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive. It is above average. But it is neither cheap nor expensive.
    Top Answer:In terms of enhancements, additional features for automatic asset discovery would be beneficial. Perhaps the ability to deploy an agent on the network to discover assets automatically. So, I would… more »
    Ranking
    3rd
    out of 59 in Help Desk Software
    Views
    8,522
    Comparisons
    4,804
    Reviews
    21
    Average Words per Review
    414
    Rating
    7.6
    4th
    out of 59 in Help Desk Software
    Views
    7,499
    Comparisons
    3,933
    Reviews
    19
    Average Words per Review
    450
    Rating
    7.7
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Remedy ITSM, Remedy, Helix Remedy
    Learn More
    Overview

    BMC Helix ITSM is a cutting-edge IT service management platform that leads the service management industry. It is built natively for mobile with an intuitive, beautiful, people-centric user experience that makes your whole organization more productive. This platform leverages artificial intelligence to automate and streamline various service management processes. In doing so, it will ultimately make your organization more efficient. This simple-to-use platform is capable of handling even your organization’s most advanced management requirements.

    BMC Helix ITSM is a predictive platform that does not simply wait for problems to occur. The advanced analytics software aims to improve your organization’s efficiency by spotting weak areas and then proposing solutions. This platform can improve your resource deployment efficiency by as much as 45% .This is why it is trusted by corporations across a variety of industries.

    Key Features

    Some of BMC Helix ITSM’s key features include:

    • Solves service issues in a way that makes you more efficient. BMC Helix ITSM employs advanced analytic software that searches for areas where your organization can drive efficiencies to provide the best possible service.
    • Groups issues that recur in a way that streamlines both analysis and incident management. It uses artificial intelligence to identify and solve groups of incidents in real time. The AI automates these processes, which can prove both tedious and time-consuming.
    • Securely and seamlessly provides services across multi-cloud environments with “a single pane of glass” interface. This allows you to be highly flexible. You can configure your services in a number of different ways without having to worry that your multi-cloud environment won’t be able to support your service management.
    • The ability to view all of your management data in a way that provides you with clear insights into your system’s management. BMC Helix ITSM enables you to create custom reports and dashboards. This makes it possible for you to see any and all significant trends in your operations and services data.

    Reviews from Real Users

    BMC Helix ITSM’s software stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two of these are the robust activity tracking features and the lightweight nature of the solution.

    A PeerSpot user who is a technical Program Manager and Site Lead at a computer software company notes the nature of Helix’s task tracking when they write, “The most valuable features I have found are the activity logs. Additionally, the other features where you are able to continuously address issues and are able to annotate notes inside to convey them to the customer. The customer can read the notes and are able to know where you are in the procedures and process of fixing the problem for them. It has a good interactive piece for dialogue with customers where you do not have to interact with them personally, but they can do it on their own just by going into that activity log. This is great for the customer to have the ability to find out how things are being progressively taken care of.”

    Another PeerSpot user, who is a Practice Director of Global Infrastructure Services at a computer software company, notes, “Many other tools are similar. I've used these tools and find that they meet my requirements. Helix is more lightweight than these tools. It's a traditional tool that was developed more than 10 years ago. Ease of use is the operative word.”

    ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus (MSP) is a comprehensive help desk tool that has built-in asset and project management. MSP can be deployed in the cloud or on premises. The solution enables its users to track configuration changes, map relationships, and view graphical displays of data for more informed decision making. 

    The two main focus points of MSP are IT request tracking and asset management. MSP’s integrated centralized management console enables technicians and system administrators to efficiently resolve complex issues and keep track of their organization’s needs and ensure constant availability.

    With MSP's automation of multiple service desk processes, you can easily save time by automating repetitive and simple tasks such as task assignment, notifications, and categorizations. The automation of multiple processes helps reduce errors and lower costs while ensuring a fast turnaround of ticket handling processes.

    ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Features and Benefits

    MSP has a wide variety of features to help you optimize your help desk management:

    • Dynamically update workflows: Create visual change workflows on a drag-and-drop canvas and customize these workflows on demand according to your organization’s needs.
    • Implement your workflow’s actions: Define actions such as notifications, switches, and automatic updates and approvals throughout the lifecycle of your workflow.
    • Flexible role administration: Provide custom viewing, editing, and approval access levels to various stakeholders and users.
    • Perform seamless integrations: Integrate with popular third-party products and access them from your IT help desk console.
    • Rapid troubleshooting: Improve your customer service by communicating with users by launching remote sessions directly from their tickets to quickly resolve their issues.

    • Control end-user workstations: Trigger software installation and removal on remote  workstations from within the management console.
    • Automatic anomaly notification: Resolve issues before they affect your enterprise. Automatically receive notification when a performance anomaly is detected in your servers or applications.
    • Auto-assign tickets: The technician auto-assign tool, which can be set up using a load balancing algorithm, eliminates the need to assign tickets to technicians manually. This helps ensure that tickets are distributed to technicians fairly and on time.
    • Automatic notifications and reports: Set up a notification system to guarantee that the necessary notifications reach stakeholders on time, and that customers are kept updated regarding the status of their tickets. In addition, schedule reports to be sent to users periodically. 
    • Implement your custom code: Program flexible automation enhancements with your own custom scripts and run them directly from the main dashboard.
    • Customize templates: Create custom and user-friendly templates using the solution’s simple drag-and-drop canvas. 

    Reviews from Real Users

    MSP stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its comprehensive workflow management toolset and the flexibility it offers its users.

    Mykola S., head of global IT delivery at Acino Pharma AG, writes, “CMDB as a baseline, incident management, service request management, and license management are valuable features. It offers really interesting features for complete use in an enterprise. You have one platform, and you could set up different service functions for HR, engineering, or another team in the same platform.

    Sample Customers
    Brookfield, HealthSouth Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Mercator, SAP, Stanford University
    Tranter IT Infrastructure Services Limited, Sterlite Technologies, averda, Radiology Associates
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company22%
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Comms Service Provider13%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Government10%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    REVIEWERS
    Healthcare Company10%
    Reseller10%
    Government8%
    Computer Software Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization53%
    Computer Software Company9%
    Financial Services Firm5%
    Comms Service Provider4%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise61%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise70%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise32%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise59%
    Large Enterprise26%
    Buyer's Guide
    BMC Helix ITSM vs. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about BMC Helix ITSM vs. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    BMC Helix ITSM is ranked 3rd in Help Desk Software with 75 reviews while ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is ranked 4th in Help Desk Software with 57 reviews. BMC Helix ITSM is rated 8.0, while ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of BMC Helix ITSM writes "The leading service management platform for delivering intelligent, user-centric experiences". On the other hand, the top reviewer of ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus writes " Easy to configure and affordable compared to other software options". BMC Helix ITSM is most compared with ServiceNow, JIRA Service Management, Freshdesk, IBM Maximo and IFS Cloud Platform, whereas ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is most compared with ServiceNow, JIRA Service Management, Zoho Desk, Freshservice and Freshdesk. See our BMC Helix ITSM vs. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus report.

    See our list of best Help Desk Software vendors and best IT Service Management (ITSM) vendors.

    We monitor all Help Desk Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.