HR service catalog/category and taxomony

[major li]

Hi Community,

I am quite curious why there is HR catalog and category but also taxonomies the same time. 

As a end user, I can only find HR service in employee center, not in service portal. Why do I need both classification?

Thank you.  

[Tanushree Maiti]

Hi @major li 

In ServiceNow, HR Catalogs/Categories and Taxonomies exist together because they address different needs: HR Catalogs support service fulfillment and operational structure, while Taxonomies enhance employee-focused navigation and discovery.

This separation allows the backend processes to remain efficient while providing a streamlined front-end experience.

Aspect	HR Catalog	HR Category	Taxonomy
Definition	Collection of HR services available to employees or HR Service	Logical grouping inside a catalog	Topic-based content organization framework
Main Purpose	Provide HR service(s)	Organize catalog items	Improve Employee Center navigation/search
Module	HRSD catalog	HRSD Catalog	Employee Center
Parent-Child Relation	Parent container	Child of catalog	Independent hierarchy
Contains	Categories, catalog items	Catalog items	Topics, KBs, catalog items, links
Employee Center Usage	Limited	Limited	Core feature
Supports Knowledge Articles	No	No	Yes
Navigation Scope	Catalog-level	Within catalog	Enterprise-wide employee experience
Typical Example	HR Services Catalog	Payroll Category	Compensation Topic

[major li]

hi @Tanushree Maiti ,

Thank you.

In the backend, I thought we will user the COE hierarchy like this. How do we use the catalog and category?