What if Spider-Man wore James Bond’s suit? He probably wouldn’t hang upside down as easily. And vice versa, hiding a gun in a spandex jumpsuit might be tricky. Just like a hero’s custom-made suit enhances their abilities, your corporate software should be tailored to meet your business needs.
Alloy Navigator, a combined ITAM and ITSM solution, is the flagship product of Alloy Software. It comes pre-configured with ITIL-aligned workflows, allowing you to quickly integrate it into your existing processes and start benefiting from industry best practices in a way that fits your company. Its flexibility is supported by several layers of customization. In this article, we’ll explore the customization levels that make Navigator the solution you need.
Some screenshots in this article offer a sneak peek of the upcoming Fall 2024 release of Alloy Navigator Enterprise. As we’re still putting on the finishing touches, a few details might change in the final version.
At the start, every customer is prompted to fine-tune the canned business logic to their organization using what’s called workflow configuration parameters. These parameters allow you to quickly adjust Navigator to fit your needs. They serve as placeholders used throughout all ready-to-use workflows, reducing the need for individual modifications.
Administrators can access workflow parameters in the web-based Admin Center, which means that only a web browser is needed. All parameters are organized into categories based on their function. Let’s review a few categories.
Please note that most parameters have default values that will work for many customers. However, some are organization-specific and need to be set explicitly. These are marked with an asterisk (*).
Custom fields are user-defined fields created to capture and store information specific to your unique requirements. Unlike system-defined fields, custom fields provide flexibility and can be tailored to suit any need. These fields can be integrated into your data views, reports, and dashboards, ensuring that all essential information is readily available. Additionally, custom fields can be used within workflows, allowing Navigator to adapt and evolve alongside your organization’s changing needs.
Watch this quick video to see practical examples of how custom fields allow customers from diverse industries to tailor Navigator to their specific requirements.
Navigator supports custom fields anywhere, from incidents and assets to contracts and purchase orders. Administrators also have control over their placement on forms, whether you choose to place them on a separate tab or on other tabs within system fields.
To create and arrange custom fields, administrators will need a desktop Settings app, installed on their local computer. Note that for cloud customers, Settings is part of a separate package called Alloy Administrative Tools.
As we already mentioned, you can place custom fields anywhere on object forms. If you need these fields to be more visible for your processes, you can easily position them where they’ll stand out. What’s more, administrators have the flexibility to redesign form layouts to fit your organization’s needs. You can hide fields or sections you don’t need, move important ones to more prominent spots, and adjust the number of tabs. Customizing form layouts is straightforward and allows for lots of changes. Plus, if you need to, you can always switch back to the default system layout.
The upcoming release will bring exciting new customization options, allowing you to create unique layouts based on object types—starting with Service Support tickets!
You can customize the appearance of Alloy Navigator—whether to match your company’s branding or just for personal preference. This is especially useful for the Self-Service Portal, which serves as the 24/7 point of contact between the IT department and end-users. It’s the perfect place to take advantage of branding options and make the interface truly your own.
Here’s what you can customize in the Self-Service Portal:
As for the Web App, the primary tool used by the IT team, you can also add your logo to the header and choose from a variety of color schemes to suit your preferences.
Currently, all UI customization options are adjusted using the Web Configuration tool installed on the web server. This means that cloud customers need to contact our Support Team for any customization. However, in the next release this fall, all customization and branding options for web applications will be moved to the web-based Admin Center, enabling administrators to manage them from anywhere through a web browser.
Alloy Navigator gives you the flexibility to enable or disable specific features at the license level. For instance, if you don’t plan to use the IT Asset Management or IT Service Management modules, you can exclude them from your license, saving on costs for features you won’t be using.
If you’re not ready to grant end-users access to certain features in the Self-Service Portal, you can hide modules such as Approvals, Equipment Lending Library, or the Service Catalog.
For technicians, you can also tailor their experience in the Alloy Navigator mobile app by hiding and revealing modules as needed, making the most of the limited mobile screen space.
You can customize any out-of-the-box workflow provided with Alloy Navigator and even create new ones. Let’s explore some of the most common areas for customization:
For in-depth workflow changes, you’ll need the desktop Settings app. However, in the next release, some of the most requested workflow settings, such as classifiers, will be moved to the web-based Admin Center for easier access.
No matter how comprehensive Alloy Navigator is, we understand it’s not the only tool in your ecosystem. You likely have solutions in place for document management, sales, and other business operations. That’s why Navigator supports seamless communication and data-sharing with your essential business systems or software, such as integrating with external databases, APIs, or third-party tools.
Integrating identity and access management systems with Alloy Navigator enhances security and simplifies user management.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Alloy Navigator supports SSO with major identity providers such as Microsoft, Okta, AD FS, and Google. This allows users to access Navigator with their existing credentials, streamlining login and enhancing security. If your organization uses one of these providers—or another supported provider—you can easily integrate it with Navigator.
LDAP: For centralized authentication, Alloy Navigator integrates with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). This enables your IT department to manage user accounts and permissions through a single directory, reducing manual management within Navigator.
Windows Native: Alloy Navigator also supports integration with Windows Native authentication, allowing users to log in with their Windows credentials. This provides a seamless and familiar login experience for users in a Windows-based environment.
Alloy Navigator’s workflow engine offers robust integration capabilities. With deep PowerShell support, you can run external commands and PowerShell scripts directly from workflows and process the results within Navigator. This feature is ideal for advanced customization, allowing you to tailor your workflows to meet your specific needs and streamline your automation processes.
Here are some of the pre-built integrations available, along with the option to create custom ones:
Alloy Navigator features a powerful RESTful API, offering robust capabilities for integrating with various third-party systems. This API allows you to extend Navigator’s functionality, enhancing your workflows and data management.
The API supports operations such as creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting data. However, unlike many other APIs, Alloy Navigator’s API leverages the Alloy workflow engine rather than directly creating or updating objects. This approach is ideal for custom integrations, enabling you to build external solutions into your business logic orchestrated within Navigator.
Alloy Navigator offers over 120 pre-built reports, organized into 20 categories for easy access. These reports provide a comprehensive view of your data, helping you focus on KPIs, identify trends, and make informed decisions.
As reports are often shared with both internal and external stakeholders, customizing them can significantly enhance your branding and recognition. You can easily personalize reports by adding your company logo and including a link to your website, boosting visibility.
Report settings are currently available only in the desktop Settings app. With the upcoming release, report customization will also be accessible in the web-based Admin Center for added convenience.
Our open reporting system, based on Microsoft’s Report Definition Language (RDL) format, enables you to create customized reports tailored to your specific needs. For assistance with designing these reports, our Support Team is readily available to ensure you receive the precise information in the most effective format.
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So, we’ve explored various ways to customize Alloy Navigator to suit your needs. You can choose to implement some or all these options—the level of customization is entirely up to you. And just like a perfectly tailored custom-made suit, a customized Alloy Navigator will help you navigate your unique path and achieve success!
