In 2017 Axelos announced that a new version of ITIL would be released during the first quarter of 2019. Indeed, in February of this year we witnessed the arrival of ITIL v4, an update that according to Axelos promises a lot as far as IT Service Management is concerned.
The questions that arise around this update are many, for example Was a new version necessary? What changes did Axelos make? Do these changes correspond to the demands of companies? If you also want to give answers to those questions related to ITIL v4, don’t miss this interesting article that we have prepared for you. Read on and find out more.
Why a new version?
We live in a time of constant change. Technological evolution and digital transformation continue to drive companies to create progressively more sophisticated and complex digital environments, making IT management an ever-growing challenge.
Although ITIL has long been considered the “bible of service management”, and despite being one of the most widely used frameworks in the world, it has recently received much criticism, thanks to the fact that, according to some opinions, it has become outdated.
This is why ITIL decided to make new changes in order to remain adapted to the current needs of organizations. This is not surprising, as ITIL has been able to evolve every time it has seen the need, and since its conception in the 90s it has adjusted to the new requirements of the market.
ITIL v.3, for example, brought an integrated process-oriented approach, which included the “wheel”, thus abandoning the old red and blue books. Then, the 2011 update put the emphasis on service. The ITIL v4 version comes as part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and modernization.
In addition, it could also be said that this new version was born in response to the emergence of new service management references such as VeriSM™, SIAM® and FitSM, which according to some opinions, are better adapted to the digital era than ITIL is.
How was the ITIL v4 framework developed?
According to Axelos, more than 150 industry experts and 2,000 company members from around the world, ( which now make up the new ITIL Development Group) helped develop this new version.
What’s new in this ITIL v4 version?
With the goal of delivering real added value, ITIL v4 leaves the lifecycle model behind and is now divided into Service Value Systems and Service Value Streams. The Service Value consists of 5 main components:
- ITIL Service Value Chain
- ITIL Practices
- Governance
- Continuous Improvement
- ITIL Guiding Principles
The ITIL Service Value Chain provides a model for the development, delivery and continuous improvement of services.
ITIL v4 focuses on value creation and rapid delivery of high quality services. The creators of this new version decided to retain everything that had already proven successful in ITIL 2011.
As a result of this emphasis on efficient service delivery; ITIL moves from being described as a “Service Management System” (SMS) to a “Service Value System” (SVS).
Now, beyond processes, we also have practices. These are divided as follows:
General management practices: These include strategic management, risk management and management of continuous improvement.
Service management practices: In this we have Service Design, Service Transition and Service Operation (service design, transition and operation), but also the Service Desk as a practice.
Technical practices: Includes service models in the cloud.
Does ITIL v4 represent an opportunity for your company?
Of course, it does. Only crisis situations demand radical changes. If this is not your case; the best thing you can do is evaluate the new ITIL v4 to identify which of the new adjustments can best suit your business. Gradually apply best practices that, as you consider; can help you solve current problems or optimize processes and areas of the company.
Remember, if you have already implemented ITIL on a good basis there is no need to worry; yesterday’s good practices still work very well today. Try to take this opportunity to re-evaluate your current state and make the most of this update.
If your current ITSM tool did not meet business expectations; this may also be an excellent time to migrate to a more effective solution. We therefore recommend that you take a look at ServiceNow, one of the best options on the market.
If you are looking for the best ITSM and ITSec tools backed by support in your own language; don’t hesitate to contact us. At GB Advisors, we offer you the best of the best in software solutions and consulting.
