Introduction

Do you need the ultimate solution for optimizing every single task and procedure in your company, making them quicker, efficient and less prone to mistakes? Then ServiceNow is just what the doctor ordered for you. In this blog, we will shed light on ServiceNow and its characteristic features. But first, let us define what ServiceNow is.

What is ServiceNow?

ServiceNow is a cloud-based business management processes automation platform. One of those predominant theory within the organization and management of enterprises-a society concern addressed specific layer information technology. All these – the developments, automation of services and service delivery, is made possible by technology which has evolved so rapidly making it easy for so many people to use it. The history of such systems, however, is short ServiceNow platform was established in 2004 and within a short span of time became a progressive organization offering enterprise cloud. It is not only employed in IT Service Management (ITSM) but has diversified in other fields such as human resources, customer care, and security management as well.

How ServiceNow Works

ServiceNow offers businesses a robust framework that enables workflow automation, streamlining of processes as well as equipping the end users with a flexible and easy to use platform.

It runs on a single cloud platform which is very easy to use. Now, it is time to comprehend how it ordinarily operates:

• Data Collection: ServiceNow incorporates several systems to perform data gathering. This data may include numbers generated from the IT apparatus, the human resources department, customer service systems and so on.
• Process Automation: Uses workflows to perform tasks that are repetitious in nature. Workflows can be tailored to the unique requirements of various departments.
• Service Management: It organizes services through modules geared to specific functions such as IT, HR, or customer services. Each module contains service management-related tools that enable control of the entire services lifecycle.
• Analytic and Reporting: Provides analytics and reports that enhance business decision. ServiceNow’s analytics instruments are able to produce dashboards, performance metrics, and trends analyses within minutes.

What Does ServiceNow Do?

The ServiceNow platform is the best choice for a stakeholder or organization that is looking for a solution to manage all its activities under a single umbrella. There is great potential to all as these departments will use ServiceNow, which will streamline processes, enhance organizational productivity, and factor in all aspects of planning and execution. For instance, think of a centralized place where all the requests and activities of a company are channeled to and that place enables you to:

• Track IT Issues: Do you have a problem with a printer that is not working or a software issue in the office? Notice how ServiceNow enables the raising of issues, provision of status updates, and fixing of the issues.
• Automate Workflows: Thank goodness for ServiceNow. No more manual approvals, wait for notifications to come, or any centralized requests that you have to pass around. You can now focus on the more pressing concerns.
• Unify Different Teams: – Is marketing asking for a software license? Is facilities asking for a desk to be moved? All those concerns are seamlessly addressed under one roof via ServiceNow allowing for interdepartmental cooperation and transparency.
• Streamlined Ticketing System: ServiceNow community’s frustrations with missing email requests and extensive spreadsheets with a simple system of request submission and tracking. Envision a place where employees go to lodge requests for IT repairs, installations of new applications, or issues regarding the company’s internal network.
• Catalog of Services: No more random messages on slack asking who does what. ServiceNow contains a service catalog of all available services in the company such that it is easy for the employees to request the particular service.
• Automated Workflows: ServiceNow has the ability to enable some of the routine processes to be automated, thus allowing the employees to direct their attention to more vital tasks in the organization. For example, let’s say an employee comes on board with the organization. It is capable of automatically producing a workflow that creates a user account for the individual, allocates a laptop to them, and places them into relevant training programs.
• Data-Driven Insights: ServiceNow includes advanced reporting and dashboard functions that allow any manager to have useful information on the performance of his team at any given time. This data can then be utilized to detect the areas that slow down the process, improve those aspects and more importantly keep everything on course.

Key features of ServiceNow

ServiceNow as a modern day Operations Centre that allows different departments of your organization to be more efficient and work together. Some of the noteworthy benefits of ServiceNow are:

IT Service Management (ITSM)

• Incident Management: This is the closest you will ever get to an on demand IT support team. Log a problem (an application has crashed, etc.) and rest assured that someone will pick up and fix the logged issue without fail.
• Problem Management: One flaw is not the only thing that this extends to. This is like solving an investigation – looking into patterns of behavior causing repeating flaws and how to mitigate them from ever happening again, such as inadequate using of software patch updates.
• Change Management: Is there a need for a software upgrade or introduction of additional devices if wear and tear has occurred on existing equipment? Change management elements make certain that such steps are taken with care and in a controlled manner, with less disruption inconveniencing normal operations. ServiceNow helps to plan, test and implement changes in a systematic manner so that unforeseen problems do not occur.
• Service Level Management: Responsible for ensuring that IT delivers services as per the set service levels. SLM provides a yardstick (for example, setting a time frame saying resolving severe problems has to take no more than a few hours) and analyzes how well the IT department has performed according to those criteria. It is, in effect, an evaluation of how well IT has served its purpose that is set out in the service level agreement.
• Knowledge Management: There will be no more ease of accessing the internet in seeking for answers. Knowledge management incorporates a big collection of do-it-oneself general information articles and problem solving books. Save time and look for the problems that are often encountered and solve the problems as opposed to asking for the help of tech people.
• Service Catalog: Another way of visualizing it is considering it as if there are hampers of IT products in the similar way as a vending machine provides an assortment of products. In ServiceNow, there are several IT services that can be requested via a catalog such as software installation, password changes, and even the creation of service desk tickets. This makes it much easier to obtain all needed IT assistance in one go regardless of how much support is required.

Beyond IT

• HR Service Delivery: Alleviates the burden of HR procedures by providing an easy to use interface through which HR queries and requests can be raised, policies accessed, and employee management including onboarding and separations coordinated.
• Customer Service Management: Provides a case management system with the ability to communicate via multiple channels with customers (email, telephone, chat) regarding the status of their inquiries or cases. Customers can also access this system via a self-service portal that provides useful information to customers.
• Security Operations: It works like a security wall revealing various types of attacks including cyber-attacks and data breaches and putting in place mitigations. The information systems of the organization are protected and the operations of the organization secure.

Customization Power

The flexibility of ServiceNow is one of its core competencies. It supplies app development tools (App Engine and Integration Hub) that allow organizations to create custom applications according to their requirements. Furthermore, the use of workflow automation can eliminate the need to perform repetitive activities across various departments, which will improve efficiency even further. 

The ServiceNow Advantages

The primary objective of the platform is to assist organizations in optimizing their internal processes, improving the delivery of services, and enhancing the overall user experience through the use of automation and simplification of business processes. Many solutions vie for the attention of those seeking a management system for workflows and defining what differentiates it from the rest will be the following:

• Low-Code Development: Citizen Developers (think business users who know their way around technology) can quickly construct and modify tasks without complication thanks to ServiceNow’s low-code development environment. Hence, it helps a business user address a few issues without concerning too much about IT.
• Scalability: ServiceNow is inherently a cloud-based application so it can be scaled to fit enterprises of all sizes. It does not matter if you are a budding small business or a grand corporate firm, the system can support your expansion.
• Security: Security is of the utmost importance to ServiceNow and this is exhibited by the strong features that are put in place to safeguard your information and meet the required industry standards. This is important for institutions that deal with sensitive information.
• Community and Support: Enjoy the benefits of extensive user base, extensive help resources as well as service available from the company so that you can maximize your ServiceNow usage. Interact with experienced users, make use of various materials and the help desk.

Getting Started with ServiceNow

To get started with ServiceNow, follow these steps:

• Identify Your Needs: Figure out which processes you would like to automate or enhance. Take stock of your existing processes and spot the segments that could benefit from automation and better service management.
• Choose the Right Modules: Identify the ServiceNow modules which correspond to your particular line of business. As each module serves different functions, pick those that are in line with your objectives.
• Implementation: Collaborate with ServiceNow professionals or advisers for the deployment of the said platform. Deployment entails platform configuration, workflow designing, and working with the prevailing systems.
• Training: Make certain that your personnel knows how to make effective use of ServiceNow. Such education assists learners in using the system to the fullest and appreciating its capabilities.
• Monitor and Optimize: Review the system and perform enhancements where necessary. Evaluate performance and areas of improvement with the aid of technology analytics and reporting systems.

 Advanced Tips and Best Practices

• Customization: It can be personalized to meet your specific business requirements. Modify employments, designs, and structures to accommodate your activities.
• Integration: Use it in conjunction with other tools and systems. Integration ensures a smooth flow of information and the chain of operations is uninterrupted.
• Governance: Put in place an implementation strategy with controls. Strategy puts in place boundaries to help you manage your ServiceNow environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze your ServiceNow practices frequently and make improvements. Enhancing improvement makes it easier to keep up with the evolution of business enterprises and technological use.
• User Engagement: Users should be motivated and their suggestions collected in order to enhance usage. User engagement is important because it helps to understand how the system is used and how to make it better.

Why MLE Systems Could Be Your Perfect Partner for ServiceNow?

As technologies pervade all aspects of life across the globe, reducing the turnaround time and increasing productivity has become vital for any organization. ServiceNow provides a robust framework for such undertakings, but the use and implementation of the platform require experience and skills. This is where MLE Systems comes handy. Let us explore the reasons as to why MLE Systems would be the optimum fit for your ServiceNow requirements:

• The success or failure of your ServiceNow journey largely depends on the choice of a partner. We are unique in the sense that we have a team of professionals who are ServiceNow consultants. It’s not just about implementing it – we know the ins and outs and how it can be of help to the client.
• We are focused on ensuring that you receive a value of your money. By making workflows simpler and improving certain activities, we can assist you in addressing customer issues quite easily and in a cheaper manner, whilst keeping the customers satisfied.
• Installing a new application tends to be a hindrance. We strive for a noiseless transition while implementing ServiceNow in your company, making sure that all operations are successfully executed without violating any security or regulatory measures in place. You will be up and running in a flash, focusing on best practice implementation.
• For your ServiceNow system to be of great benefit, it is imperative that your teams are willing to embrace it. We know this. Hence, we have built such easy to use and simple solutions that will ensure your team’s enhancement. Gone are the days of awkward systems and long hours trying to learn a new system?
• There are changes in your business all the time, meaning there will also changes in your ServiceNow needs. We create solutions that grow. With you growing, we will grow your ServiceNow from how it was before, so that there are no loses.
• MLE Systems is here to assist you in mastering ServiceNow and implementing it to the utmost degree in your organization. Let’s concentrate on output with the transition, and upskilling your people – and introducing ServiceNow in a considering way.

Conclusion

ServiceNow is a highly flexible and robust system that can change the functioning of an organization. It enhances the process and delivery of services which ensures that organizations become effective and agile. Be it IT operations, Human Resource services, customer support, or security management, it provides everything you might need.

At first glance, the deployment of ServiceNow may appear to be a daunting task, however, MLE Systems and other such support systems can prove useful to your company. To begin, determine your requirements, select the relevant ServiceNow modules, and engage professionals to facilitate implementation. As with the case of any solution rolled out, after implementation, the application can help you achieve higher operational efficiency, better service levels, and overall better performance of the business.