ServiceNow is a software-as-a-service

Software as a Service

Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...

 (SaaS) provider of IT service management

IT Service Management

IT service management is a discipline for managing information technology systems, philosophically centered on the customer's perspective of IT's contribution to the business. ITSM stands in deliberate contrast to technology-centered approaches to IT management and business interaction...

 software. It was founded in 2003 by Fred Luddy, previous CTO of Peregrine Systems

Peregrine Systems

Peregrine Systems, Inc., an enterprise software company, was founded in 1981 and sold enterprise asset management, change management, and ITIL-based IT service management software. Following an accounting scandal and bankruptcy in 2003, Peregrine was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2005...

. After building a generic workflow framework (Glide), Luddy opted to specialize in IT Service Management (ITSM) applications. The company became cash flow positive in 2007 and has attracted a number of large accounts, such as TIAA-CREF

TIAA-CREF

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund is a Fortune 100 financial services organization that is the leading retirement provider for people who work in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields...

, Intel, Staples

Staples

-Places:*Staples, Minnesota, United States*Staples, Texas, United States*Staples Center, an arena in Los Angeles, California*Staples High School, a high school in Connecticut*Staples , a train station in Staples, Minnesota served by Amtrak...

, and others.

In 2011, Fred Luddy stepped aside as CEO, bringing in veteran Frank Slootman as replacement and moving to the role of Chief Product Officer.
ServiceNow specializes in delivering ITSM applications and thus competes with BMC

BMC

-In business and organizations:* Beard Miller Company, a US public accounting firm* BioMed Central, a UK-based scientific publisher* BMC , a Turkish vehicle manufacturer...

, Computer Associates, IBM

IBM

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...

, and Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...

. However, it also provides a generic platform for application development and thus competes with SaaS

Saas

SAAS is an abbreviation for* Social Accountability Accreditation Services* Software as a service * Student Awards Agency for Scotland* Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences* South Australian Ambulance Service...

/PaaS

Paas

Paas is a brand of Easter egg dye. It is currently owned by Signature Brands, LLC.-History:The original PAAS Easter egg dye was invented by an American named William Townley. Townley was an owner of a drug store in Newark, New Jersey, where he concocted recipes for home products...

 providers such as Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com is an enterprise cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco that distributes business software on a subscription basis. Salesforce.com hosts the applications off-site...

's Force.com

Force.com

Force.com is a cloud computing platform as a service system from Salesforce.com, that developers use to build multi tenant applications hosted on their servers as a service. The company pushes the "development as a service" phrase, but it has not gained acceptance outside the context of their...

 offering. Slootman specifically indicated this as a key corporate strategy in his keynote at the 2011 ServiceNow user conference, Knowledge11.

In March, 2011, ServiceNow was named to the Wall Street Journal's "Next Big Thing" list for the second year in a row.
In March, 2010 Triad Technology Partners, LLC partnered with ServiceNow to serve the public sector

Public sector

The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...

through Triad’s General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule 70 contract.