IBM’s Lotus Notes was once a powerful communication tool and application portfolio. Companies could develop applications for their users to create workflows to complete tasks and forms, and people could use it to organize their contacts and manage email communication. When it was created in the 90’s, it was a top-of-its-class business tool. But modern business solutions have grown leaps and bounds since then. ServiceNow, by comparison, offers a whole host of service management applications for its cloud-based platform and brings workflow automation, on-demand reporting, and more. It is a multi-faceted solution for business areas to connect, collaborate, and share information.
Today’s business world is fast-paced and continually evolving; companies that want to compete need to utilize the most advanced technology possible. Compared to modern business solutions, IBM Lotus Notes is a clunky and unintuitive tool that is text-heavy and does not seamlessly capture or store data. Though it no longer relies solely on physical infrastructure, its newest updates only touch on the cloud capabilities inherent in ServiceNow’s platform. Companies relying on IBM Lotus Notes in any capacity need to seriously consider making the switch to a less tedious, more intuitive, and more adaptable software solution.
An Enterprise-Wide Business Solution
IBM’s current version of Lotus Notes (IBM Notes) is an email, calendar, and contact management tool that can integrate IBM collaboration and business apps. A “personal business operations center” that gives users control over tasks, file sharing, and more from their inbox. As an email management service, it works well. But what if your organization is looking for an enterprise-wide solution with multiple layers of access?
The ServiceNow platform encompasses an entire organization’s service management. The centralized cloud-based platform includes a searchable knowledge base and intelligent workflow routing, and users can access it from anywhere. Management can track department performance while users can access information through self-service portals. The platform is layered, secure, and allows for enterprise-wide collaboration and connection. In this area, ServiceNow outperforms Notes and adds an additional layer of access through collaborative knowledge articles and automated communication.
ServiceNow Offers More Expansive Features
When businesses are looking for a multi-use business solution that brings collaboration as well as enterprise-wide automation, Notes does not fully deliver. ServiceNow’s feature set includes asset, change, incident, and contract management; LDAP/Active Directory Synchronization; SLA management; and self-service portals that boost visibility and offer on-demand performance reports. The platform connects every business area to improve enterprise-wide communication and organization.
A recent ServiceNow announcement confirmed that its newest version includes an Intelligent Automation Engine, predictive performance modeling, and user experience updates. Along with these new features, ServiceNow’s intelligent workflows include automated email communication to internal users and external clients. Its platform offers far more comprehensive, useful, and cross-departmental features than Lotus Notes.
Comparing Customizable Applications and Integrations
ServiceNow allows for third-party applications, plug-ins, and configuration options. Certified technology partners can create customizable applications for the platform and businesses can work directly with partners to request solutions. Companies can integrate their existing software into the ServiceNow platform to avoid service disruption and eliminate disparate technology. Organizations can manage their customer services, human resources, IT operations, and business management through ServiceNow. The platform brings value to every area of a business.
IBM Lotus Notes does not have the same size application marketplace or configuration options, nor does it have the same technology partner offerings. Though IBM has been improving the Notes features since its early days, it cannot compete with the seamless integration of the ServiceNow platform. ServiceNow users can partner with a certified tech company to realize the full potential of their platform while optimizing current and future services. Making the switch to ServiceNow can further your company’s investment and ensure it will continue receiving the best possible support and services.
Making the Switch: Replacing Lotus Notes with ServiceNow
Replacing your existing Lotus Notes with the ServiceNow platform will improve enterprise-wide communication, collaboration, and service management. Rather than investing in multiple pieces of technology to fill your Service Management gaps, it makes more sense for your business to put its resources into one consolidated system that can be customized to fit your specific needs. With intelligent automation, your company will reduce labor and error costs while boosting its bottom line. It is easy to integrate applications into your ServiceNow platform, allowing you to create automated workflows, send email notices to customers and users, and access on-demand performance reporting and metrics.
Legacy software can cause problems for companies, especially when the systems have become saturated with important documents, reports, and information. But your company can import those files, create more intuitive workflows, and improve existing processes with the ServiceNow platform. It can be tedious and time-consuming to manually enter and analyze data within Lotus Notes; ServiceNow not only makes this task easier, but it also automates it and uses the data to make performance and outage predictions. ServiceNow brings continuous innovation to business solutions that connect entire enterprises.
As a ServiceNow Technology Partner, Infocenter can help. Contact us today to learn more.