Bizzdesign Horizzon

Our main use case for BiZZdesign HoriZZon  is to maximize our architecture end-to-end. We have many approaches to make architectural drawings and to try and link these to our CMDB , and our architecture was a bit of a mess. So what we try to do here is to get rid of Draw.io, to get rid of creating in Excel and Word and Visio , and to try and put everything into one tool, to have our whole business capabilities shown in one place where I can click and I can open up and I can see the integrations, and I can see which applications are connected to each other. I can see what integrations are connected, what they are doing, who owns them, who's responsible, when the next update is available, etc. So for me, everything is in one place instead of being on SharePoint  and in 100 different places.

We have daily meetings within the business to understand how things are working; when we bring a new project out or have a new application, I need to document that application. I need to understand who is using it, who is owning it, who is responsible for any changes, and what the integrations within that application are. Here , I can draw a box, I can put a user, an endpoint within that box, I can put the data object; for example, an application like Workday  has finance, procurement, and an HCM module. I can break down the specific domains and objects within that application and then help to build that application outwards. If someone logs in and doesn't know the application, they can make one click to open another screen or click on that integration, which tells them all the information about that integration. Everything is in one place, linked to our CMDB , which contains all information about who owns it, who is the business manager responsible for it, who is the support team, and everything is there, including when it should be end of life or when it needs an upgrade or how much it costs and how much the licenses are. Everything is in one place, making our life within the business a lot easier without having to go to multiple departments and worrying about people on vacation.

The best features that BiZZdesign HoriZZon  offers mainly include the ability to drill down into the application, to put the metrics within a specific application, and to list the number of integrations or the integration touchpoints. I can put in who owns the application and have everything in a single place. It benefits me when I need to know who pays the bill for this application or what the annual cost of licenses is because I can access everything within a few seconds once I log into the application. Everything being in one place really benefits me from an architectural perspective and also benefits the architectural, enterprise architecture team and the business.

I find ArchiMate to be a very good tool within BiZZdesign HoriZZon that helps us build end-to-end workflows and drill into the application. It is not just an application where you draw boxes and a few lines to data objects, but it also allows you to drill down and make sequence diagrams to show end-to-end workflows. I am able to have a single box on the screen, and when I click on it to say "Welcome to WHO," I have a list of my enterprise architecture, data architecture, and infrastructure architecture. I can click on and see my architectural principles and my business principles, allowing me to drill down through other features and understand everything about our architectural landscape and the applications required within that landscape from the front page.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon is a great tool, but it has limitations. It is not really one-to-one for common applications like Visio , for example, and there are workarounds. We have written many workarounds to translate Visio into Excel and Excel into Visio for simple drawings, whereby we have thousands of drawings in our SharePoint  applications that are written in Visio and we need those to be moved across. Instead of rewriting them, we have found ways to manipulate the way it is to move everything across. So, for me, it is a great tool that helps me and the business.

I see the online version as more popular than the downloadable version. I think better integrations to other tools, moving architecture from Visio and Enterprise Architect, could be made easier for migration into BiZZdesign HoriZZon. It is great if you do not have architecture tools, but if you are moving across from another, having everything in Visio requires a lot of work to recreate everything step-by-step because it may not be in the same format as BiZZdesign HoriZZon.

I rate it a nine because it is a great tool, but the user-friendliness regarding moving things across is a bit of a letdown. From a general perspective of the tool itself and what it does, it is second to none; I cannot fault the tool, only the process of not having the flexibility to allow migrations from other tools without help from someone in the organization.

I have been an architect or I have been within IT for the last 30 years.

From my experience, BiZZdesign HoriZZon is stable, and I have not encountered any problems with it.

I find BiZZdesign HoriZZon to be scalable for our needs, although I have not tested its limits beyond what I require at the moment.

Customer support has been great; issues we have encountered have typically been resolved within an hour, with responsive communications from the customer support team about fixes and workarounds.

I would rate customer support a perfect ten out of ten since any issues that arise have been addressed quickly, and solutions or timelines for fixes are communicated effectively.

As a consultant, I have used various solutions in the past, including Sparks, Visio, and ARIS  from Software AG. My current need led me to adopt BiZZdesign HoriZZon after recommendations from within the United Nations, starting from scratch as we had nothing before.

I see a return on investment because it prevents people from creating or building new applications; BiZZdesign HoriZZon facilitates workflows. If workflows and integrations are present, they save the organization money by demonstrating what is already available, thus reducing the need to create duplications.

I did not directly handle the pricing, setup cost, and licensing details as it is managed from a government perspective. WHO has recently cut back, leading us to a basic service model with a smaller number of read-only licenses. From a cost perspective, it still seems quite high, but I do not primarily deal with those aspects.

Prior to selecting BiZZdesign HoriZZon, we did send out an RFP to other competitors, but this tool was the one we had in mind due to its recommendations within the United Nations, following the process required.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon is deployed as a SaaS solution in the public cloud, and while there are users with the downloaded version on their machines, it is not the old-fashioned data center type. I sign in via a data center located in Frankfurt, but whether it is public or private, I am not sure.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon is predominantly hosted on AWS , and we log in to it as a SaaS service on AWS , which is also based in Frankfurt.

We did not purchase BiZZdesign HoriZZon through the AWS Marketplace ; instead, we bought it through the UN Marketplace. Other people within the UN were using it, and we received preferential rates by utilizing a tool already proven within the United Nations.

We build all regulatory and compliance principles within BiZZdesign HoriZZon. We have pages for regulations and compliance, listing compliance within and linking each regulation to the application. Everything is linked to understand what can be done or how the application complies. In Europe, we adhere to GDPR regulations, which help us mask sensitive data within the organization, and for audits, everything is displayed and described within BiZZdesign HoriZZon, aiding users in understanding their limitations for specific applications or integrations.

Collaboration between different teams is limited within our organization because we have a limited user base, with around 20 main applications and each application owner having access to BiZZdesign HoriZZon to create their own architectural models. While collaboration exists between core applications, challenges arise when people leave or retire since applications may not be handed over appropriately.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon helps us really understand existing IT systems; most have been replaced or integrated into the new landscape. It provides better visibility on what applications are owned by specific business units, which is especially beneficial during audits. The tool allows users to search for applications and confirm their existence, ensuring clarity on what is being used.

We utilize ArchiMate for BPM , allowing business owners to build end-to-end workflows, which aids our support teams in recognizing blockages in different business processes and integrations. It has substantially aided us from a support perspective by limiting downtime, where previously everything was documented and less accessible.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon allows us to align IT and business strategy effectively. It helps us understand what applications are out there and what functionality they have, so if someone wants to bring in a new application or requirement, they can search and find that the data already exists or can be integrated, saving both time and resources.

We do not use BiZZdesign HoriZZon for change management; we have specific tools for that. From a versioning perspective, we are able to list the versions of applications, but it is typically not for change management, although it keeps our architectural modeling up to date with the latest architectural drawings.

I think it makes life easier within the organization; everything is in one place, allowing people to have read-only access to understand certain integrations or parts of the business. They can go in and see if an integration or application is available, which makes life a lot easier. People do not have to create a new application or separate integrations; they can pick something out of the catalog and utilize something already there by understanding who the owner of that integration or application is.

It is difficult to distinguish metrics here, but I would say there have been a lot of cost savings involved by using the tool to better identify what we have within our architectural landscape. In the past, someone would say they need a small application that can do this and they need an integration, and they would put an RFP out, leading to high costs. Now they can go in up front and see the integration with the data is there and the application can do what they need. This saves a lot of money for the future and is very important from an organizational perspective.

I see BiZZdesign HoriZZon as a good tool for the future and a market leader among other tools. Many architectural tools have failed to keep up with updates, but BiZZdesign continues to demonstrate how things should be progressing; I find it highly scalable and recommend it.

I would give BiZZdesign HoriZZon a nine out of ten.

Public Cloud

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

My main use case for BiZZdesign HoriZZon  is enterprise architecture and solution architecture.

A quick specific example of how I use it for enterprise or solution architecture is creating an overview of processes using business process notation language.

I also handle showing what technology is used in doing business processes and the supporting technology, and seeing the consequences of technology choices coming ahead, such as integrations, typical data we need to have available, and the quality of data and so forth.

In my opinion, the best features BiZZdesign HoriZZon  offers include the ability to analyze your IT infrastructure's relationship to your business, seeing how everything is connected with everything, and figuring out ways ahead how you can change your setup.

The analysis in BiZZdesign HoriZZon works for me through a coloring view that is very simple and straightforward, which doesn't feel too analytical, but is still very powerful. It shows how different applications support the same process and forces the user, for instance, to use multiple applications at the same time.

I haven't observed a significant positive impact of BiZZdesign HoriZZon on my organization, and it's difficult to point that out.

One improvement I see for BiZZdesign HoriZZon is the management of large quantities of data, which could be improved. There could be a bit more flexibility on the metamodel, having some ability to use the same object to depict different things. The third thing would be an easier way of hiding ArchiMate modeling language to translate it to something more abstract and business-minded in presentation of views and diagrams.

I think that BiZZdesign is on point when it comes to usability as a modeling tool and from an enterprise architecture tool, but engaging business users with easier usability through an easier interface would be beneficial. However, I understand that Horizon, the portal, is what they are doing, and I recognize that is the business for the future. Therefore, I cannot say that they need to improve that, other than what they are already doing.

I do not think there are any other improvements needed for BiZZdesign HoriZZon that I haven't mentioned.

I have been working in my current field for nine years.

In my experience, BiZZdesign HoriZZon is very stable.

Regarding scalability, it has met my needs as my organization has grown, aside from issues on data management and the volumes of data.

The customer support has been very good, providing day-by-day feedback on both their support sites and directly with consultants assigned at various points.

I previously used a different solution, called Enterprise One, or True, and we also used Sparx Enterprise Architect by Systems Enterprise Architecture. We switched because we wanted a consolidated solution to gather enterprise architecture data together in a joint solution and manage it contained, rather than having separate repositories and distributed information.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that it is a bit of an expensive tool, but we think we get the value in return. The licensing is also a bit static; they could perhaps have more modularity in the usage case in the setup of license types.

Before choosing BiZZdesign HoriZZon, we evaluated other options, including Ardoq , Abacus Systems, and a small Danish vendor, in a public procurement where we had five vendors submitting proposals. Ultimately, we chose BiZZdesign HoriZZon.

The advice I would give to others looking into using BiZZdesign HoriZZon is first to clarify what they plan to use enterprise architecture for before purchasing a solution. They need to determine whether they will use classical enterprise architecture such as ArchiMate modeling, or adopt a data-driven perspective, or something else entirely. I would rate this product an overall 8.

Public Cloud

Amazon Web Services  (AWS )

My main use case for BiZZdesign HoriZZon  is for enterprise architecture and capability mapping.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon  is a fantastic tool for enterprise architecture and capability mapping that helps map capabilities by turning complex engineering data into clear design documents, which is very important for cross-functional alignment and onboarding teams so they can onboard faster and it acts as a single source of truth.

It helps me collaborate with business stakeholders, as the architectural sign-offs are built on top of the design in BiZZdesign HoriZZon, articulating the structure in transparent and well-structured components. It explains every business use case flow and how it transfers workflows in technical data design, with the data flowing well, making those use cases well explained with the help of BiZZdesign HoriZZon.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon offers a good learning curve for onboarding new team members, with features such as dynamic integration, automated data pipelines, and manual configuration, which are really helpful. It cuts down a lot of engineering rework, definitely improves system clarity, has a simplified UI for non-architectural users, and includes native AI features that assist with requirement mapping and text generation, making it a massive time-saver.

The tool definitely improves clarity and cuts down engineering rework, and these benefits are transparent to non-architecture teams as well, meaning that you do not need to be technically architecturally strong to understand the documents generated by BiZZdesign HoriZZon, which is very important as it saves a lot of time.

The major advantage of BiZZdesign HoriZZon in my organization is that it fosters collaboration, acting as a single source of truth that aligns cross-functional teams, allows us to ask questions, refine requirements, and modify underlying data pipelines when we are not meeting the enterprise policies or strategies. This modification is very easy to achieve. Occasionally, it may come across as technical, but being over-technical ensures we remain future-proof with technological advancements, including AI features and a simplified UI that is easier for non-technical stakeholders.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon is a massive time-saver, offering automated requirements mapping and text generation, which are fantastic features. Over time, as we receive new versions and updates, I expect more automated data pipelines and AI features that will further aid in transparency, saving time and costs in enterprise architecture tool implementations and designs, leading us to a new level of excellence.

While the interface can feel overly technical at times, making it tough for casual business stakeholders to navigate, I believe proper training and going through learning decks or user guides would significantly help these stakeholders since they are not the primary users.

The learning curve for BiZZdesign HoriZZon is quite steep as the interface can feel overly technical, making navigation tough for casual business stakeholders. Setting up dynamic integrations and automated data pipelines also takes considerable time due to the significant manual configuration required upfront.

Keeping documentation updated is essential, and enhancing user guide sections for specific components would assist users who find navigation challenging. Having essential guides in the form of tooltips or starting guides when opening the tool would be beneficial. These basic improvements, along with gamification, would enhance user-friendliness and greatly assist non-technical users, including business stakeholders, product managers, and DevOps engineers, who are connected and vital to the architecture team.

I have been using BiZZdesign HoriZZon for more than five years.

My advice for others considering using BiZZdesign HoriZZon is that it saves a lot of time, is user-friendly, has a simplified UI, and is an excellent tool for collaborating with business stakeholders and architectural teams, acting as a basis for obtaining sign-offs and allowing for modifications or refinements to designs, making design the backbone of technical architecture.

Concerning BiZZdesign HoriZZon's AI capabilities, governance, and security, I believe that security is non-negotiable at the enterprise level, requiring safeguards against malware attacks and multi-factor authentication, with IM  access measures effectively enforced at every data pipeline and integration point. We are actively providing various options for this, which are immensely helpful for automated configurations, ensuring we can rely on it and remain foolproof against any type of technical audits, including regulatory security compliance.

The issue of hallucination is significant when it comes to the accuracy and reliability of AI output. The input must be curated and align with enterprise standards. When we focus on improving correct input data, the model tends to provide accurate output. However, we cannot rely solely on AI without manual reviews or touchpoints on the design and output. I believe conducting multiple UATs or checks and using sample data will help us establish a threshold for acceptable results, and if we drop below that threshold, we can then address improvements to eliminate hallucinations. Regular evaluation of RAG pipelines should also be included as part of our routine.

I have shared many areas of improvement as well as my thoughts and suggestions, so please work on those as it would really help elevate your tool to the next level. I have given this review a rating of nine out of ten.

Public Cloud

Amazon Web Services  (AWS )

My main use case for BiZZdesign HoriZZon  is as a read-only content platform primarily for everyone. BiZZdesign HoriZZon  was introduced to us as a read-only platform, and we have added value by targeting certain artifacts for specific stakeholders. The operations team has one set, finance another, and so on. This targeted stakeholder management is a big use case for BiZZdesign HoriZZon. Recently, BiZZdesign HoriZZon introduced data blocks and contributor roles, making it easier for stakeholders to engage with the platform. These are two primary value-addition use cases. A specific example is using the Explorer functionality to generate and share artifacts with targeted groups. For platform architecture, the DevOps and operations teams access relevant artifacts, aiding targeted stakeholder management. Additionally, senior stakeholders are interested in architecture decision logs, which are aggregates of architecture decision records. We are working on making BiZZdesign HoriZZon a future decision support system by aggregating data for stakeholders.

Another use case is the ServiceNow  BiZZdesign HoriZZon integration. The objects from ServiceNow  are imported or created on BiZZdesign HoriZZon, allowing bidirectional interface for modeling as-is and to-be architecture. This integration is helpful for companies, despite challenges. I use BiZZdesign HoriZZon for Dynamic Solution Intent. The dynamic solution architecture helps engage stakeholders outside the architecture community, allowing for unified engagement and solution development using repository components.

A system administration module for BiZZdesign HoriZZon would make user management simpler. Overall system management activities, such as tracking the growth of the repository, would add value to customers. Previously, I used a different solution called System Architect .

BiZZdesign HoriZZon offers various valuable features. The best ones, besides those I have mentioned, include the AI space with the Diagram Describer and the Explorer functionality. I understand that BiZZdesign HoriZZon is also working on the Diagram Importer, which complements the Diagram Describer feature, providing full import and export functionality. Together with the contributor role and targeted stakeholder management, these features are essential.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon introduced the Dynamic Solution Intent, enhancing the solution architecture by engaging diverse stakeholders with architectural artifacts. It supports the development of holistic solutions using reusable repository components.

The deployment is hybrid cloud-based, specifically using Amazon Web Services  as the cloud provider. I have also seen the implementation of return on investment features that contribute significantly to the organization’s overall effectiveness.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon could improve with features such as whiteboarding or canvasing, currently being developed on the Unify  platform. Adding these features to BiZZdesign HoriZZon would simplify collaboration. The MCP server, available for Unify  but not BiZZdesign HoriZZon, would be useful for database querying. AI-related improvements, extraction of data more self-service, and human language-based queries are enhancements I wish BiZZdesign HoriZZon would pursue. Many features developed on Unify should be backported to BiZZdesign HoriZZon, or customers should adopt Unify, accelerating the solution architecture artifact generation process.

I have been using BiZZdesign HoriZZon since the end of 2020.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon is stable. I have not seen major downtime since I started using it in 2021. Only one incident occurred, but recovery was quick, so I do not consider it significant.

BiZZdesign HoriZZon’s scalability is excellent. Opening the platform to non-architects increased usage from 700 to 800 architects to six times more users without issues or performance concerns.

Customer support for BiZZdesign HoriZZon could be better. On a 1 to 5 scale, I would rate it a 3.5. There is room for improvement, and I understand the support challenge due to multiple products and some confusion.

I previously used a different solution called System Architect .

The setup cost for BiZZdesign HoriZZon was relatively simple. The licensing model is straightforward and not expensive compared to other products on the market.

I have noticed return on investment with BiZZdesign HoriZZon. We reduced costs by over 70% compared to a previous product. The data extraction, visualization, and analysis features have added significant value. Stakeholder engagement has greatly improved. I suspect we have halved our previous expenditure. Overall, the solution is invaluable to our organization.

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing for BiZZdesign HoriZZon, I find them not very expensive. The setup was simple, and the licensing model is uncomplicated. I will not delve into specifics, but compared to other market products, it is cost-effective.

Before choosing BiZZdesign HoriZZon, we evaluated other options, including developing the relationship database internally.

While we covered most topics, I wish I had prepared more metric data.

My advice for others considering BiZZdesign HoriZZon is, if you are already a customer, explore all features BiZZdesign HoriZZon is working on. Provide feedback to have those features from Unify downported to BiZZdesign HoriZZon.

For potential users of BiZZdesign HoriZZon, consider evaluating Unify first due to the focus on new technology. Look into how features can be backported to BiZZdesign HoriZZon.

I think BiZZdesign HoriZZon should leverage developments on Unify for current customers or until customers decide to adopt Unify. Utilizing MCP and AI technology can speed up the artifact generation process for solution architecture. I hope BiZZdesign HoriZZon achieves this.

I do not have quantifiable data for BiZZdesign HoriZZon benefits. From the adoption and stakeholder engagement perspective, traction has increased, showing a significant positive impact. Since the 2022 features introduction, stakeholder growth increased by approximately 70%.

I rate this review an 8 overall.

Hybrid Cloud

Amazon Web Services  (AWS)