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Choosing the Right ALM Solution: Codebeamer vs. Polarion

ALM Solution Polarion Polarion
Written by Carlos Almeida
Published on October 27, 2023
Categories: Codebeamer | PDM/PLM-Product Data and Lifecycle Management

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tools are the difference between streamlining development processes, maintaining regulatory compliance, and enhancing collaboration….or falling flat on your face. There are plenty of ALM solutions out there that boast they will fix your current challenges. But, moving to a new ALM can be a time consuming task. So, it’s best to only do it once you know the ALM will flex with you for the long-haul. In this comparison blog post, we’re comparing Codebeamer vs Polarion to see which comes out on top.

Codebeamer vs Polarion Overview

Speed and precision matter more than ever. That means, the choice of an ALM solution can significantly impact your software development outcomes. The best ALM will improve:

  • Efficiency: Streamlined development processes lead to faster software delivery.
  • Collaboration: Enhanced collaboration results in improved productivity and product quality.
  • Compliance: Regulatory compliance reduces the risk of costly setbacks and complications.
  • Transparency: Project transparency facilitates better decision-making.
  • Quality: Improved product quality translates to higher customer satisfaction.
  • Innovation: Bottlenecks are reduced, fostering innovation and improving application quality.
ALM Solution<br /> Polarion

Do you have a bad ALM or just poor requirements management? 

Check this out.

 

Here’s a quick overview of the key features and benefits for Codebeamer vs Polarion: 

Quick Description:
Configuration Approach:
Workflows:
Compliance:
Integrations:
Agile Adoption:
User Interface:
Customization:
Variant Management:
Codebeamer
Codebeamer is a comprehensive Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tool designed by Intland Software and later acquired by PTC. Codebeamer offers end-to-end software development and management capabilities. It facilitates collaboration among teams, streamlines workflows, and supports various methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, and DevOps, providing tools for requirements management, test management, and version control. Codebeamer focuses on aiding organizations to achieve regulatory compliance and supports various industries like automotive, aerospace, and medical devices.
Codebeamer boasts unique configurability and product line configuration capabilities, which are invaluable for managing multiple product variants.
Digital Workflows: Its digital workflows foster efficient collaboration and streamline development processes.
Codebeamer is designed with regulatory compliance in mind. For medical software, Codebeamer has templates that support IEC 82304-1, IEC 62304, ISO 14971, and FDA 21 CFR Parts 11 & 820. For medical audit and CAPA management, Codebeamer's templates support ISO 13485:2016 and FDA Title 21 CFR Part 820. Codebeamer's templates also support Pharma GAMP 5, Automotive ISO 26262:2018 & ASPICE, ISO 9001:2015 QMS, and Airborne Hardware and Software Compliance.
Codebeamer supports a wide range of integrations, ensuring compatibility with other tools. It seamlessly integrates with various tools, from PLM and MBSE to REST and Swagger APIs. Some common integrations that are out-of-the-box are Bitbucket, GitLab, and Jira Software.
Codebeamer supports Agile practices through several different templates, including a Scrum and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) templates.
The advanced user interface offers an array of features to enhance usability. Codebeamer's also comes with preconfigured templates facilitate regulatory compliance and expedite safety-critical audits. Its interface empowers teams with additional features and capabilities, such as configurability to connect different components together.
Codebeamer's extensive configuration options allow tailored workflows, fields, and reports.
A unique feature of Codebeamer is it's Working Sets and Branching. Codebeamer's branching approach is effective for variant management and change control, which few tools in the space have.
Polarion
Polarion is an ALM solution developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software, supporting the software development lifecycle. It integrates requirements management, quality assurance, and application lifecycle management in a single platform, enabling traceability, compliance, and collaboration across different teams. Polarion focuses on aiding organizations to achieve regulatory compliance and supports various industries like automotive, aerospace, and medical devices.
Polarion ensures real-time aggregated management information, aligning all stakeholders around project objectives.
Legacy Replacement: It replaces disparate point solutions, providing a unified platform for software development.
It helps achieve better quality and regulatory compliance through end-to-end traceability and automated audit trails. It boasts of support for ISO standards, FDA, FAA, SPICE, SOX and CMMI regulations.
Polarion supports integrations through it's "Polarion Extension Portal", which allows external vendors to write free and pay-for extensions to integrate Polarion to other services and systems. It also supports a REST API. Out of the box, Polarion does not have integrations for common Git repo tools such as Github, GitLab, and Bitbucket.
Polarion supports the adoption of modern agile techniques, offering flexible planning and real-time reporting. This includes Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®).
Polarion is a great tool for experienced users. The user interface does offer extended capabilities however it is an older and confusing design to some. Its interface is quite complex, so in some cases it is difficult to understand how it works.
Polarion customizations are mostly handled through it's Extension Portal, with a few exceptions such as creation of work item types.
Polarion does have a variant management solution called VARIANT, however this solution does not perform at the same level that Codebeamer does.
ALM Solution<br /> Polarion

How To Choose The Right ALM Solutions

Choosing between Codebeamer and Polarion should align with your specific needs, industry, and compliance requirements. Ultimately, the right decision depends on your business needs, budget and long-term goals. 

However, in our expert opinion, Codebeamer definitely has the edge. It’s one of the reasons we continue to work with PTC Codebeamer and recommend it to our clients.

For example, Codebeamer offers a range of advantages, including templates, an advanced user interface, extensive configuration options, and powerful branching capabilities. If you value efficiency, traceability, and customization whilst having guardrails in place to support your compliance objectives, Codebeamer is a strong contender.

 

Considering Jama Connect?   Check out how it compares to Codebeamer here.

Codebeamer, tailored for regulated industries like Medical Devices, simplifies product engineering for high-quality manufacturing. These open systems offer adaptable workflow templates, enhancing speed, cost-efficiency, and product quality. CodeBeamer serves as a global leader and innovator across various industrial sectors. For example, Automotive, Aerospace, and Medical Devices. Additionally, it’s a web-based ALM platform compatible with AWS, Azure, and Docker. Lastly, Codebeamer integrates well with other applications. Take this example of how it integrates with Jira. 

Want To See Codebeamer In Action?

We’ve wrapped up a few case studies from clients to showcase how Codebeamer ALM solved their needs:

And to ensure you are fully-equipped to make the right decision, here are a few other helpful articles.

And of course, you can contact us for a free demo and to chat through any questions you might have too.

At SPK, we specialize in helping businesses accelerate and improve their ALM processes. Whether you choose Codebeamer or Polarion, we’re here to assist you in achieving your ALM goals.

Contact us today to explore how we can support your ALM journey.

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