How do you best define software vs application from ServiceNow perspective?

[Heather McElroy]

It seems that the terms 'software' and 'application' can be often used interchangeably from my experience. How do you best describe the two terms when explaining to IT and non-IT from a ServiceNow perspective? For example, Visual Studio - do you consider it software or a business application?  

[Shaikh Mzhar]

Hi Heather,

Software:
Software is a collection of programs that co-ordinates with the hardware to run the machine. It is set of instructions or data that operates the computer how to work. Software is opposite of the physical aspect, i.e., hardware and it is a complement to the hardware in computer.

Application:
Application is package that performs a specific task for end users. It is a product or a program that is designed only for end users requirements. All the applications may be in category of software but vice-versa is not possible.

Difference between Software and Application:

Software	Application
Software is a set of instructions or data that operates the hardware.	Application is a package to perform a specific task.
Software is an all encompassing term for computer data.	Application is a type of software that does a certain task.
Software may executable or may not be.	Application is always executable.
Software is not often operating system based.	Application is operation system based.
Software does not need user interaction for functioning.	Application need user interaction for functioning.
Software is used as mediator between user and hardware.	Application is used only by end users.
All the software are not applications.	All the application are software.

Refference from :

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-software-and-application/

Please mark my answer Correct Or Helpful if applicable.

Thank you
Mzhar

[Stig Brandt]

Hi Heather

In ServiceNow - is Business Application a logical record and software is a specific software package.

So I would have below as an example:

• Business Capability -> Development Environments/Tools -> 
• Business Application -> Visual Studio - depends on
• Software package/software model (application service) -> Visual Studio 

Raise your inc, prb, and chg tickets on Visual Studio - application service

br

Stig

[Jon Miller1]

I find it's one of those things, Heather, that I can intuitively answer but had a hard time defining for others. Basically, "software" is desktop software and "business application" is stuff that runs on a server. I did come up with a more complete definition of "business application" to help with my communication:

- Must store First Quality business data

- Must have a centralized data repository (i.e. database)

- Must be accessed by more than 1 business user

Note that I differentiate "business application" from "application" (and "application service"). I suggest you read up on the latest Common Services Data Model (CSDM) from ServiceNow if you haven't already. Business Application is the highest level for design purposes, Application Service is an instance of a Business Application and Application is the deployed software of an Application Service.

One final point that I'm still working through myself. My above definition of Business Application excludes things like Active Directory (because no business user ever knowingly accesses it). But in a recent webinar, a ServiceNow product specialist on CSDM said "define Business Applications that you care about". That was a light-bulb moment for me as, if AD or technical middleware (we're a heavy EDI user) go down, business stops. So I need to refine my definition of Business Application to include key, technical "software" that is mandatory for business to continue to function.

Hope that helps, Jon

[The SN Nerd]

I would follow this advice and use the CSDM definitions. This is the direction ServiceNow is heading in.

Generally speaking, software is "off the shelf" and an application is developed in-house for a business-specific purpose.