Using pallet assets for managing inventory

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Using pallet assets for managing inventory

    This guide explains how ServiceNow customers can effectively manage inventory using pallet assets within transfer and disposal orders. Pallets group assets for streamlined movement, disposal, and consumption, enabling efficient stockroom operations and accurate inventory tracking.

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    Managing Pallet Movement

    Customers can move an in-stock pallet and its contained assets between stockrooms using transfer orders. Key points include:

    • When assets inside a pallet are moved, they are removed from the pallet after the "Ready for fulfillment" task is completed.
    • Empty pallets can also be transferred independently.
    • Updates made to a pallet during the transfer order process apply to all contained assets.
    • If issues arise with assets received via transfer order, the entire pallet and its assets can be returned; individual assets cannot be returned separately.

    Disposing of Pallets and Assets

    Disposal orders allow customers to retire pallets and their assets that are no longer functional or at end-of-life. Important details include:

    • Adding a pallet to a disposal order automatically includes the pallet’s assets and child assets, but excludes asset bundles.
    • Disposal workflows support disposing of the entire pallet with assets, disposing only assets while keeping the pallet, or disposing part of the assets and retaining the remainder.
    • Assets removed or disposed are automatically detached from the pallet accordingly.

    Consuming Assets from Pallets

    Assets within pallets can be consumed through various workflows, with automatic removal from the pallet upon consumption. These workflows include:

    • Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA): Assets added to RMA are immediately removed from the pallet. Note that assets in pallets do not appear in off-site replacement or repair fields.
    • Asset Local Stock: Assets consumed are removed after the "Confirm assigned asset" task.
    • Loaner Assets: Assets used as loaners are removed after the "Prepare" task completion.
    • Return Leased Assets: Leased assets returned are removed after the "Shipment" task.
    • ITSM Swap and Deploy Tasks: Assets deployed or swapped via ITSM actions are removed from pallets accordingly.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    Using pallet assets allows customers to:

    • Streamline inventory transfers by grouping assets.
    • Maintain accurate asset tracking during disposal processes.
    • Ensure consistent asset management across various consumption workflows.
    • Simplify returns and replacements by handling pallets as single units.

    You can add a pallet with the assets contained in it to transfer orders and disposal orders to manage your inventory effectively.

    Moving pallets from one stockroom to another

    Move an in-stock pallet along with the assets contained in it from one stockroom to another by using transfer orders. When you move only the assets contained in a pallet, the assets are removed from the pallet after the Ready for fulfillment task is closed. You can also use a transfer order to move an empty pallet.

    Updates that you perform on the pallet as part of the transfer order workflow are applicable to the assets contained in it.

    If there's a problem with all or some of the assets you receive as part of a transfer order, you can return the pallet along with its assets. You can't return individual assets contained in the pallet.

    For more information, see Transfer order tasks.

    Disposing of pallets

    Dispose of a pallet with its assets that are reaching the end of the life cycle or that aren’t functional by using a disposal order. When you add a pallet to a disposal order, the assets and child assets in the pallet are also added. However, any asset bundles in the pallet are not included.

    The disposal order workflow when disposing of a pallet or its assets is as follows:

    • Disposing of the pallet with the assets contained it: The verified pallet and its assets are disposed.
    • Disposing of only the assets and retaining the pallet: The assets are removed from the pallet after they're verified.
    • Disposing of the pallet with only some of its assets and retaining the remaining assets: The assets that weren't verified or disposed of are removed from the pallet automatically.

    For more information, see Create a disposal order.

    Consuming assets from a pallet

    Note:
    When an asset from the pallet is consumed as part of any workflow, the asset is automatically removed from the pallet.

    Assets contained in a pallet can also be consumed as part of the following workflows:

    • Return Merchandise Autorization (RMA): When an asset from a pallet is added to RMA, the asset is immediately removed from the pallet.
      Note:
      In an RMA request with an off-site replacement or repair, the assets that are in the pallet aren't shown in the Replacement asset field on the Receive task form.
    • Asset Local Stock: When an asset from the pallet is consumed as part of the local stock, the asset is removed from the pallet after the Confirm assigned asset task is closed.
    • Loaner: When an asset from a pallet is consumed as a Loaner asset, the asset is removed from the pallet after the Prepare task of the loaner order is closed.
    • Return leased assets: When a leased asset from a pallet is returned, the asset is removed from the pallet after the Shipment task is closed.
    • Swap and deploy tasks from ITSM: When deploy asset action is triggered from ITSM, the asset that must be deployed is removed from the pallet. When swap action is triggered from ITSM, the asset in the pallet that is a replacement for a faulty asset is removed from the pallet.