Exploring Software Asset Management

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Exploring Software Asset Management

    The Software Asset Management (SAM) application in ServiceNow has been enhanced with a user-friendly interface as of the Washington DC release. While the classic interface remains available, users are encouraged to transition to the new Software Asset Workspace for improved functionality and accessibility.

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    Key Features

    • New User Interface: The SAM application now offers an enhanced workspace experience, promoting better management of software installations.
    • Plugin Activation: Activating the Software Asset Workspace plugin (com.snsamworkspace) automatically enables related plugins and restricts access to the classic interface.
    • Software Models and Entitlements: Users can create profiles for purchased software and link them to the corresponding rights for effective license management.
    • License Reconciliation: Automated reconciliation processes ensure that license positions are maintained accurately, reducing manual calculations.
    • Software Reclamation: Users can reclaim unused software through specific rules and optimize their software environment.
    • Integration with Virtual Agent: Employees can request software via an AI-driven conversational interface, facilitating efficient IT support.
    • Health Check: The Health Check application provides insights and recommendations for improving SAM configurations.
    • Executive Dashboard: Offers visibility into key performance indicators (KPIs) across SAM and related applications.
    • BYOL Support: Ensures compliance for Microsoft and Oracle products across hybrid infrastructures.

    Key Outcomes

    Transitioning to the Software Asset Workspace enhances user experience, improves software management efficiency, and supports compliance through automated processes. Customers can expect better visibility into their software assets, streamlined license management, and insightful data to aid decision-making.

    The Software Asset Management application's user interface is enhanced to make it more user friendly and intuitive, allowing you to better manage your software installations.

    Beginning with the ServiceNow AI Platform Washington DC release, we will provide limited support for the Software Asset Management classic user interface. While it will remain active in your instance, including when you upgrade to a new ServiceNow AI Platform release, we encourage you to move to the new workspace experience.

    The Software Asset Management application's core functionality remains the same in both the user interfaces.

    Using the Software Asset Workspace

    The Software Asset Management application is available with activation of the new Activate all Software Asset Management Professional plugins including Software Asset Workspace (com.sn_samp_master_ws). Activating this plugin automatically activates the Activate all Software Asset Management Professional plugin (com.sn_samp_master) and the Software Asset Workspace plugin (com.sn_sam_workspace). After the new plugin is activated, you can't access the classic user interface.

    For releases prior to Washington DC, if you activated the older Software Asset Management Professional plugin (com.sn_samp_master), the Software Asset Workspace is available with activation of the Software Asset Workspace plugin (com.sn_sam_workspace). After the Workspace plugin is activated, you can't revert to the classic Software Asset Management application.
    Note:
    After the Software Asset Workspace is activated, the menus in the classic Software Asset Management application are hidden for the features that have been moved to the Software Asset Workspace.

    For detailed information on configuring and using the Software Asset workspace, refer to Configuring Software Asset Workspace and Using Software Asset Workspace.

    Using the classic Software Asset Management application

    To continue using the classic Software Asset Management application, you need to activate the Software Asset Management Professional (com.sn_samp_master) plugin.

    If you later decide to use the Software Asset Workspace, you need to activate the Software Asset Workspace (com.sn_sam_workspace) plugin.

    For detailed information on using the classic Software Asset Management application, refer to Using Software Asset Management classic.

    Menus that continue to reside in Software Asset Management classic

    Even after you activate the Software Asset Workspace (com.sn_sam_workspace) plugin, the following menus continue to remain in the classic framework:

    Software asset
    Software Asset Demand
    • Create New
    • Demands
    • Demand Requirement
    Administration
    • Custom Products
    • Custom part Numbers
    • Custom License Metrics
    • Software Asset Demand Actions
    • Pattern Normalization Rules
    • Reclamation Rules
    • Job Results
    • Content Service Setup
    • Refresh Processor Definitions
    • Migrate Software Results
    • Properties
    • Revert Customizations
    • Software Model with De-activated Discovery Maps
    SaaS License
    • Unrecognized Subscription Identifier
    • SSO Integration Profiles
    • Direct Integration Profiles
    SAP Compliance and Optimization
    • SAP Connections
    • Connection Setup
    • Scheduled Import
    • Transform History