Telecommunication Network Inventory workflows in Flow Designer

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Telecommunication Network Inventory Workflows in Flow Designer

    The Telecommunication Network Inventory workflows in Flow Designer enable automation of the network inventory's design and assignment processes. Utilizing the function catalog and subflows, users can efficiently create, update, and retrieve configuration items (CIs). This streamlines tasks such as adding telco equipment or interface cards.

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    Key Features

    • Function Catalog: Contains various functions for managing network inventory, including creating logical and physical connections, and retrieving interface summaries.
    • Flow Designer Actions: Reusable actions automate repetitive tasks in the workflow, enhancing efficiency during the Design and Assign process.
    • Subflows: Allow for data input and output management, facilitating the creation of logical and physical connection records based on provided inputs.

    Key Outcomes

    By leveraging these workflows, ServiceNow customers can expect to achieve:

    • Increased efficiency in managing network inventory tasks.
    • Streamlined processes for creating and updating connections.
    • Enhanced automation capabilities to reduce manual efforts and errors.

    By using the Telecommunications Network Inventory function catalog and subflows, you can access the functions that help you to automate the network inventory's design and assign process.

    Telecommunications Network Inventory function catalog

    You can use the Telecommunications Network Inventory functions to create, update, and retrieve a configuration item (CI) while you’re performing the Design and Assign process. For example, you can do the following actions:
    • Create telco equipment
    • Add an interface card
    The following table lists the Telecommunications Network Inventory functions that are categorized by their functionality.
    Table 1. Telecommunications Network Inventory functions
    Function Type Function Name
    Create
    • TNI Create CI From Template
    • Create Logical Connection
    • Create Logical Interface
    • Create Physical Connection
    • Path Search
    Read
    • Allocate Free Number
    • Get Interface Summery
    • Lookup Next Hub
    Update Cascade Update
    Helper function
    • Split String
    • Get Index From Array

    To learn more about the network inventory functions, see Telecommunications Network Inventory function catalog.

    The following example shows the functions that are available in the Flow Designer action library under the Network Inventory Advanced option. You can use these functions to perform the inventory-related data operations.
    Figure 1. Network Inventory Function Catalog Location
    Infographic displaying all default options of Network Inventory Advanced.

    You can also use these functions as Flow Designer actions in the Telecommunications Network Inventory workflow because the Design and Assign is a series of actions. The reusable Flow Designer actions can automate repetitive work, such as creating a logical connection in the workflow. To learn more about Flow Designer actions, see Flow Designer.

    Telecommunications Network Inventory subflows

    In Flow Designer, you can give the inputs and outputs to pass the data to and from the subflow while you’re performing the Design and Assign process. If necessary, you can add more fields in the subflows. To learn more about working with the subflows, see Building subflows. To learn more about the Flow Designer, see Flow Designer.

    The Telecommunications Network Inventory application has the following subflows:
    Logical Connection Creation
    Creates a logical connection record in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application based on the input that you receive when you instantiate an inventory. To learn more, see Logical Connection Creation subflow.
    Physical Connection Creation
    Creates a physical connection record in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application based on the input that you receive when you instantiate an inventory. To learn more, see Physical Connection Creation subflow.
    The following example shows the subflows that are available in the Flow Designer action library under the Network Inventory Advanced option. You can use these functions to perform the inventory-related data operations.
    Figure 2. Network Inventory Subflow Location

    Infographic displaying all default options of network inventory subflows in the Flow Designer action library.