Using a Bar Code Scanner -- NOT the mobile app -- for Asset Mgt

[Ryan S]

Does anyone have experience using physical bar code scanners with ITSM Asset Management? I'd like to learn what sort of configurations/flows might have to be built to support it and in general what the user experience is like. Please don't tell me about HAM or mobile app scanning.

[Peter Bodelier]

Hi @Ryan S,

Please tell us more about the use case first.
Do you want it to create assets, look up assets, report incidents on them, etc?

[Ryan S]

Hi Peter,

Good question. It's really how bar code scanners would work in conjunction with the system overall, in any potential use case where assets are involved. More specifically, you're on the right track:

1. When assets are first received from a vendor, scan to create assets (or validate receipt, if purchasing was tracked in ServiceNow).
2. When conducting audits, be able to scan the asset to validate against database
3. When transferring assets (individually or in bulk), be able to scan during a workflow to select the correct asset
4. When devices get loaned out or returned, be able to update asset statuses (maybe part of a workflow). Think like a library book being checked in and out...they just scan and go.

There's probably plenty of other use cases out there that would apply. Again, it's just understanding better how the bar code scanner works with the platform.

[Welshblacklab]

Hi Ryan, did you get anywhere on this issue agreed that the traditional handheld scanners tend to be preferred by engineers if they have large numbers to scan

[Ryan S]

I'll have to circle back with the teams to see what they ended up doing. By the time we wrapped up the project we had configured the Mobile agent app to support their needs, but I'm not sure if they tried with the traditional bar code scanners.