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Enterprise AI

Now Assist for IT services

Dr. Jagreet Kaur Gill | 06 August 2024

Now Assist for IT services
11:08
Now Assist for IT Services

Introduction 

Now Assist for IT Service Management (ITSM) Summarizes incident information, generates incident resolution notes, and summarizes the chat for an interaction. You can enable your agents to understand the chat and incident context so that they can propose quicker resolutions to your requesters. Now Assist for Field Service Management (FSM) Summarizes work order tasks and enables users to generate work order task summaries. 

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, where businesses are increasingly reliant on technology for their operations, the role of IT services has become more critical than ever. From maintaining infrastructure to troubleshooting complex issues, IT departments are the backbone of organizational efficiency. However, with the rapid evolution of technology and the growing complexity of systems, the demand for efficient IT support solutions has soared. 

Enter NowAssist, a revolutionary platform designed to streamline IT services and enhance support capabilities. This blog explores how NowAssist is reshaping the IT service landscape, its key features, benefits, and its potential impact on businesses. 

Understanding Now Assist 

The Now Assist for ITSM application includes generative AI skills and features that enable your agents to understand the chat and incident context and propose quicker resolutions to the requester. 

Chat summarization: Provides an agent with a summary of a requester's Virtual Agent chat history. An agent can also generate a summary of the entire interaction when the chat ends or when an incident is created for further troubleshooting before or after the chat ends. 

Incident summarization enables an agent to expedite the incident troubleshooting process by reviewing its summary, which includes the issue, actions taken, and resolution. Your agent can generate an incident summary for active incidents to understand the incident context. Your agent can also refresh the summary, post it to the incident work notes, copy it, and provide feedback about the summary. 

 

The incident summary includes the information that an agent enters in the following incident record fields: 

  • Short description 

  • Description 

  • Work notes 

  • Additional comments 

  • Email 

Knowledge generation: This feature enables an agent to generate a knowledge article from an incident after proposing a resolution or closing the incident. 
The knowledge generation skill displays a pop-up window that an agent can use to generate a knowledge article and review it before publishing the knowledge article draft. 

Key Features of NowAssist 

key-features-of-now-assist              Figure: Flow Diagram of key features of NowAssist 

 

  • AI-Powered Assistance: Leveraging AI algorithms, NowAssist can analyze vast amounts of data to predict and prevent potential IT issues. This proactive approach helps maintain system uptime and reduce the need for manual intervention. 

  • Real-Time Monitoring: With real-time monitoring capabilities, Now Assist continuously tracks IT systems' performance metrics. Any deviations or anomalies are flagged immediately, allowing IT teams to intervene promptly and resolve issues before they impact end-users. 

  • Self-Service Options: NowAssist offers self-service portals and knowledge bases where users can find solutions to common issues independently. This not only empowers users but also reduces the workload on IT support teams, enabling them to focus on more complex tasks. 

  • Integration with Existing Systems: Whether it's cloud infrastructure, on-premises servers, or hybrid environments, Now Assist seamlessly integrates with existing IT systems. This ensures compatibility and enhances operational efficiency without requiring significant changes to infrastructure. 

  • Customizable Dashboards and Reports: IT managers and stakeholders can access customizable dashboards and reports through Now Assist, providing valuable insights into IT performance, user trends, and areas for improvement. 

Implement NowAssist for IT services

If you have the admin role, you can configure the Now Assist for IT Service Management (ITSM) application so that agents can use the generative AI capabilities in Service Operations Workspace for ITSM and in Core UI 

 

ITSM features and skills in the Now Assist Admin console: 

ITSM features 

Skills 

Chat Assist 

Chat summarization 

Incident Assist 

  • Resolution notes generation 

  • Incident summarization 

Note: The incident summarization is applicable only for incidents in the New, in progress, On-hold, and Resolved states if the incident state mappings that are provided in the base system are not customized. 

Knowledge Assist 

Knowledge article generation 

Steps: 

steps-of-configure-of-nowassist-for-it-services Steps-of-Configure-NowAssist-for-IT-servicesFigure: Steps of Configure NowAssist for IT services 

Use Cases

Automated Ticketing and Prioritization

  • Problem: Current ticketing systems often rely on manual input and lack intelligent prioritization. 

  • Solution: Now Assist automates ticket creation and categorization based on issue type, user profile, and historical data. It uses machine learning to prioritize tickets, ensuring critical issues are handled promptly. 

Real-time Communication and Updates

  • Problem: Users and stakeholders often lack real-time updates on their service requests, leading to frustration and uncertainty. 

  • Solution: Now Assist provides real-time notifications and status updates via multiple channels (email, SMS, in-app notifications). Users can track the progress of their tickets and receive estimated resolution times, improving transparency and satisfaction. 

Resource Optimization and Insights

  • Problem: IT teams struggle with resource allocation and workload balancing, impacting efficiency. 

  • Solution: Now Assist analyzes workload distribution and team availability in real-time. It recommends optimal resource allocation based on workload complexity and skill set, ensuring tasks are assigned to the most suitable team member. 

Self-Service and Knowledge Base Integration

  • Problem: Users often face delays waiting for IT support on common issues that could be self-resolved. 

  • Solution: Now Assist integrates a self-service portal with a robust knowledge base. Users can troubleshoot and resolve common IT problems independently, reducing dependency on IT support and freeing up resources for more complex tasks. 

Benefits of NowAssist for Businesses 

  • Improved Operational Efficiency: By automating routine tasks and providing proactive support, NowAssist frees up IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth. This improved efficiency translates into cost savings and enhances overall productivity. 

  • Enhanced User Experience: NowAssist significantly enhances the user experience with faster response times and personalized support. Employees experience minimal disruptions and have access to quick resolutions, boosting their satisfaction and morale. 

  •  Scalability and Flexibility: NowAssist is designed to scale alongside business needs, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. Whether it's expanding operations or adapting to technological advancements, NowAssist provides the flexibility to meet evolving demands. 

  • Security and Compliance: With built-in security features and compliance protocols, NowAssist helps organizations adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements. This ensures data protection and minimizes the risk of security breaches. 

The Future of IT Services with NowAssist 

Looking into the future of IT services with NowAssist reveals a landscape where proactive, intelligent solutions are set to redefine the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of IT support across industries. As businesses increasingly understand the importance of leveraging technology to enhance operations, NowAssist stands at the forefront of this evolution, driven by advancements in AI, automation, and predictive analytics. 

AI Advancements 

The future of NowAssist hinges significantly on advancements in artificial intelligence. AI capabilities will continue to evolve, enabling NowAssist to not only respond to IT issues but also predict and prevent them before they impact operations. Machine learning algorithms will analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, identifying patterns and anomalies that human operators might miss. This proactive approach reduces downtime and optimizes resource allocation, improving the reliability and performance of IT systems. 

Automation for Efficiency 

Automation will play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of IT operations managed by NowAssist. Future iterations of the platform will automate repetitive tasks such as system updates, patch management, and routine maintenance. By automating these processes, NowAssist minimizes human error, accelerates response times, and frees up IT personnel to focus on more strategic initiatives. This streamlined approach not only increases productivity but also ensures consistency in IT service delivery across diverse environments. 

Predictive Analytics Driving Strategic Insights 

Predictive analytics will continue to advance within NowAssist, empowering organizations with actionable insights for strategic decision-making. By analyzing historical data and trends, NowAssist will forecast future IT needs, identify potential risks, and recommend preemptive measures. This capability enables businesses to proactively plan for infrastructure upgrades, anticipate capacity requirements, and align IT investments with long-term business goals. Ultimately, predictive analytics transform IT from a reactive cost center to a proactive enabler of business growth and innovation. 

Real-World Applications of NowAssist 

Global Tech Company 

A global tech company implemented NowAssist to manage its extensive IT infrastructure spread across multiple continents. By leveraging predictive analytics and real-time monitoring, the company reduced downtime by 30% and achieved significant cost savings in IT operations. 

Financial Services Firm 

A leading financial services firm integrated NowAssist to streamline customer support for its online banking platform. The platform's self-service capabilities reduced call volumes by 40%, allowing support agents to focus on more complex customer inquiries. 

Conclusion 

NowAssist represents a transformative leap forward in IT service management, offering businesses unparalleled efficiency, scalability, and user satisfaction. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of a digital-first world, NowAssist stands ready to support their IT needs with innovation and reliability. 

In summary, NowAssist isn't just a tool; it's a strategic advantage that empowers businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. By embracing NowAssist, organizations can elevate their IT capabilities and position themselves for sustained success in the digital age.