Service Catalog Variables via 3rd Party Application REST API

[Jonah Piascik]

Looking for some design advice for using a 3rd-party REST API to derive service catalog variable choices.  Requestor will enter request via ServiceNow Service Portal, but variable choice values will be sourced by 3rd party application.  We are currently updating sys_choice entries now as that data changes in the 3rd party application.  Wonder if others were able to accomplish this level of integration and how.  I was just reading up on remote tables, which looks like it may be a viable option here?

[sachin_namjoshi]

Since REST API call will be made from 3rd party, then trigger need in 3rd party application.

Since you said there is no webhook for this app,your option will be run scheduled script to call ServiceNow REST API and pull variable information.

Regards,

Sachin

[Jonah Piascik]

Hi @sachin.namjoshi - we will be calling a 3rd Party REST API from ServiceNow to get data to populate in item_option_new for variable in variable set.  We are not calling from 3rd Party into ServiceNow API.  Appreciate your help in considering different options.

[DirkRedeker]

Hi

I think, you are on the right track. As long as there is no hook in the 3rd party application, as you wrote, your only choise is, to "pull" the values from that 3rd party system on some events.

Events may be:

a) on a scheduled base

b) on some other events in the system (e.g. even Items are read / query BR)..

Option b) will slow down or even "crash" user experience and system response, so I do not recommend to go that way. Which leaves just the option a), to query the remote choices on a schedule and update locally.

If you do that, just store the choices in standard ServiceNow tables as already mentioned by @sachin.namjoshi 

That way, you can still use the standard ServiceNow features, but will be quite up to date with the choices in your variable.

Think twice, if there may be any "showstopper" in configurable values in your 3rd Party system, which may break your process in ServiceNow. If yes, re-think the 100% automatic way, and make in semi-manual by pulling down values, but review them before committing to be available for the variables.

That give max flexibility and max safety.

Let me know if that answers your question and mark my answer as correct and helpful.

BR

Dirk