The "ITIL Software Scheme" is nearly a year old and already starting to reap benefits for software developers and end users. Tool vendors will be able to choose from a number of Licensed Software Assessors to assess their software tools. The first two Licensed Software Assessors are:
Software Management Consultancy - SMCG
Pink Elephant - www.pinkelephant.com
As IT complexity continues to increase, the need for IT management Best Practices is more critical than ever. The OGC remains committed to enabling best practice through its ITIL portfolio. However, a missing link in the OGC/ITIL portfolio had been the lack of an approval process for ITSM tools. There are now a large number of tools that claim to be "ITIL process compliant" and this scheme gives the end user the opportunity to see if these claims can be verified.
The scheme was launched at the itSMF Fusion Conference and Exhibition last September. At the launch event, Peter Brooks (FISM) Independent Consultant reviewed the ITIL Software Scheme. He said: "The potential marketing advantage to Vendors is reasonably clear. At a minimum, if a piece of software is certified to offer ITIL Process X, somebody completing an RFP can include this information in the knowledge that, so long as all the people and process work is done according to ITIL, the tool will provide the necessary support"
The scheme is administered by APM Group-the Accreditor (on behalf of OGC).
www.itil-officialsite.com/SoftwareScheme/ITILSoftwareScheme.asp
The advantage of this scheme over others in the market is clear as this scheme is unique in giving assurance of ITIL compatible processes within the tool.
There are three levels of assurance available within the scheme, Bronze, Silver and Gold dependent on the capability of the tool and its alignment to specific ITIL processes, how widely the product is used and the extent of positive feedback and references from end users. This feedback is critical because there was a need for customers to understand if the software tools and inherent documentation they were considering supported ITIL and were truly compliant with ITIL Best Practices.
Whilst it is recognized that tools themselves will not magically fix all process issues. they can provide invaluable assistance in supporting ITIL processes. Already the scheme has successfully recognized 14 software tools who have attained the required standard (7 tool's processes have been assessed to the Bronze level and 7 to the Gold level).
