Discovery Agent Automates System Inventory for Software Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sales representatives face challenges in persuading customers to upgrade information management systems due to the inconvenience and time-consuming process of gathering system information, customer concerns about the unknown replacement system, and hidden costs associated with new products.
Innovation Solution
A discovery agent is used to analyze the customer's computing system, leveraging existing information management software to inventory resources, simulate the replacement system, and provide a detailed list of recommended resources and costs, allowing customers to experience the new system's functionality and costs before committing to the upgrade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a sales representative manually gathers information about the customer's existing information management system using questionnaires, then the customer can provide detailed system information, but the process becomes inconvenient and time-consuming for the customer
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery agent enables the customer's existing system to automatically provide information about itself without human intervention. The agent queries the existing information management system to gather details about computing devices, storage devices, and secondary copies, eliminating the need for manual questionnaire completion while ensuring complete and accurate system information is captured
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of filling out questionnaires is replaced with an automated software-based discovery agent that programmatically queries the existing system. This substitution transforms the information gathering process from a manual, time-consuming administrative task into an automated technical process that occurs in the background
2Adaptability or versatility
If a customer transitions to a replacement information management system, then the customer can access new features and improvements, but the customer experiences fear of losing data and operator error due to unfamiliarity
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery agent creates a virtual copy of the customer's existing computing system by inventorying all computing devices, storage devices, and secondary copies. This virtual representation allows the customer to interact with and evaluate the replacement system's functionality while maintaining a reference to their original system configuration, reducing fear through familiarity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a detailed inventory and simulation of the replacement system before the customer actually transitions. This advance preparation allows the customer to review the proposed configuration, understand what will happen to their data, and make informed decisions, thereby reducing anxiety about potential data loss or errors
3Loss of information
If a sales representative provides a detailed quote for the replacement information management system, then the customer can see the costs involved, but hidden costs may still deter the customer from pursuing the upgrade
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery agent provides immediate feedback to the customer by automatically generating a detailed quote that lists all recommended resources and their costs. This real-time cost information is presented alongside the system inventory, allowing the customer to understand the full financial implication of the upgrade before making a decision, eliminating hidden costs through complete transparency
4Productivity
If the discovery agent automatically inventories the customer's computing system, then the information gathering process becomes convenient and fast, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery agent is designed as a universal tool that can interface with multiple different existing information management systems and automatically adapt to various system configurations. By consolidating the information gathering functionality into a single multi-functional agent, the apparent complexity is managed through standardization, allowing fast automated inventorying across diverse system landscapes
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for demonstrating a replacement information management software for a computing system. The methods may include determining if existing information management software is installed in the computing system. The methods may include identifying computing devices of the computing system using information from the existing information management software. The methods may include simulating the replacement information management software with characteristics of the identified computing devices to enable a user to experience the replacement information management software prior to committing to installing the replacement information management software in the computing system. The methods may include automatically installing the replacement information management software. Other implementations are disclosed.