In today’s growing IT business world, managing the hardware assets of an organization can be difficult for managers and administrators, especially when they are relying on outdated information and faulty tracking methods for an asset. The hardware assets are the backbone for any organization to run their operation smoothly. And thus, it is important to manage them efficiently.
Administrators and managers can utilize ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management (HAM) to overcome challenges. This management process helps the managers in defining their IT processes, tools integration, and implementing strategies for better management of hardware assets.
Hardware asset management is important for an organization because there can be a case where different set of hardware devices of an organization can be at different lifecycle stages. Following a sequential HAM process can help the managers to focus on the asset location and how their hardware assets can be utilized better in their current lifecycle stage. With clear processes defined under the hardware asset management, the IT teams have the clear visibility of asset lifecycle stage and can take efficient steps in maintaining the assets.
With the latest Xanadu release in ServiceNow, there has been certain updates on the features relating to ServiceNow HAM, that has the potential to further simplify the HAM processes for an organization. This blogpost will detail out some important updates in the latest release.
The Benefits of ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management (HAM) optimizes the management of assets throughout their lifecycle. This optimization provides the organization with the following benefits:
- Minimized IT Hardware Asset Loss: Organizations can minimize IT hardware asset loss by streamlining asset inventory audit, mobile asset receiving, asset reservations, tracking, etc. with ServiceNow Partners.
- Minimized Hardware Asset Lease Penalties: Organizations can minimize hardware asset lease penalties with visibility into leased asset details, allowing them to return them on time with ServiceNow Partners.
- Optimized IT Hardware Inventory: With ServiceNow HAM, organizations can reduce safety stock and increase assets in circulation through visibility into asset status, demand tracking, inventory information, etc.
- Accelerated Hardware Request Fulfilment: ServiceNow HAM provides the organization with prescriptive workflows and an automated asset record, and this helps in accelerating hardware request cycle time.
- Hardware Asset Life Maximization: ServiceNow HAM provides better control over the asset lifecycle which includes visibility into the inventory, current asset status, historical and future maintenance records etc. This practice maximizes the useful life of hardware asset in an organization.
Also Read, Elevate Your Business with ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
Core Capabilities in the Now Platform® Xanadu Release
a) Device as a Service in ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
In ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management, Device as a Service (DaaS) 1 is designed to manage assets that are under the subscription-based device such as the service model. With the latest Xanadu release, users can have a central command center offering a single view of the entire device lifecycle. This provides the user with full visibility of the lifecycle of assets to manage the tasks for picking, preparing, and manging return authorization.
DaaS offers a comprehensive dashboards and reports for a better decision making and tracking of shipments by the concerned authority. The personas involved in DaaS workspace comprises of the DaaS asset manager and the inventory user. These roles help in providing the following benefits:
a) DaaS asset manager can easily involve in planning subscription levels for the customers of DaaS provider.
b) They help in managing inventory levels and prepare assets for shipment as requested by customers.
c) They can conduct audits on asset records for compliance and reporting purposes.
d) DaaS workspace provides monitoring and addressing assets problems and perform repairs or replacements to restore service functionality.
e) The DaaS asset manager and the inventory user can systematically refresh, decommission and dispose of assets at the end of their usable life according toa a predetermined schedule.
b) Zero Touch Request in ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
Zero touch hardware request automates the hardware fulfilment process by integrating directly with the external vendors. This functionality streamlines the end-to-end asset request workflow, i.e. from the initiation phase to the delivery phase.
In ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management, this current automation process with zero touch request flow, the third-party vendor directly ships the assets to the employee, thus reducing the manual interventions in the process. This process saves time and reduces logistical overhead while improving asset fulfilment speed.
c) Inventory Picking with Indoor Maps in ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
ServiceNow indoor mapping for asset provides the user with native creation of indoor maps that includes asset navigation functionality. With the help of indoor mapping, the asset manager can visualize and easily locate their assets on indoor maps.
The location space hierarchy is based upon the campus, building, and floor. User can select the campus, building, and the floor from the drop-down menus to locate the particular asset in the inventory.
In ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management, Asset manager can easily add new space data model into the existing location. Here, the application of new space data model will automatically upgrade the existing workflows that rely on the current location field.
Also read, Data-Driven Decision Making with ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
Using the Mobile App, the agent can use the interactive asset pickup task to retrieve stock from the current inventory for the process of fulfilling the requirement. Agent can leverage the floor mapping and location information to provide direction to the particular asset for fulfilment.
Once the asset is located, the agent can easily scan the selected asset and utilize the mobile UI with indoor maps. This interactive fulfilment process streamlines the user experience and improves the accuracy of the agent in retrieving the asset with the help of ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management.
For more information, Read How to use a hardware asset management application in ServiceNow
d) Inventory Repair in ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management
In the ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management Xanadu release, the inventory repair feature refers to the process of requesting the repair of hardware assets that are defective or pending repair. In this, the asset manager can create a repair order in the inventory view of the hardware asset workspace. This process explicitly creates a repair order line for each asset that needs to be repaired.
This process helps in maximizing the asset investment by extending asset lifespan by providing onsite repair of the defective asset. With this functionality the agent and the asset manager can easily initiate, execute, and track asset repairs in repair deposit and warehouses. Agents can initiate troubleshooting activities to identify and resolve the asset defects and the asset manager can validate the repaired assets which helps in ensuring the operational readiness of the asset or move these assets for disposal with help of ServiceNow Partners.
Conclusion
Managing hardware asset efficiently is crucial for any organization to reap the underlying benefit in the long run. ServiceNow DaaS offering in the latest Xanadu release will empower the organization to efficiently manage their device estate. The zero touch hardware request provide further automation for request workflow for an asset. The inventory pickup workflow further simplifies the interaction between the agent and the tool. The inventory repair workflow keeps the manager and the agent in loop for any upcoming repair of asset. These feature enhancements in the ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management Xanadu release have the potential to elevate the current hardware management processes of an organization.
Here at inMorphis, a ServiceNow Partners, we specialize in facilitating upgrades and adoption of these innovations, delivering step-by-step progress while staying aligned with your organization’s future needs.
