CSDM Relationship Contradictions

[AustinN]

Hello, wanting to know what type of relationship we should be using for Business App to App Service and App Service to App Service. 

In previous editions of CSDM it was Business App Consumes::Consumed by App Service and App Service Sends data to::Receives data from App Service. 

Now in CSDM 5 it shows Business App Uses::Used by App Service and App Service Depends on::Used by App Service in the graphic but then in the following paragraph it still says Business App Consumes App Service.

Then in a separate presentation from ServiceNow in May 2025 on CSDM 5 the slide shows Business App Consumes Service Instance (app service) and Service Instance Depends on::Sends data to Service Instance.

Wondering what we are actually supposed to be using and what are the impacts of using the incorrect relationship types. 

[CasperJT]

Hi Austin,

I have also reported this to ServiceNow, as the Data Foundations Dashboard for crawl is also referencing the Consumes::Consumed by relationship.

It looks like it is simply because the data model is ahead of the platform. Docs says "CSDM v5 implements the Uses::Used By relationship between Business Applications and Application Services. Earlier CSDM versions used Consumes::Consumed By. A Business Application, ultimately, relates to an Application Service table and not any other type of Service Instance.

Note:
Enterprise Architecture Workspace users should continue to use the Consumes::Consumed by relationship so that the TPM and TRM life-cycle timelines are displayed correctly."

CI relationships • Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities • Docs | ServiceNow

I would recommend always refering to the docs site for the most recent information. The white paper is from May 2025 so it is already starting to be outdated.

Hope this helps.

//CasperJT

[AustinN]

So does it seem they are changing it from Consumes to Uses? that would be a major pain to have to update them all and then also update anything that is referencing that relationship like reports or scripts. 

[CasperJT]

Yes, that is what they are doing. It is not yet implemented in all the products, so no rush to change it. We are following CSDM 5 and do not use EA Workspace, so we are using the Uses::Used by relationship.

You can easily update all the Business Application Consumes::Consumed by Application Service. It is just an m2m table holding the reference. Filter on these records in the table and update all.

The bigger hassle I agree would be any report specifilly depending on this relationship. Maybe you can get a developer to write a script for it since it is a clear one to one change.

//CasperJT