ServiceNow IT asset management: Features, benefits, and alternative
Table of Contents
- Overview of ServiceNow IT asset management
- Key features of ServiceNow IT asset management
- Benefits of ServiceNow IT asset management
- Limitations of ServiceNow IT asset management
- Virima ITAM- The perfect alternative to ServiceNow IT asset management
- Boost IT asset management with Virima
Effectively managing IT assets is a challenge many organizations face, especially as the pace of technology and change accelerates. Relying on outdated methods, like spreadsheets, can lead to data inaccuracies and silos. Moreover, the rise of “shadow IT” only adds to the complexity. It puts businesses at risk of overspending and non-compliance. ServiceNow, a popular ITSM platform, offers IT asset management (ITAM) to help businesses streamline their processes.
In this blog, we’ll explore how ServiceNow IT asset management can optimize asset management. We will also explore why alternative solutions, like Virima, may offer a more efficient and cost-effective approach.
Overview of ServiceNow IT asset management
ServiceNow IT Asset Management (ITAM) is a cloud-based solution for managing IT asset lifecycles. This ServiceNow ITAM platform helps businesses track and control their IT assets, reducing costs and risks.
ServiceNow ITAM runs on the Now Platform, which integrates with other ServiceNow products for streamlined management. Moreover, it automates the full asset lifecycle, from planning and procurement to deployment, maintenance, and retirement. Altogether, this ensures efficient management of IT resources throughout their asset lifecycle management.
Key features of ServiceNow IT asset management
ServiceNow IT asset management offers several key features to help organizations manage their IT assets efficiently. Some of the most important features include:
- Centralized asset view: ServiceNow ITAM provides a single source for all IT assets, including hardware, software, and contracts.
- Asset lifecycle management: The platform tracks assets from procurement to disposal.
- ITSM integration: ServiceNow ITAM works smoothly with modules like incident, change, and also problem management.
- Automated workflows: Save time and effort by automating routine tasks such as provisioning, updates, and retirement.
- Manage software rights: Track software rights by creating or importing software entitlements to ensure proper management.
- Track SaaS subscription usage: Integrate with SaaS apps and SSO providers. It also monitors your subscription usage for better compliance and cost optimization.
- View and manage license position: Check your license compliance with the License usage view or License Workbench.
- Analyze business processes: Use software asset management analytics dashboards to assess business processes and find areas for improvement.
- Refresh aging hardware assets: Track and plan for aging hardware, thus, reducing costs and risks related to outdated equipment.
- Audit your asset inventory: Conduct scheduled or on-demand audits of your asset inventory.
- Increase asset manager productivity: Access the Hardware Asset Workspace for a centralized view of your assets. Further to streamline management at each life cycle stage.
- Accelerate your cloud services strategy: Speed up cloud adoption with a self-service portal. You can also optimize costs by rightsizing cloud assets to match usage patterns.
Benefits of ServiceNow IT asset management
In this section, we’ll explore the key benefits of using ServiceNow ITAM to streamline your asset lifecycle.
- Asset portfolio strategy
ServiceNow IT asset management organizes assets by type (hardware, software) and class (servers, laptops). It also gives you near real-time data on costs, performance, and usage. Subsequently, this helps you identify which assets deliver the best value, balancing price, utility, and maintenance needs.
- License prioritization and management
ServiceNow IT asset management provides tools to prioritize licenses. Moreover, it helps reclaim underused software and allocate it efficiently. Furthermore, automation streamlines reclamation and disposal, reducing manual effort and ensuring focus on key tasks.
- Contract and renewal management
IT asset management ServiceNow offers insights into assets under contract and upcoming expirations. With automated workflows, it further guides you through each renewal step, from request to approval.
- Efficient management of new hires
When hiring, ServiceNow ITAM systems check if inventory assets are available or if existing hardware can be reassigned. This also ensures new employees have the tools they need to work effectively.
- Risk reduction
ServiceNow ITAM helps detect and address technology risks, including compliance problems and vulnerabilities. It also aids in managing shadow IT and tech debt, thus, reducing security threats.
- Streamlined workflows
By integrating ITAM with IT Service Management (ITSM), ServiceNow improves workflow efficiency across teams. This connection further leads to better service delivery and more efficient asset management.
Limitations of ServiceNow IT asset management
ServiceNow has several limitations, as noted by users on sites like Reddit:
- Complexity for large organizations: Managing a diverse IT estate in ServiceNow can get complicated. This further requires careful setup and consistent data management.
- Licensing issues: Handling licenses can be tricky, especially in large setups of ServiceNow IT asset management solutions. Changing licensing models, such as shifting metrics from transaction counts to data transfer, also adds to the confusion.
- High costs: The overall cost, including licensing, setup, and maintenance, is high. It is often better suited for large organizations due to the financial investment involved.
- Documentation gaps: Users often complain about the poor quality of official documentation as well as community resources.
- Performance problems: Common issues include slow page loading, system timeouts with large data sets, and poor optimization.
- Limited reporting capabilities: Creating reports or managing time-zone offsets can be challenging without extensive customization.
- Customization challenges: Customizing the ServiceNow IT asset management, including the user interface and workspaces, often requires complex steps. Many users also feel the platform demands too many steps for simple tasks.
- Steep learning curve: ServiceNow ITAM needs skilled experts for configuration and maintenance.
Virima ITAM- The perfect alternative to ServiceNow IT asset management
While ServiceNow IT asset management is a popular choice, its complexity and cost may not suit every business. That’s where Virima ITAM stands out as a powerful and cost-effective alternative with its outstanding features.
Work-from-anywhere agent
Virima helps track IT assets in near real-time, even for remote workers. The Windows discovery agent provides complete visibility of all devices, no matter where they are located. It also monitors daily configuration changes and software usage on remote PCs through the Internet.
Comprehensive asset management
Virima manages both software and hardware assets with ease. It also tracks their usage, updates, and lifecycle stages. Further, this approach helps you maximize the value of your IT investments.
Insightful reports and dashboards
Virima provides easy-to-understand reports and dashboards. These tools further allow you to review inventory performance, monitor usage, and check lifecycle statuses. As a result, you can make quicker and better decisions.
Warranty and license management
Virima automatically tracks warranties and software licenses. It also helps avoid missed renewals and reduces compliance risks.
Vendor contract oversight
With Virima, managing vendor contracts becomes simpler. It tracks renewals, costs, and timelines to save you time and money. You can also oversee vendor SLAs alongside your organization’s obligations.
ITSM integration
Virima integrates smoothly with tools like ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, Ivanti, and HaloITSM. This integration further offers a unified view of your entire IT environment, improving efficiency.
Streamlined audit compliance
Preparing for audits is stress-free with Virima. It also automates compliance reporting and ensures your organization meets industry standards effortlessly.
Vulnerability management
Virima identifies and manages security risks effectively. This feature also strengthens your organization’s overall IT security posture.
Boost IT asset management with Virima
ServiceNow provides a solid base for IT asset management. However, it falls short in areas like software license management, service mapping, and advanced automation. These limitations may not meet the needs of businesses seeking a full-scale, future-ready solution.
Virima offers a more flexible platform that overcomes these gaps. It enables businesses to better manage IT assets and enhance their operations.
Why choose Virima ITAM over ServiceNow ITAM?
- Simplified IT asset management
Virima makes IT asset management easier for businesses of any size. It reduces costs while boosting operational efficiency. - Automated discovery and inventory tracking
Virima uses agent-based and agentless discovery methods to track inventory. This automation also saves time and minimizes manual effort, allowing your team to focus on strategic goals. - Software usage metering
Virima tracks software license management accurately. It further detects underused software and helps recover costs. This feature also minimizes penalties by ensuring compliance. - Advanced service mapping with ViVID™
Virima service mapping with advanced features like ViVID™ delivers interactive visualizations of your IT infrastructure. It highlights application dependencies, services, and network connections. These insights subsequently help you assess risks, address bottlenecks, and prioritize solutions.
Virima Visual Impact Display also integrates vulnerability data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) to strengthen IT risk management.
- ViVID™ overlays for deeper insights
ViVID™ offers overlays that enhance service mapping by showing:- Vulnerabilities: Pinpoint security risks directly on your maps and also prioritize fixes.
- ITSM data: Display incidents and change requests from ITSM tools on the same platform.
- Near real-time monitoring: View asset health and also performance data instantly to make informed decisions.
- Enhanced ITSM integration
Virima makes asset configuration and relationship data easily accessible to ITSM and security teams. This availability further improves decision-making, operational efficiency, and IT security management.
Overall, by choosing Virima ITAM, you gain a solution that offers affordability and features customized to your needs.
Book a demo with Virima today and see how our solution can streamline your operations and minimize costs.
