Transfer orders for Asset Management
Summarize
Summary of Transfer orders for Asset Management
The Asset Management application in ServiceNow enables asset managers to efficiently move assets between company stockrooms using transfer orders. These transfer orders support both consumable and non-consumable assets, allowing for quantity-based transfers for consumables and single-entity transfers for non-consumables. Transfer orders streamline asset relocation while ensuring accurate tracking and status updates throughout the process.
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Transfer Order Lines and Workflows
Transfer order lines are a key feature that allow multiple assets to be transferred within a single transfer order. Each line can include pre-allocated assets, which must be transferred in full quantity, and prevents duplicate transfers of the same asset simultaneously. Transfer order lines are managed via workflows that control each stage of the transfer process. If the Service Management Core plugin is active, its workflow overrides the default Asset Management workflow for transfer order lines.
Transfer Order Line Tasks and Subtasks
- When a transfer order line is created, tasks are automatically generated based on the asset's model category, using default or customized template tasks to move the transfer through its stages.
- Closing tasks progresses the transfer order line and automatically updates asset status, such as changing from available to reserved as it moves from fulfillment to shipment preparation.
- Transfer order line subtasks add granularity by allowing detailed activities (e.g., imaging a computer) before completing a main task. All subtasks must be completed to close their parent task.
- Skipping tasks without proper closure does not trigger automatic asset status updates, which must then be handled manually upon asset receipt or delivery.
Managing Transfer Orders
- Transfer orders and their lines can only be deleted while still in the draft stage, ensuring no loss of tracking during active transfers.
- Received assets with issues can be returned through the transfer order process, enabling correction or reversal as needed.
- The overall transfer order status depends on the progress of individual transfer order line tasks, providing detailed visibility into the movement of assets.
Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers
By leveraging transfer orders and their associated lines and tasks, ServiceNow customers can:
- Accurately track and control asset movement between stockrooms with clear status updates.
- Automate task creation and progression tailored to asset types and categories, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Prevent asset duplication in transfers and manage pre-allocated assets effectively.
- Customize workflow templates to align with specific organizational processes.
- Maintain auditability and control by restricting deletions to draft stages and enabling returns of received items.
Transfer orders move assets between company stockrooms.
The Asset Management application enables asset managers to create transfer orders for moving assets between company stockrooms.
Consumable assets and non-consumable assets can be transferred as follows:
- If an asset is consumable, it can be transferred and the quantity can be greater than one. Consumable parts are tracked by the system qualitatively.
- If an asset is non-consumable, it must be transferred as a single entity with a quantity of one. Non-consumable parts correspond to assets defined in the system.
Transfer order lines
Transfer order line tasks
When you create a transfer order line, based on the model category specified in the asset, a transfer order line task is automatically created. Transfer order line tasks are created to move transfer order lines from one stage to the other. Transfer order line tasks also help you to track service levels and the time frame needed to complete a transfer order.
Default template tasks are available with the Asset Management application. The template tasks are based on model categories. Default template tasks cannot be deleted or modified. If required, you can also create your own customized template tasks. For more information, see Create a customized template task. When you create a transfer order line and select an asset, that asset corresponds to a model category. If a customized template task exists for that model category then that template task is added to the transfer order line as a transfer order line task. If no customized template task match is found for the asset you selected, then the default template task is added as a transfer order line task.
If you skip a transfer order line task and select Closed Skipped, the asset is not updated automatically. Once the asset is received or delivered, you can make the update manually.
If you are upgrading from any previous release to the New York release, and you have an open transfer order line that is still being processed, all the transfer order line tasks associated with that transfer order line are simultaneously created and displayed in the transfer order line form layout. Based on the stage of the transfer order line, the tasks that still need to be processed will be open; all the other tasks that have already been completed will be closed. Based on the order, if you close a later transfer order line task, all the previous tasks, which are currently open, automatically will be Closed Skipped.
Transfer order line subtasks
To further add granularity and efficiency to the process, you can also create subtasks for each transfer order line task. Each transfer order line task can have multiple subtasks. For example, before preparing for shipment, for a computer, you may want to create subtasks for imaging the computer or adding additional software. If subtasks have been defined for a particular transfer order line task, then the subtasks are automatically added to the transfer order line task. Once all the subtasks are closed, the transfer order line task is automatically closed. For more information, see Create a template subtask.