ServiceNow® Yokohama Release – What’s new in ITAM? (part 2 - EAM)

The Yokohama release of ServiceNow ushers in a transformative era for Enterprise Asset Management, redefining how organizations manage assets. Here’s a summary of the most exciting updates and features that stand out in this release.

 

Part 2 – Enterprise Asset Management

Key highlights

• Streamline Firmware Management Gain advanced normalization coverage for the firmware embedded in Operational Technology (OT) assets. This upgrade allows separate lifecycle tracking and proactive vulnerability management.
• Hardware Models Integration OT managers now have streamlined workflows for creating and managing hardware models in the OT Workspace. This improvement integrates processes like requests, maintenance, and repairs.
• Enhanced OTAM Licensing

New categories for OT hardware assets, such as OT Servers and OT Printers, ensure licensing accuracy while excluding them from traditional HAM licensing.

Enhanced OTAM licensing model

The Yokohama release introduces significant updates to the OTAM licensing model., These ensure precision and flexibility in managing licensing for operational technology (OT) hardware assets. Here’s a closer look at the improvements:

New hardware resource categories:

OTAM licensing now supports dedicated resource categories tailored specifically for various OT hardware types. These categories include:

• OT Servers: Manage high-performance computing devices critical for operational infrastructure.
• OT Network Gear: Simplify licensing for networking equipment such as switches and routers in OT environments.
• OT Storage: Cover storage devices like industrial-grade SSDs and HDDs used in OT setups.
• OT End-User Computers: Handle licensing for OT specific desktop and laptop devices.
• OT Mobile Devices: Include handheld devices or industrial-grade tablets.
• OT Monitors: Encompass industrial monitors used in process control or monitoring.
• OT Printers: Address specialized printing devices within OT frameworks.
• OT Unclassified Hardware: Capture other unique or miscellaneous OT hardware that doesn’t fit predefined categories.

These categories ensure that organizations can precisely assign licenses based on the nature and function of their hardware assets. Thus eliminating the ambiguity often associated with generalized licensing approaches.

Separation from HAM licensing:

OT hardware assets are now excluded from the traditional Hardware Asset Management (HAM) licensing system. Instead, they are solely counted under OTAM licensing. This distinction ensures that OT specific resources are managed independently, simplifying tracking and budgeting for licensing across the enterprise.

Streamlined access to features and workflows:

By assigning OT hardware assets to these resource categories, organizations can seamlessly access OTAM-specific features and workflows. These include:

• Asset requests.
• Multi-asset onboarding.
• Maintenance planning and work orders.
• Refresh and repair processes.
• Disposal workflows.

This integration enhances efficiency and ensures that OT managers can handle their assets effectively without navigating unnecessary complexities.

User Interface (UI) enhancements

The Yokohama release introduces multiple enhancements to the user interface, with a strong focus on improving usability and accessibility across various workflows:

MAC address field integration:

• The MAC address field is now visible across a range of asset classes, including industrial, medical, retail, tactical equipment, and more. This integration ensures smoother asset tracking and management within both the Enterprise Asset Workspace and OT Asset Workspace.
• From onboarding playbooks for preassembled industrial assets to multi-asset onboarding workflows, the MAC address field is consistently available to maintain comprehensive asset records.
• It has also been incorporated into bulk imports, advanced shipment notifications, and purchase order receipts. This streamlined integration ensures that asset details remain consistent across systems and processes.

Child Assets activity:

• A new activity, "Child Assets," has been added to the asset onboarding playbook for preassembled industrial assets. This enhancement allows for detailed tracking and management of subordinate components or devices linked to a parent asset.

Accessibility improvements:

• The platform now complies with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, ensuring that content is accessible to users with visual impairments. Reflow functionality allows pages and content to be zoomed up to 400% without losing functionality, accommodating a range of user needs and devices.
• Reflow not only enlarges text and interface elements but also reorganizes layouts into a vertical stacked view at high zoom levels. This feature significantly enhances usability in diverse conditions, such as smaller screens, challenging lighting, or for users with low vision.

Configurable workspaces:

• Pages in the Enterprise Asset Workspace have been optimized for flexibility. Users can now customize their workspace while benefiting from reflow features, ensuring seamless functionality across different zoom settings and device types.

Expanded Functionality

Configurable workspace support Reflow features ensure workspace content remains functional at up to 400% zoom, accommodating users with low vision or challenging viewing conditions.

Synchronization advancements Synchronize MAC addresses across assets and CI network adapters for OT assets, ensuring data alignment.

Seamless integration with other applications

This release strengthens integrations with applications like Field Service Management, Procurement, and more, enhancing workflows and delivering cohesive enterprise solutions.