In the world of IT, it’s easy to focus on the flashy new software or the latest cloud migration, but what about the foundations? Your IT hardware. When not managed correctly, it can become a significant drain on your budget and a source of unnecessary risk. This is where a robust Hardware Asset Management (HAM) strategy comes in.
Many organisations are losing money without even realising it. You might think you have a handle on your IT assets, but studies show a sobering reality: up to 30% of organisational assets get lost. These aren’t just misplaced laptops; they represent capital that’s unaccounted for, unutilised, and often replaced unnecessarily.
Beyond lost hardware, inefficient HAM leads to a cascade of hidden costs:
Excessive spending
Without accurate asset data, you might be buying new hardware you don’t actually need. You may also be overpaying for maintenance contracts on hardware that is no longer in use. ServiceNow HAM addresses this by giving you a complete, real-time view of your hardware assets. Its Hardware Asset Workspace provides a unified dashboard where you can track acquisition and maintenance costs, calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO), and identify underutilised assets that can be repurposed. This allows you to avoid unnecessary purchases and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Operational inefficiency
Manual tracking and a lack of visibility mean your IT teams spend valuable time locating assets, leading to delays in service delivery and frustration for your end-users. ServiceNow HAM provides a single platform for all your hardware asset information, eliminating data silos and improving accountability. Its automated workflows streamline processes like asset provisioning and deployment, which can significantly improve end-user productivity. By automating tasks that were once manual, IT staff can focus on more strategic initiatives.
Wasted resources
Assets can sit in storerooms for months or even years, collecting dust when they could be repurposed to meet a genuine business need. Without a clear view of your inventory, you miss opportunities to put existing hardware back into service, which directly impacts your budget. ServiceNow’s Asset Life-cycle Automation streamlines processes like hardware disposal and return merchandise authorisation (RMA), ensuring that hardware is retired securely and responsibly. This not only prevents waste but also helps you get the most value out of every asset, extending its useful life and contributing to a more sustainable IT practice.
The reason ServiceNow excels at HAM is not just its tracking capabilities, but its role as the digital backbone for your entire IT estate. It integrates Hardware Asset Management directly with your Service Management (ITSM) and Configuration Management Database (CMDB). This means that every incident, every change request, and every service request is immediately linked to the specific hardware asset involved. When a user logs a fault, the Service Desk instantly knows the device’s age, warranty status, location, and the user who has it, leading to faster service resolution and dramatically enhanced service delivery. This integration eliminates the chaos of disparate systems, making the entire IT landscape more cohesive, efficient, and cost-aware.
Implementing a strategic HAM approach with ServiceNow allows you to regain control and unlock serious financial value. A typical business with £1 billion in revenue and a £40 million IT budget, for instance, could see a first-year return of approximately £588,000 simply from optimising its hardware assets. A structured assessment can help you build a compelling business case for change by focusing on key areas like cost optimisation and strategic decision-making. It provides the facts and figures you need to demonstrate the quantifiable benefits of a modern HAM practice on the ServiceNow platform.
