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ServiceNow Discovery pros and cons

Vendor: ServiceNow
4.0 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

ServiceNow Discovery offers a single system of record capturing relationships and automates discovery, identifying dependencies and generating reports.
It is agentless, eliminating the need to deploy agents and simplifying setup and management processes.
Its integration with CMDB allows seamless service mapping and contributes to business platform efficiency.
The automation of IT service management processes enhances service visibility and management of configuration items with minimal manual maintenance.
ServiceNow Discovery is praised for its stability and scalability, maintaining valuable data with high accuracy and reliability.

CONS

Service mapping in ServiceNow Discovery is less developed than other solutions, requiring improvement to make it easier for customers to use without coding.
Cost is high compared to similar solutions, and there is a need for flexibility in licensing to purchase only necessary components.
Technical support has been unhelpful, especially during version changes where new features can introduce bugs.
The integration with legacy applications is lacking, and there is room for improvement in cloud discovery capabilities.
Debugging is challenging, and there should be enhancements for more out-of-the-box information to support hardware like routers and switches.
 

ServiceNow Discovery Pros review quotes

reviewer1034670 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 26, 2020
The best part about ServiceNow Discovery is that it is included in the ServiceNow suite.
KR
Practice Leader, Solutions architect at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Apr 1, 2020
It's a single system of record and it captures the relationships.
KS
Technical Architect at Sysintegra Ptv Ltd.
Apr 26, 2020
They provide the ability to see into the Discovery tools I want. They offer the best tool view.
Learn what your peers think about ServiceNow Discovery. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Mohamed Mansoor - PeerSpot reviewer
Support Engineering Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Jun 25, 2020
The process involving the original setup of the solution is excellent.
reviewer1446474 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Automation Consultant (ITOM/ITAM, Cloud, DevOps at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Dec 9, 2020
The biggest advantage of ServiceNow is the value that it brings.
it_user1384359 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Feb 18, 2021
I find that the Discovery and scripting features are the most useful.
NS
Specialist (US IT Recruiter) at MOURI Tech
Feb 27, 2021
The initial setup is pretty easy.
JB
Sr. Servicenow Developer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
May 1, 2021
It does a good job of collecting the data that's necessary for data centers, and IT's operations.
AnkurAshok - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager - Retail Sales at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 26, 2022
This solution provides excellent insights.
EdwardScott - PeerSpot reviewer
Configuration Manager at Adtalem Global Education
Jun 3, 2022
It's pretty robust, and it's agentless for the most part. So, you don't need to deploy agents, which makes it a lot easier to stand up.
 

ServiceNow Discovery Cons review quotes

reviewer1034670 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 26, 2020
The service mapping component is less developed than it is in other solutions, and is in need of improvement.
KR
Practice Leader, Solutions architect at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Apr 1, 2020
Without improvement in the patters, applications can't be discovered
KS
Technical Architect at Sysintegra Ptv Ltd.
Apr 26, 2020
In terms of improvement, I would like for it to be possible to use without coding. I would like a dropdown so that every customer can do it easily for himself and can understand it.
Learn what your peers think about ServiceNow Discovery. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Mohamed Mansoor - PeerSpot reviewer
Support Engineering Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Jun 25, 2020
The solution needs to improve the cost of the solution. There are a few different solutions and they do act the same and have the same types of capabilities, however, the cost is quite high.
reviewer1446474 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Automation Consultant (ITOM/ITAM, Cloud, DevOps at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Dec 9, 2020
They can expand on the plugins for some of the other tools.
it_user1384359 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Feb 18, 2021
On the Software Asset Management part of it, I expect additional reconciliation and Discovery features there.
NS
Specialist (US IT Recruiter) at MOURI Tech
Feb 27, 2021
Technical support has not been helpful when we have come across problems.
JB
Sr. Servicenow Developer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
May 1, 2021
When you switch versions, for example, when you go from Paris to Quebec they will introduce many new things and occasionally things break when they do that.
AnkurAshok - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager - Retail Sales at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 26, 2022
Application discovery could be improved. And, right now, ServiceNow needs to be coupled with another solution in order to verify information.
EdwardScott - PeerSpot reviewer
Configuration Manager at Adtalem Global Education
Jun 3, 2022
It's an expensive platform.