Who said IT service management (ITSM) tools aren't interesting (or flexible)? One of the highlights of ServiceNow's Knowledge 13 global customer event in Las Vegas last May was the inaugural ServiceNow CreateNow Custom Application Hackathon. Where over 20 ServiceNow customer teams raced against the clock to create new apps on the ServiceNow Service Automation Platform.
There was nothing new about leveraging the platform — customers already have already created workflow-driven applications on the platform for HR, shipping logistics, vendor relations, credit card loyalty programs, facilities management, insurance claims, hotel reservations and much more.
In fact KPMG, a global business services firm, surveyed over 275 attendees at Knowledge 13 and found that 87% of survey respondents already leverage the ServiceNow platform for non-ITSM applications; quoting KPMG these include: "service management requirements in other business areas, among them human resources, accounts payable (finance), and research and development."
What was new, however, was challenging ServiceNow customers to create something new on the platform, from scratch, in just under 12 hours.
Expectations were high but the standard of entries was even higher
The four finalists were:
- CasinoW — a blackjack game
- KickITNow — a Kickstarter for enterprise projects
- PictionNow — a Pictionary-style drawing game
- TableNow — an OpenTable-style restaurant reservation system.
With KickITNow the final winner.
Interestingly the team was not from a single customer. Instead seven individuals from six organizations came together to participate in CreateNow:
- Alex Alarcon, Application Systems Analyst at Loyola Marymount University
- Michael Bartkowiak, Applications Developer at Rowan Companies
- Matt Beran, Service Management Consultant at Maryville Technologies
- Robert Fedoruk, IT Service Manager at Hyatt
- Jeremy Gardner, President at AJUVO Consulting
- Chris York, IT Service Management Architect at York Services.
- Adam Mason, Manager of Client Services at Loyola Marymount University
The team described KickITNow as:
"… A transparent, collaborative Project Incubator application built on the ServiceNow platform. KickIt allows users to gather the required resources for new projects from across the organization. The app was built on the ServiceNow CMS, and takes Project Management and Social IT functionality to the next level. Live Feed is used to track likes for new ideas, in order to assess internal support for new ideas."
More details on all the finalists may be found here. You might also be interested in a ServiceNow customer, Santander Consumer USA, which ran its own company Hackathon in July.
But now it's time for round 2 …
CreateNow hits Europe NowForums in October
If you missed out on the inaugural CreateNow Custom Application Hackathon do not despair — ServiceNow's customer-driven European NowForums* offer you a new opportunity to participate, learn, and win bragging rights until Knowledge 14 next April.
NowForum is taking place on October 8, 9, and 10 in Paris, Frankfurt , and London. All events are delivered in local languages, except for the ServiceNow keynotes by ServiceNow CEO Frank Slootman, Founder and Chief Product Officer Fred Luddy, and CTO Arne Josefsberg. And each NowForum location will host the CreateNow Custom Application Hackathon — where in just over 5 hours we challenge you and a team to build a bespoke business app on ServiceNow. Not only can you win glory, you can also win prizes.
So are you up for the CreateNow challenge?
If so, then it gets better — the events are FREE to attend. To reserve your place at your local NowForum, whether you wish to try for bragging rights or not, please sign up here. On the registration page, check the box "Yes, I want to participate in the CreateNow Custom Application Hackathon" to register your CreateNow team.
* Based in-part on content from the ServiceNow Knowledge 13 user conference last May, NowForum adds a local twist with regional customer and partner best practice presentations. In the UK, IT executives from large enterprises like Standard Life, Gatwick Airport, BSkyB, and Home Retail are on the event's speaker list. In France: Saint Gobain, Natixis, and Europcar. In Germany: DHL, CERN, and Zeiss. But it's not just the formal sessions. You will also have the opportunity to share your ideas, concerns, and requirements with: us; our partners; and our customers, your peers.
