Top New Features in ServiceNow Xanadu Release for Hardware and Software Asset Management

The ServiceNow Xanadu Release offers an array of enhanced features that streamline Hardware Asset Management (HAM) and Software Asset Management (SAM). With powerful tools for managing assets, improving operational workflows, ensuring compliance, and optimizing software usage, this release empowers businesses to gain greater control over their assets. Let’s look at the top new features added to HAM and SAM in ServiceNow Xanadu.

I. Streamlined ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management for Enhanced Efficiency and Control

The ServiceNow Xanadu Release introduces powerful new features to HAM, designed to improve operational efficiency and streamline asset handling processes.

(a) Device as a Service (DaaS) Feature Offers Seamless Asset Services

With the introduction of the Device as a Service (DaaS) feature, businesses can now offer assets and asset management services through a subscription model. This approach allows customers of DaaS providers to access hardware assets as a service, improving flexibility and reducing upfront costs. It also facilitates efficient management of the assets provided, ensuring that they are properly tracked, maintained, and replaced, when necessary, thereby optimizing asset lifecycle management.

(b) Zero Touch Hardware Request Flow for Effortless Fulfilment

Now, when employees submit requests for hardware catalog items, the request is automatically routed to an external vendor, who ships the asset directly to the employee. This fully automated flow reduces the need for manual intervention, ensuring that hardware requests are fulfilled quickly and accurately, saving both time and resources.

(c) Efficient Inventory Picking and Asset Sourcing

Inventory management is made easier than ever with the enhanced inventory picking feature. By enabling the Pick task for stockrooms, businesses can efficiently source and manage hardware asset requests and refresh workflows. The feature provides detailed aisle and space information, helping staff locate assets quickly. Plus, with indoor mapping capabilities integrated into the ServiceNow Mobile Agent application, staff can receive directions directly to the asset location, making the entire process faster and more accurate.

(d) Simplified Defective Asset Repair with the Repair Flow

Managing defective or damaged assets becomes more streamlined with the new Repair flow in Xanadu. This feature enables businesses to easily request repairs for assets that are defective or pending repair. The flow includes troubleshooting, repair, and evaluation tasks, all processed through either the Hardware Asset Workspace or the ServiceNow Mobile Agent application. This ensures that assets are quickly repaired and returned to service, minimizing downtime and maximizing asset availability.

II. Optimized ServiceNow Software Asset Management for Streamlined Compliance and Cost Savings

The ServiceNow Xanadu release introduces several powerful updates to the SAM application, designed to simplify compliance tracking, improve asset management, and optimize software license usage.

(a) Effortlessly Manage Software Content Requests and Enhance Asset Insights

SAM now allows users to submit, review, and disposition content requests directly within the application. If publicly available software products are missing from the Software Asset Management Content Library, users can quickly add them as custom software products to their instance. This integration ensures that these custom products are instantly available for downstream processes, while automatically submitting corresponding requests to the Content Service team. Once processed, these custom products can be consolidated with the existing software in the library for seamless management.

(b) Unlock Deeper Insights with Enhanced Export and Analysis in the Software Asset Workspace

The Software Asset Workspace in the ServiceNow Xanadu Release provides a unified platform for managing, analyzing, and optimizing software assets. With powerful export capabilities, users can now gain deeper insights into their software asset estate and streamline operations like never before. This workspace offers multiple views that help businesses create entitlements, run reconciliation, remediate non-compliance, and access real-time analytics through customizable dashboards.

The key views available in the Software Asset Workspace include the Software Asset Overview, License Usage, License Operations, Software Asset Analytics, Success Portal, Renewals Calendar, Overlapping Usage, and Content Lookup. These views collectively offer a comprehensive look at your software assets, compliance status, and opportunities for optimization, ensuring better decision-making and greater efficiency.

(c) Ensure Software License Compliance for Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server, and RHEL on Nutanix Virtualization

The ServiceNow Xanadu Release introduces enhanced license compliance management for Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server, and RHEL Server deployed on Nutanix virtualization technology. The Software Asset Management Virtualization Adapter simplifies compliance by applying specific license rules based on virtualization platforms like VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, Red Hat, and Nutanix. Using ITOM Discovery, SAM automatically discovers and maps the virtualization architecture, enabling precise license assessments. The adapter standardizes compliance rules through database and metadata views, ensuring accurate compliance calculations.

For example, in Microsoft Hyper-V, it automatically applies rules that allow one physical instance and up to two virtual instances of Windows Server Standard edition. This streamlined process ensures businesses can easily maintain compliance and optimize their virtualized server environments.

(d) Optimize IBM License Compliance in Public Cloud Environments with ServiceNow SAM

The ServiceNow Xanadu Release introduces enhanced IBM License Compliance capabilities, allowing businesses to efficiently optimize and track their IBM software licenses across public cloud environments. This update ensures organizations remain compliant while maximizing cost savings by optimizing software usage, reducing the risk of over-licensing and unnecessary expenses.

(e) Track and Manage SAP Digital Access Licensing for Cost-Effective Software Usage

For companies leveraging SAP applications, the Xanadu release adds support for the SAP Digital Access licensing model, enabling businesses to track and manage indirect usage of SAP applications. This ensures that organizations avoid unexpected licensing costs and utilize SAP software in a more cost-effective manner, promoting greater compliance and optimized usage.

(f) Optimize SaaS License Usage with Secure Integration Profiles

The ServiceNow Xanadu Release allows businesses to integrate their SaaS applications with minimal user permissions, reducing security risks while ensuring compliance. By creating an integration profile, organizations can pull software usage information from vendors, including user activity and identifying unused licenses. This integration streamlines the process of managing software assets like Adobe Cloud and Microsoft Office 365 and can also be customized for many other SaaS applications. Additionally, the integration automatically creates a software model and a reclamation rule, enabling businesses to optimize their SaaS licenses and reclaim unused ones efficiently.

Check out this blog to dive into the top 5 features of the ServiceNow Xanadu Release, including AI enhancements and new integrations that transform the platform’s capabilities.

Conclusion

The Xanadu Release from ServiceNow transforms how businesses approach HAM and SAM with ServiceNow. To ensure a seamless experience and make the most of these powerful new upgrades, it’s essential to work with a trusted pure-play ServiceNow Elite Partner for successful implementation.

Ready to optimize your hardware and software asset management with the latest ServiceNow Xanadu Release?

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