Hardware vs Enterprise Assets: Comparing ServiceNow HAM and EAM

When it comes to asset management, the ability to efficiently track, manage, and optimise your assets is critical to organisational success. ServiceNow, with the power of the NOW Platform, has a growing number of asset-focused modules that can help achieve that success. Two prominent modules are Hardware Asset Management (HAM) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). While both modules aim to streamline asset management, they cater to different aspects of asset tracking and management. Due to ServiceNow’s legacy licensing model that included an Enterprise Tier, there is some confusion in the ecosystem about how HAM and EAM compare. In this blog post, we'll look at the key differences between ServiceNow HAM and EAM, helping you decide which module best suits your organisation's needs.

What is Hardware Asset Management (HAM)?

Hardware Asset Management (HAM) is a module within ServiceNow specifically designed for managing IT hardware assets throughout their entire lifecycle. HAM ensures that organisations have visibility into their physical IT assets, which helps in optimising their use, maintaining compliance with vendor agreements, and avoiding unnecessary costs.

Key features of HAM:

• Asset tracking: Provides real-time tracking of hardware assets, including their locations and statuses.
• Lifecycle management: Manages every stage from request through to disposal.
• Compliance and reporting: Ensures compliance with internal and external regulations with detailed reporting capabilities.
• Integration with ITSM: Seamlessly integrates with other IT service management modules such as Incident Management and Change Management.
• Process automation: Out-of-the-box workflows automate asset record updates and drive deeper insight into asset financials.

What is Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)?

Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) offers a broader scope, extending beyond IT hardware to encompass all types of non-IT enterprise assets. These can include Facilities Management, Fleet Management, Medical Equipment Management, and more. EAM aims to provide a holistic view of assets critical to the organisation, optimising their usage, extending their life cycles, and improving operational efficiency.

Key features of EAM:

• Asset lifecycle management: Comprehensive management of all non-IT asset types from acquisition to disposal.
• Maintenance management: Facilitates both preventive and corrective maintenance tasks to ensure asset reliability and performance.
• Resource optimisation: Helps in maximising the value and utility of assets through efficient management practices.
• Compliance and reporting: Ensures adherence to industry standards and generates performance reports for better decision-making.

Comparing HAM and EAM

Scope:

• HAM is focused on IT hardware assets like computers, servers, and network devices.
• EAM covers a wide array of non-IT assets, including facilities, fleet, and other operational equipment.

Focus:

• HAM deals with IT asset lifecycle management and compliance.
• EAM provides a comprehensive approach to managing various non-IT asset types and optimising their performance across the organisation.

Integration:

• HAM integrates with ITSM modules such as Incident and Change Management for IT-specific asset issues.
• EAM integrates with facilities management, fleet management, and other operational systems to provide a unified view of all enterprise assets.

Use cases:

• HAM is ideal for organisations that need specialised management for IT hardware, ensuring efficient use and compliance with IT policies.
• EAM is suitable for organisations that require a broad asset management solution covering all types of non-IT assets across the enterprise, including operational assets.

Which One is Right for Your Organisation?

The choice between HAM and EAM depends on your organisation's specific asset management needs.

If your top priority is managing IT hardware assets, tracking their lifecycle, and ensuring compliance with IT standards, ServiceNow HAM is the ideal solution. If you require a broader asset management system that covers a variety of non-IT asset types, including facilities, fleet, and inventory, ServiceNow EAM offers a comprehensive solution.

In many cases, organisations might benefit from leveraging both HAM and EAM. By combining these modules, you can achieve a more complete asset management strategy, ensuring that both IT and non-IT assets are effectively managed to maximise their value and operational efficiency.

Understanding the distinctions between HAM and EAM helps in making an informed decision about which ServiceNow module best aligns with your organisation's needs. Whether you opt for HAM, EAM, or both, ServiceNow provides powerful tools to enhance your asset management practices and support your organisation’s operational goals.

Why Does Asset Management Matter?

Organisations with a mature asset management practice (like this one) can realise significant return on investment through several key avenues:

• Improved asset utilisation
• Improved compliance
• Improved operational efficiency
• Reduced Total Cost of Asset Ownership (TCO)
• Improved service delivery and user experiences

If you want to learn more about HAM, EAM, or both, and how your organisation can make the best use of the available tools in these areas, connect with us. Thirdera, a Cognisant company offers a wide range of ServiceNow Asset Management services and resources like Landmark: Asset Management, a Built with ServiceNow offering, that helps in devising a roadmap to asset maturity.