What is Data Center Workflow?
Published on October 18, 2017,
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What is Data Center Workflow?
The answer: Data Center Workflow is the process by which data center tasks gets done in an orderly and efficient manner. It is the documentation of the sequence of tasks which ensures that all changes are made consistently and accurately. Workflow informs the data center team about who needs to do what, to which piece of equipment, when, and what the organization’s policies are toward the specific work. It also tracks the tasks as they are completed.
The modern data center is a complex and constantly evolving facility. Assets are being added, moved, changed and decommissioned on a daily basis. A centralized view to plan and manage all these changes can help facility managers optimize operations.
As Andy Lawrence of the 451 Groups has said: “It is difficult to achieve the most advanced levels of datacenter effectiveness without extensive use of DCIM with workflow.”
Workflow also optimizes resources required to perform the tasks, including time and equipment. With an up-to-date list of who is responsible for what, Workflow allows individuals to be more efficient and productive by providing task focus and progress status. It even supports cross-team assignments while minimizing disagreements for tasks shared by multiple teams.
Streamline Operations
Any type of a change in a mission critical facility is costly, but with Workflow, costs associated with change can be reduced by streamlining operations like tech refresh and remediation — not to mention resources and personnel optimization with tasks and processes that become measurable, reproducible and more consistent.
And of course, Workflow doesn’t work in a vacuum. It’s vital that Workflow easily integrates with ITSM systems. Bi-directional Integration with change management software systems from ServiceNow, HP and BMC are important because not all changes begin in the DCIM system – some have their origin in ITSM. Workflow should also ease the tracking of SLAs.
With Nlyte Workflow Manager’s icon-driven, highly flexible, drag and drop interface – both intuitive and visual — initiating service requests, work orders and managing and tracking their progress toward completion becomes second-nature.
