10 Benefits of IT Service Management (ITSM): A Detailed Explanation

IT Service Management can help companies achieve goals like risk management, increasing resiliency, and proactively resolving issues. ITSM also provides support in meeting businesses' fast-changing needs. Over the years, companies have become increasingly dependent on their internal IT teams to provide a better flow of products and services to consumers. 

ITSM allows companies to execute their plans and strategies and achieve desired goals systematically. It is essential to improve competitiveness in this continuously evolving market. This blog delves into 15 key benefits of IT Service Management. 

Table of Contents 

1) What is ITSM?  

2) Benefits of IT Service Management  

   a) Safe IT Change Implementation  

   b) Increased Effectiveness  

   c) Standardised Operations for Efficiency  

   d) Boosted Self-service Productivity  

   e) Reduced Unnecessary Workload  

   f) Time Savings for the Business  

   g) Cost Savings for the Business  

   h)  Streamlined Communication  

   i) Greater Business Resiliency   

   j) Enhance Accountability by Standardising Processes  

3) Conclusion 

What is ITSM? 

IT Service Management can be described as the process by which IT teams manage end-to-end delivery of services to customers. This encompasses all your organisation's processes and activities to deliver IT-based services. IT Service Management can be organised using a variety of frameworks, which include: 

1) Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) 

2) Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) 

3) Business Process Framework (eTOM) 

4) Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 

These frameworks maximise the benefits of ITSM by creating a standardised approach to IT Service Management. Each framework has its own positive and negative aspects. Hence, it is advised to know the differences before devoting to one framework. 
 

Benefits of IT Service Management 

Embracing an IT Service Management Framework carries several benefits for operating IT operations in any business. Here, we have enlisted some of the major benefits of IT Service Management for modern-day businesses:  

1) Safe IT Change Implementation 

Poorly planned IT changes carry the immense risk of disrupting business operations. ITSM frameworks such as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) ensure a systematic layout for your organisation's IT department to implement IT changes so that any damage to business operations can be avoided. 

2) Increased Effectiveness 

IT Service Management System helps organisations in: 

a) Streamlining their IT assets and workflows 

b) Keeping track of resources that need specific processes and 

c) Rationalising their use of IT resources 

These steps help extract the most of the available resources, driving productivity. An unplanned ITSM framework with no clear strategy leads to confusion and inefficiency.      

3) Standardised Operations for Efficiency 

A correctly implemented IT Service Management standardises tools, policies and processes. This standardisation across the organisation improves communication and boosts collaboration amongst all the departments. This, in turn, results in more efficient business operations, increasing agility and saving time and labour on operations. 

4) Boosted Self-service productivity 

Self-service allows users to resolve issues by themselves without the help of IT operators. It works as an alternative to the traditional help desk model, boosting productivity. Integrating technologies like AI chatbots and portals provides an engaging self-service experience. This leads to reducing ticket resolution costs and increasing customer satisfaction.  

5) Reduced Unnecessary Workload 

Integrating a well-organised IT Service Management System automates many operations, reducing unnecessary manual workload. ITSM enables the transition from human labour to automated operations, decreasing pressure on IT operators. This provides scope for innovation and investing time in activities that can add value to the organisation. 

Learn systematic problem-solving techniques with our Root Cause Analysis Training. Sign up now! 

6) Time Savings for the Business 

ITSM frameworks like ITIL help in saving business time through knowledge management. Knowledge management aims to reduce or eliminate the necessity of already learned information. A neatly maintained knowledge base enables effective information sharing between different departments of the business, saving time.   

7) Cost Savings for the Business 

ITSM practices empower cost-saving in myriad ways some of which include: 

a) Reducing labour costs through automating major manual tasks 

b) Saving business time and money through knowledge management and 

c) Protecting the company from legal and financial consequences of data breach 

Through automation of manual processes, businesses can reduce their reliance on manpower, which results in cost savings and allows the existing manpower to invest in other value-adding areas. 

8) Streamlined Communication 

The benefits of ITSM can be visible in the communication between IT teams and other business departments. Organisations can achieve this by setting up a centralised IT service desk between the business and IT team. This IT desk will allow users to access IT support through a streamlined channel. 

9) Greater Business Resiliency 

ITSM strategies enable companies to withstand and recover from difficulties quickly. IT Service Management acts as a shield during challenging situations. An example of this is COVID-19, where ITSM allowed remote work, which proved helpful in seamless business operations and reducing the risk of spreading the pandemic. 

10) Enhance Accountability by Standardising Processes 

Accountability ensures employee productivity and ensures that resources are not misused or misappropriated. ITSM provides transparency in the business processes through standardising processes, which helps increase employee accountability and is beneficial for a more beneficial business operation.  

Understand the various ITIL Guiding Principles with our ITIL® 4 Leader: Digital And IT Strategy Certification. Join Now! 

Conclusion 

We hope you read this blog and understand the 10 major Benefits of IT Service Management (ITSM). IT Service Management manages internal and external communication and keeps track of all the organisation's business operations. ITSM also provides a more satisfactory user experience and proves to be helpful in quickly resolving issues.  

Learn to align ITIL practices with industry standards for optimal performance with our ITIL® 4 Specialist: Plan, Implement And Control Training. Join now!