Foundations for Asset Management Inefficient asset management leads to 30% waste in IT budgets and 20% overspending on hardware replacements each year. To avoid these losses, organizations using ServiceNow Xanadu must recognize the critical differences between Base, Standard, Pro, and AI-powered tiers. By strategically leveraging available features, teams can reduce costs, improve compliance, and enhance operational efficiency.
High Level Workflow: Foundations for Asset Management
This guide provides a clear breakdown of ServiceNow Asset Management licensing tiers, a comprehensive list of Base-level plugins, and insights into out-of-the-box (OOB) reporting and dashboards designed to drive better decision-making.
ServiceNow Xanadu Asset Management Tiers
Understanding the key differences between ServiceNow’s Asset Management licensing tiers ensures organizations maximize their investments. The table below highlights the primary features available in each tier:
| Feature | Base (HAM/SAM Foundation) | Standard | Pro | AI-Driven (Future Yokohama & Beyond) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware Asset Management (HAM) | ✅ Basic Asset Tracking | ✅ Extended Lifecycle | ✅ Advanced Asset Governance | ✅ Predictive Asset Insights |
| Software Asset Management (SAM) | ✅ Entitlement Tracking | ✅ License Positioning | ✅ Optimization Analytics | ✅ AI-Driven Optimization |
| Stockroom & Inventory Management | ✅ Manual Updates | ✅ Automated Stock Reconciliation | ✅ Vendor Integrations | ✅ Predictive Reordering |
| Contract & Vendor Management | ❌ Not Included | ✅ Basic Vendor Tracking | ✅ Full Contract Lifecycle | ✅ AI-Powered Contract Analysis |
| Lifecycle Management | ✅ Procurement to Retirement | ✅ Warranty & Lease Tracking | ✅ Risk-Based Lifecycle Insights | ✅ AI-Driven Lifecycle Predictions |
| Normalization & Reconciliation | ✅ Manual Normalization | ✅ Auto-Normalization | ✅ Automated Compliance & Optimization | ✅ AI-Powered Insights |
| Reporting & Dashboards | ✅ Basic Reports | ✅ Advanced Analytics | ✅ Performance Analytics | ✅ AI-Powered Insights |
| Automation & Workflows | ✅ Basic Workflows | ✅ Extended Automation | ✅ Full ITOM Integration | ✅ AI Workflow Optimization |
List of Base-Level Asset Management Plugins
Software Asset Management (SAM) Base is seamlessly integrated with the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) in ServiceNow. This integration is essential, as the SAM Base module depends on the CMDB to store, track, and manage software asset data.
A critical component of this integration is the Software Installations table (cmdb_sam_sw_install), which serves as the foundation for managing installed software records. Since this table is built on the CMDB framework, it ensures that software asset data remains consistent, structured, and easily accessible within the broader ServiceNow ecosystem.
To maximize ServiceNow’s Base-Level Asset Management capabilities, organizations should ensure all relevant plugins are enabled. Below is a list of HAM and SAM Foundation plugins, including their ServiceNow Plugin IDs for easy verification.
Hardware Asset Management (HAM) Plugins
| Plugin Name | Plugin ID |
| Hardware Asset Management Foundation | com.snc.ham.foundation |
| IT Asset Management Common Services | com.snc.itam.common |
| Procurement | com.snc.procurement |
| Asset Reservations | com.snc.asset.reservation |
| Asset Repository | com.snc.asset.repository |
| Stockroom Management | com.snc.stockroom |
Software Asset Management (SAM) Plugins
| Plugin Name | Plugin ID |
| Software Asset Management Foundation | com.snc.sam.foundation |
| Software Discovery & Normalization | com.snc.sam.discovery |
| Software Reconciliation | com.snc.sam.reconciliation |
| Software License Management | com.snc.sam.license |
| Software Subscription Management | com.snc.sam.subscription |
To check if these plugins are active, navigate to System Definition → Plugins in ServiceNow and search by Plugin ID.
Out-of-the-Box Reporting & Dashboard Features
ServiceNow provides built-in reporting and dashboards to monitor asset performance, compliance, and cost efficiency. Below are the key OOB reports available for different licensing tiers.
Base-Level Reports & Dashboards
| Report/Dashboard | Description |
| Hardware Asset Summary | Overview of asset statuses (In Stock, In Use, Retired) |
| Software Entitlement vs. Installation | Compares software entitlements to actual installs |
| Asset Lifecycle Report | Tracks assets from procurement to disposal |
| Stockroom Inventory Report | Displays current stock levels and movements |
| License Compliance Overview | Highlights software compliance risks |
Standard & Pro-Level Reports
| Report/Dashboard | Description |
| Asset Refresh Planning | Identifies aging assets due for replacement |
| Vendor Contract Analysis | Tracks vendor performance and contract status |
| Cost Optimization Dashboard | Identifies underutilized assets for cost savings |
AI-Driven Reports & Dashboards (Yokohama & Beyond)
| Report/Dashboard | Description |
| AI-Powered Asset Forecasting | Predicts asset lifecycle needs and replacements |
| Predictive License Optimization | AI-driven recommendations to reduce software costs |
| Intelligent Stock Reordering | Forecasts stockroom needs based on usage trends |
Preparing for AI-Driven Asset Management
To fully leverage AI-powered capabilities in ServiceNow PRO+ and Yokohama, organizations must establish a strong asset data foundation today. Key preparation steps include:
- Ensuring asset records are accurate, normalized, and complete.
- Implementing automated workflows for procurement, assignment, and deprovisioning.
- Utilizing OOB dashboards to track compliance, optimization, and asset performance metrics.
Final Thoughts: Building a Strong Asset Management Foundation
By understanding the capabilities of ServiceNow Xanadu’s ITAM tiers and ensuring all Base-level features are fully utilized, organizations can:
- Maximize asset value while minimizing unnecessary costs.
- Optimize asset lifecycle governance and compliance.
- Prepare for future AI-driven IT Asset Management advancements.
- Success portal view in Software Asset Workspace
Other Resources Foundations for Asset Management
- Getting started with Software Asset Management – ServiceNow Community
- Hardware Asset Management
- Introduction to IT Asset Management | LinkedIn Learning
- ITAM Institute: Hardware Asset Management Training
- IT asset manager role | LinkedIn Learning
- Learning Asset Management (ServiceNow)
- Path to Value for a SAM Program in ServiceNow
- Stockroom & Inventory Management
- Software Asset Management
- Success portal view in Software Asset Workspace
