The “ALM is dead” narrative is lazy. The reality: application lifecycle management is more critical than ever. What’s changed is what ALM platforms need to do — and how teams need to use them.
We’re knee-deep in ALM platform decisions with clients across insurance and healthcare. And no, it’s not about picking the flashiest tool. It’s about what actually fits the way your organization works.
The Stack Has Changed. Your Platform Probably Hasn’t.
Most teams we talk to are still on the same platform they picked five, even ten years ago. Usually Jira or Azure DevOps. They were fine choices — then.
Now? Not always. Integration points have shifted. DevSecOps is the norm. CI/CD pipelines are more complex. AI tooling is showing up in every corner. The tooling needs to catch up.
What Clients Are Asking Us
- Can our ALM platform handle our security requirements?
- Does it integrate cleanly with our cloud-native toolchain?
- Can we track work across multiple teams without manual reconciliation?
If the answer is no, then it’s time to re-evaluate.
Azure DevOps vs. Atlassian Isn’t Dead Either
Still the dominant question. ADO works well in Microsoft-heavy shops. Atlassian still wins on flexibility and documentation.
But here’s what matters more: Does your platform support the actual work your team does every day? Does it reduce friction or add it?
Where ALM Projects Go Sideways
Too many orgs think switching platforms will fix bad processes. It won’t. We’ve seen:
- Unclear ownership between stages
- No agreement on what “done” means
- Zero training on the new platform
A better tool doesn’t fix misalignment. It just makes the dysfunction more visible.
If You’re Switching, Do It Right
Run a pilot. Migrate in phases. Train by role. Document why you’re changing platforms in the first place.
The question isn’t “Which ALM platform is best?” It’s “Which one supports the way you actually work — now and in two years?”
