Best IT Operations Management Software in 2024 (Image by Dynamics 365)
The IT operations management software automates complex processes to ensure efficient IT system performance.
These tools monitor, manage, and optimise IT infrastructure components like servers, networks, and databases.
However, selecting the right ITOM software is a unique process as it directly impacts your business’s IT operations’ agility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
The suitable tool must meet the current best practices for IT operation management and adapt to evolving technology environments, ultimately contributing to the overall success and competitiveness of a business.
Current IT Operations Landscape
The 2024 IT operations landscape will be marked by several key challenges and trends shaping how businesses approach IT operations management (ITOM).
One of the primary trends identified for 2024 includes the increasing role of Generative AI (GenAI) in making AI Operations (AIOps) more user-friendly and accessible.
GenAI’s integration into ITOM tools is expected to democratise IT operations, allowing a broader range of users to engage with domain-specific technologies without needing deep expertise.
Edge management and optimization are also gaining traction, becoming mainstream as organisations increasingly adopt edge computing solutions.
Effective management and orchestration tools for edge computing are expected to emerge, offering comprehensive control and monitoring capabilities across a business’s IT infrastructure.
Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) is another area gaining relevance, particularly in the context of environmental sustainability and carbon reduction efforts.
The convergence of IT and Operational Technology (OT) is driving the increased importance of DCIM in IT operations.
Additionally, platform engineering is becoming a more prominent approach, with IT operations teams managing and supporting platforms that can support a variety of solutions and tools.
This shift towards platform engineering is aimed at enhancing organisational agility.
A survey by NinjaOne and Omdia highlighted several key IT challenges for 2024. These include embracing automation as a necessity for operational efficiency, improving security posture in light of increasing cyber threats, managing the growing complexities of IT infrastructure, and addressing budget limitations and legacy system constraints.
These challenges underscore the need for robust, integrated ITOM solutions to streamline processes, enhance security, and support strategic business objectives.
So, the future of advanced ITOM solutions is designed to address these challenges by providing automation capabilities, enhanced security features, simplified IT management tools, and strategies to overcome budget and legacy system constraints.
Top IT Operations Management Software in 2024
The following 7 ITOM software platforms are making significant strides by adapting to the ever-changing landscape.
These platforms are not just tools; they are revolutionising how we approach IT management by harmonising with hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
It is important to remember that choosing the right ITOM software is not just a technical decision but a strategic move that aligns with your unique requirements and financial plans.
Choosing the right software is not just about selecting a tool. It’s about finding a partner for your IT journey. Researching, comparing, and demoing potential solutions is critical to making this happen.
1. ServiceNow
ServiceNow is an IT operations management software that gained popularity in 2023 due to its robust, cloud-based capabilities and customizable workflow management.
As we move into 2024, it will remain a common choice for organisations looking to streamline their IT operations with advanced automation and integrated solutions.
Pros of ServiceNow
ServiceNow seamlessly integrates with third-party apps like Jira, Microsoft, and Salesforce.
It is highly customizable and focuses on creating workflows that fit an organisation’s needs.
The platform is user-friendly, with most features readily available, making it easy for end-users to create tickets and manage incidents.
Cons of ServiceNow
ServiceNow is not a complete enterprise-wide solution and requires integration with other systems for a complete solution.
Its reporting and business intelligence capabilities are less powerful than some competitors, and setting up workflows can be complex.
Price of ServiceNow
ServiceNow’s pricing is tailored to specific business requirements and is generally on the higher end. Contact ServiceNow for a custom quote.
2. SolarWinds Orion Platform
The SolarWinds Orion Platform is essential for IT Operations Management due to its comprehensive monitoring capabilities and modular, scalable architecture.
The SolarWinds Orion Platform is expected to remain a popular choice, particularly for businesses needing a comprehensive monitoring solution that can effectively accommodate their expanding IT infrastructure requirements.
Pros of SolarWinds Orion Platform
The SolarWinds Orion Platform is modular and integrates multiple tools into a single UI, facilitating network and system infrastructure monitoring.
It is designed to scale well with IT infrastructure growth and offers comprehensive network fault monitoring and performance management.
Cons of SolarWinds Orion Platform
A substantial upfront investment is required for licences, and the platform has a steep learning curve due to its extensive feature array.
Price of SolarWinds Orion Platform
Pricing for specific tools in the Orion Platform, such as Network Performance Monitoring, Server and Application Monitor, and Storage Resource Monitor, is customised.
Please visit the SolarWinds Orion Platform website to request a price quote.
3. Splunk IT Service Intelligence (ITSI)
Splunk IT Service Intelligence (ITSI) is a premium analytics solution highly regarded for its ability to provide real-time, predictive performance monitoring using machine learning.
This software is particularly advantageous for its dashboards that monitor service health and KPIs in real-time and its intelligent alerting with automated event clustering.
Pros of Splunk IT Service Intelligence
Splunk IT Service Intelligence offers robust features, including detailed metrics, customization to meet customer requirements and KPI-based alerting.
Additionally, it provides asset group overviews, easy integration with other platforms, and the capability for event count reduction and correlation.
Cons of Splunk IT Service Intelligence
However, Splunk IT Service Intelligence does have some limitations.
Some users have noted that the UI could be simplified for daily operations and that the platform’s API access licences are limited, potentially bottlenecking use cases for building dashboards.
Furthermore, there are occasional challenges with patching schedules, maintenance, and multi-tenant or role-based access for ITSI.
Price of Splunk IT Service Intelligence
As for pricing, Splunk IT Service Intelligence does not publicly list its pricing details but offers premium consulting and integration services.
You can contact Splunk directly for the most current pricing information and explore if the software fits their needs and budget.
4. Zluri
Zluri stands out as a data-driven enterprise SaaS management platform, offering two key business advantages.
Pros of Zluri
Firstly, Zluri enhances visibility and control over an organisation’s SaaS ecosystem, efficiently managing and optimising SaaS applications.
Secondly, Zluri ensures cost-effective IT operations by eliminating redundant apps and automating tasks like SaaS procurement and contract renewals, thus reducing SaaS wastage.
Zluri helps control and secure SaaS ecosystems by discovering and managing unapproved apps and reducing compliance risks.
The platform is also effective in usage monitoring, alerting, and access control, making it a versatile tool for enterprise SaaS management.
Cons of Zluri
While Zluri is highly effective in its domain, it’s still relatively new in the SaaS management landscape. As such, some organisations might find their management features in their nascent stages.
However, most users do not report significant drawbacks, indicating its effectiveness in SaaS management.
Price of Zluri
Specific pricing details for Zluri are not provided. You should contact the vendor directly for the most current information.
5. Freshworks IT Operations Management
Freshworks IT Operations Management is renowned for automating various aspects of the sales process, such as email sending, contact record updates, and approval processes.
Its vital mobile access feature also allows users to engage with the CRM system on the go, leveraging unique capabilities like GPS and voice.
Pros of Freshworks IT Operations Management
One of the key strengths of Freshworks is its workflow management, which helps automate parts of the sales process, thereby enhancing efficiency.
It also offers strong territory management, allowing users to define salesperson territories based on customer or market characteristics.
Moreover, Freshworks provides high-quality task management and reporting features, aiding in project management and analytics.
Cons of Freshworks IT Operations Management
However, Freshworks does have some limitations. Users have noted that its opportunity management and integration with email clients like Outlook or Gmail could be improved.
There are also some areas needing enhancement in interaction tracking and lead management.
Additionally, the customization options, particularly in custom fields and API for custom integration, might be limited compared to other platforms.
Price of Freshworks IT Operations Management
Freshworks offers a flexible solution for businesses of various sizes with its diverse features and tiered pricing structure.
It provides scalability and a range of functionalities to meet diverse operational needs.
However, to receive a personalised quote, it is necessary to contact Freshworks’ sales team.
6. Odoo
Odoo is a versatile enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that offers a range of business applications for managing various aspects of company operations.
Two main advantages of Odoo are its open-source development model, which allows for a high degree of customization, and its extensive list of integrated applications that can automate many business processes.
Pros of Odoo
Odoo’s strengths lie in its comprehensive and customizable platform, which covers project management, accounting, human resources, sales, and marketing.
The user-friendly platform enables easy navigation and access to essential functions on the dashboard.
Odoo also offers detailed reporting and analysis capabilities, assisting businesses in making informed decisions to improve productivity and efficiency.
Additionally, it supports a wide range of modules that can be integrated into a company’s workflow, making it a flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.
Cons of Odoo
However, some users often need help finding that there is a steep initial learning curve, and mastering all the features of the platform can require extensive training.
Customization can be complex; some users may need to contact support or local partners for assistance.
Some features only suit some businesses, potentially leading to additional costs for custom add-ons.
Moreover, customer support response times can sometimes be slow, potentially causing delays in resolving issues.
Price of Odoo
Odoo’s pricing structure offers a variety of plans to accommodate different business needs. The pricing starts from a free tier for limited features.
Paid plans start from US$ 10.90 monthly for more comprehensive access to the software’s functionalities.
7. ManageEngine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager supports various physical and virtual servers, including Windows, Linux, Unix, and Solaris, and offers in-depth monitoring for virtualization platforms like VMware, Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.
With features like SNMP Trap Engine and Workflow Automation, OpManager excels in detecting problems before they disrupt operations and in automating low-level troubleshooting and maintenance tasks.
Pros of ManageEngine OpManager
OpManager’s user-friendly interface is one of its significant advantages, providing network administrators with an intuitive dashboard that offers a consolidated view of network health and status.
This facilitates quick identification and troubleshooting of issues. The software also offers rapid deployment and ease of use for monitoring various IT assets with predefined templates and quick asset discovery.
Additionally, users appreciate the ability to deploy custom script monitors in different programming languages, adding to the tool’s flexibility.
Cons of ManageEngine OpManager
However, users have noted some limitations with OpManager. The software upgrades are more intuitive than some users prefer, and the UI needs to be updated.
Some users also desire more customization options to tailor the software to their network monitoring needs.
Additionally, the modular nature of the product can sometimes make it challenging to identify the component responsible for an issue. However, this is a common problem.
Price of ManageEngine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager offers various pricing options depending on the number of devices to be monitored. The Professional Edition starts at $345 for monitoring 25 devices.
The Enterprise Edition, suitable for larger deployments, has different pricing and should be checked directly with ManageEngine for the most current information.
Conclusion
Looking ahead to 2024, the importance of IT operations management (ITOM) software in improving and streamlining business operations cannot be overstated.
In this rapidly changing environment, choosing the appropriate ITOM software is a strategic decision for businesses.
As businesses face the challenges of the 2024 IT landscape, using the appropriate ITOM software can offer the agility, security, and cost-effectiveness necessary to remain competitive.
Through process automation, enhanced security and support for strategic goals, ITOM solutions enable businesses to operate efficiently and adapt to changing technology trends.
Therefore, it is crucial for organisations to thoroughly research, compare, and test these solutions to choose the best fit for their operational needs and long-term goals.
