Adding cost center for a CI in CMDB

[Henrik Jutterst]

In our CMDB we are about to specify cost center for a customer on a CI. The main idea was to extend [core_customer] table and add fields to the extended table (called [u_customer_cost_center]) to specify a cost center for a customer. So that a specific customer can select its specific cost centers for a specific CI in CMDB.

But then I saw that there is a cost center table in ServiceNow called [cmn_cost_center], and I was wondering if that can be used instead of extending core_company table.

Basically, what I'm looking for is to specify a subset of cost center for a specific company tightly connected to just that company. How would you have implemented this?

• Company X
  • Cost center 1
  • Cost center 2
  • Cost center 3
• Company Y
  • Cost center 4
  • Cost center 5
• Company Z
  • Cost center 6
  • Cost center 7
  • Cost center 8

Kind regards

[Gaurav Bajaj]

Hi Henrik,

You can add the company ref field in the cmn_cost_center table and then add a related list under the company table.

You can then add different cost center to the different company.

This will only work if you want to align only one cost center to one company and not multiple companies.( as per your example)

If you want it otherwise, then you need to create a custom table having reference of both customer and cost center table.

Let me know if you would need any help with it.

Thanks

Gaurav

[Henrik Jutterst]

Hello Gaurav

I need to be able to tag different cost center for a customer. In CMDB I need to be able to specify further if the customer have a specific cost center for taging the CI.

For example "Customer A" - "Big corp." have some smaller divisions that we need to specify on what division the CI is to be held under.

Example #2. For "Big corp." all servers should be tagged with id/cost center for Server maintenance department. And the same with network department regarding network gear for that specific cost center.

[Gaurav Bajaj]

Hi Henrik,

In this case, you need to create a custom table having reference of both customer and cost center table.

With this, you can tag same cost center to different companies as well.

and each center can be aligned with CI's too. Here its business services but you can always add a field for CI.

[Henrik Jutterst]

Ok, but what if I just extend [core_customer] table that we use at the moment and add a cost_center field to it so that I can get all the cost centers for a specific customer. That should do it, but then I will not use any "ServiceNow-out-of-the-box" functionality for this Cost Center function.

My main idea is to stay as close as possible to OOTB functionality combined with SN best practice.