Let’s face it: managing your organization’s software applications can get out of hand fast. With so many applications being added to address any number of issues, it’s easy for an enterprise’s IT department to lose track of which apps are still actually delivering value and which ones should be updated, replaced, or retired.
This is where Application Portfolio Management (APM) comes in. ServiceNow APM enables your IT Team to take inventory of all of the apps your company is using, prioritize those that are driving the most value, and take action based on critical data such as risk, value, and cost.
What is Application Portfolio Management?
Application Portfolio Management in ServiceNow is the process of tracking, visualizing, and prioritizing your entire landscape of business applications within a single platform.
This is made possible by leveraging the foundational elements of ServiceNow such as IT Operations Management (ITOM) Visibility, Discovery and Service Mapping, IT Asset Management (ITAM) with SAM and HAM Pro, and the entire range of ITBM capabilities.
A significant portion of any organization’s IT budget is spent maintaining, enhancing, and implementing new applications and supporting technologies.
With ServiceNow APM, you can reduce and even mitigate risk by identifying technical debt due to aging or outdated applications.
The process also enables you to reduce costs by rationalizing your application portfolio to minimize duplication and lower support and maintenance costs. Finally, you can increase value by connecting applications and infrastructure to business outcomes and objectives.
Your APM Checklist
Use these steps below as both a roadmap and a checklist for ensuring a successful application portfolio management process.
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Applications Under Management - All applications are unified under a single system of record
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Basic Rationalization - Human input and manual analysis are leveraged to create goals
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Advanced Rationalization - Built-in associations and relationships are used to create analysis
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Continuously Optimized Portfolio - Ongoing management of apps as your organization’s needs evolve
During Implementation
5 Steps to Application Portfolio Rationalization
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In the application lifecycle management process the following services are available in the catalog with integrated approval flows:
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Register a business application and execute a similarity check based on name and description
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Request an architecture review to the architecture review board Request to retire a business application
To manage applications the following 5 processes provide additional functionalities:
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Identify applications
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Identify data sources
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Measure the application
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Evaluate the application
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Decide and take actions
To learn more about APM download our guide
About GlideFast Consulting
GlideFast is a ServiceNow Elite Partner and professional services firm that provides tailored solutions and professional services for ServiceNow implementations, integrations, managed support services, application development, and training. Reach out to our team here.
