Global IT Asset Visibility with ‘My Assets’ App: A U.S. Federal Agency Success Story
Background:
The U.S. Federal Agency operates across more than 100 locations globally, including about 20 within the U.S. and 80 overseas. Traditionally, the agency utilized a highly decentralized IT asset management system reliant on manual processes and physical site inspections. This required each of the remote locations to conduct a wall-to-wall asset inventory annually, a task managed by local IT specialists and marked by significant logistical challenges.
- US federal agency was performing upgrades which were taking between 4-6 months. That was a long process. The issues was lack of defined processes, poor governance, insufficient planning, resource constrains, complexity.
- Given these challenges, the objective of streamlining the upgrade process would have been to establish robust processes and governance mechanisms to ensure a smoother and more efficient transition to the new version of ServiceNow.
Challenges:
- Decentralized and Unreliable IT Asset Management: The existing system necessitated physical visits to each location for asset verification, leading to inefficiencies and potential for errors.
- Labor-Intensive Inventory Processes: The annual physical inventory was cumbersome and time-consuming, putting a strain on resources and often resulting in incomplete or outdated data.
- Lack of Real-Time Data: The manual process impeded the agency’s ability to obtain real-time updates on asset status, crucial for effective asset management.
Objectives:
The agency aimed to modernize its IT asset management approach to achieve the following:
- Enhance Data Accuracy: Improve the accuracy and reliability of asset data across all locations.
- Increase Efficiency: Reduce the time and labor costs associated with physical inventories.
- Support Global Operations: Implement a system capable of managing and tracking assets in a global context.
Our Solution:
- We initiated a pilot program to integrate the "My Assets Application," starting with an email campaign targeted at a select user group. This phase was designed to gather initial asset data and user feedback to refine the process.
- Training and Preparation: Conducted training sessions for the client’s administrative team to ensure they were prepared to support the application and ongoing data collection.
- Feedback Collection: Feedback from pilot users was crucial and helped fine-tune both the email campaign and the overall asset collection process.
Global Deployment:
- Following the successful pilot phase and integration of user feedback, we facilitated the rollout of the My Assets Application across the agency’s global network.
- Significant Outcomes: The deployment led to the identification of over 31,000 previously unreported assets, thanks to contributions from more than 12,000 users in multiple countries. The implementation of the "My Assets Application" across more than 100 global locations, including both domestic and international sites, highlights the massive scale of this project.
Conclusion:
- These actions collectively fostered a successful transformation of the agency’s IT asset management processes. By integrating advanced technology with strategic planning and a focus on stakeholder collaboration, the project achieved significant improvements in efficiency, data accuracy, and global operational support.
