Cherwell has been a trusted IT service management platform for years, but with its end of life approaching, organizations have a unique opportunity to modernize their IT operations.
A tool that once powered service management is now heading toward end of life, and the clock is ticking. The question is no longer if you should migrate, but when and where you should move.
ServiceNow has emerged as the clear frontrunner for enterprises that want to modernize, scale, and future-proof their IT operations. But migration is not a switch you flip overnight. It requires strategy, planning, and the right partner to guide you through the change.
This blog breaks down what Cherwell’s end of life really means, why ServiceNow is the next best alternative to Cherwell, and why now is the right time to start planning your move.
What Cherwell EOL Means for leaders?
Tick Tock, Cherwell support ends soon. Step into ServiceNow before the deadline.
Download our playbook for a clear roadmap to migrate with confidence.
Why ServiceNow is the next best alternative to Cherwell users?
ServiceNow gives you everything leaders expect from a modern IT platform. It is built to scale with your business, support complex workflows, and adapt as your needs evolve. While Cherwell served its purpose for many years, ServiceNow opens the door to a more connected and intelligent way of working.
With ServiceNow, teams gain one platform to manage incidents, assets, operations, and services without jumping between tools. It improves visibility, reduces manual work, and gives leaders a complete view of performance and risks. ServiceNow brings ITOM, ITAM, HRSD, FSM, CSM, SecOps, SPM, and more together, giving organizations one platform to manage diverse operations without handling disconnected tools. The platform also brings strong AI and automation capabilities, so your teams spend less time on routine tasks and more time on strategic work.
For organizations searching for stability and long-term value after Cherwell, ServiceNow becomes an obvious next step. It is reliable, future-ready, and designed to help you work faster and smarter without unnecessary complexity.
How to approach Cherwell to ServiceNow Migration and Why now?
Cherwell to ServiceNow migration does not have to be overwhelming. With proper planning, organizations can make a smooth transition to ServiceNow while minimizing risks. Here are some key steps to consider:
1. Plan early
Start by assessing your current Cherwell environment. Document the processes, data, and integrations that are critical for your operations. Identify what should be migrated and what can be improved or retired.
2. Define a roadmap
Decide whether to move in phases or in one go. A phased migration often reduces risk by allowing you to test and refine before expanding. For example, you might migrate incident and problem management first, followed by change management and other modules.
3. Focus on change management
Technology is only part of the transition. Success depends on how well people adapt to the new platform. Communicate the benefits clearly to stakeholders, provide training for teams, and establish key performance indicators to measure adoption.
4. Leverage the opportunity to modernize
Do not treat migration as a lift-and-shift exercise. Use this as an opportunity to redesign workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and introduce AI-powered capabilities that ServiceNow makes possible. This ensures that the move delivers more than continuity it delivers improvement.
Why now?
The 2026 deadline may seem far away, but migration to any Cherwell alternative often take months or even years to complete. Waiting until the last minute creates unnecessary risks and could lead to rushed decisions. Planning now gives organizations time to design a thoughtful migration strategy, minimize disruption, and realize value faster.
Case Study: Our Approach on Migration to ServiceNow from Cherwell
Recently, we worked with an enterprise that had more than 2000 employees using Cherwell. Their platform had reached a stage where maintenance took too much effort, upgrades kept getting pushed, and many workflows no longer matched how the business worked. They wanted a smooth and predictable move to a platform that could support their growth without slowing them down.
Process to migrate from Cherwell to ServiceNow:
- Started with a clear assessment of their Cherwell setup, including custom objects, integrations, automation rules, and data. This helped define the exact scope of the migration.
- Created a phased migration roadmap and set up a strong ServiceNow foundation with a clean CMDB and standard ITSM practices.
- Cleaned, normalized, and mapped their data so every configuration item had accurate relationships and a dependable CMDB in ServiceNow. Want to know how exactly we export Cherwell data to ServiceNow? Learn now in our step-by-step guide.
- Rebuilt their key ITSM workflows using native ServiceNow features, Flow Designer, SLAs, dashboards, and Virtual Agent to improve speed and user experience.
- Supported their teams with hands-on training, UAT guidance, and step-by-step rollout so the transition felt smooth and clear.
The outcome:
The organization moved to ServiceNow with confidence and without disruption. They gained better visibility into their processes, their IT teams now work faster, and they finally have a platform that supports their growth instead of holding it back.
Partner with Aelum to make your Cherwell to ServiceNow migration seamless
We understand the challenges of migration, the uncertainty, the disruption, and the “where do we even start?” moments. But Cherwell’s end of life is really an opportunity in disguise. By proactively exploring modern ITSM platforms like ServiceNow, you position your teams for long-term success. A migration does not have to be rushed but it must be intentional.
At Aelum, we have helped enterprises move from legacy tools like Cherwell to flexible, future-ready platforms that strengthen service operations today and tomorrow.
Don’t wait until 2026. Design a migration strategy that works for your business
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Cherwell similar to ServiceNow?
Yes, Cherwell and ServiceNow are both similar cloud-based ITSM platforms.
Is Cherwell an ITSM tool?
Yes, Cherwell was an ITSM tool but it will reach it’s end of life on December 2026.
What is the pricing difference between ServiceNow ITSM and Cherwell ITSM?
ServiceNow is generally more expensive, with a list price around $100 perfulfiller per month for ITSM, and requires a substantial minimum initial investment.
Can we integrate Cherwell with ServiceNow?
Yes, Cherwell can be integrated with ServiceNow using integration platforms like ZigiOps or custom solutions to synchronize data, automate workflows, and improve cross-team collaboration between the two ITSM systems.
