Asset Lifecycle Overview

The asset lifecycle describes the states an asset or service moves through over time, from the moment it is defined to the moment it leaves the system.

It sits one level above the day-to-day work. How fulfillment works explains what happens to a position while it is being delivered. This page explains what happens to the thing itself across its whole life, including everything after delivery: exchanges, returns, storage and the end of the contract.

Use it when you need to know where an asset currently stands and what can reasonably happen to it next.

The states

Lifecycle State	Description	Typical Next States
Defined	The asset or service exists in the system but has not yet been ordered or activated.	Ordered, Removed
Ordered	The asset has been ordered and is entering the fulfillment process.	Provisioning, Removed
Provisioning	The asset is being prepared, shipped, manufactured, or otherwise fulfilled.	Active, Returned, Removed
Active	The asset is in use and assigned to a person, location, or organization.	Swap, Successor, Returned, Stored, Unsubscribed
Swap	The asset is being replaced due to defect, loss, or another reason while maintaining continuity.	Active, Returned
Successor	A successor asset or service is assigned to replace the current one.	Active, Returned
Returned	The asset is returned from usage to the provider or warehouse.	Stored, Unsubscribed
Stored	The asset exists physically but is not actively assigned or in use.	Active, Unsubscribed
Unsubscribed	The service or asset lifecycle has ended and is no longer active.	None
Removed	The asset or order was cancelled before activation or usage.	None

Two of these are worth pausing on, because they look similar and are not.

Stored is a live asset without a user. It is still on contract and still billed, it has simply been parked, usually in a customer warehouse after somebody left the company. It can go straight back into use.

Unsubscribed is the end. The contract has run out or been cancelled, and nothing follows.

What moves an asset from one state to the next

Current State	Action or Trigger	Resulting State	Notes
Defined	Order is placed	Ordered	Asset enters the fulfillment flow.
Defined	Order is cancelled	Removed	Asset never becomes active.
Ordered	Fulfillment starts	Provisioning	Covers shipping, manufacturing, or provisioning.
Ordered	Order is cancelled	Removed	Cancellation before activation.
Provisioning	Fulfillment completed	Active	Asset is assigned and ready for use.
Provisioning	Fulfillment cancelled or fails	Removed	Asset never reaches active usage.
Active	Swap initiated	Swap	Replacement due to defect, loss, or similar reasons.
Active	Successor assigned	Successor	Planned replacement or upgrade.
Active	Return initiated	Returned	Asset is sent back after usage.
Active	Service is cancelled	Unsubscribed	Lifecycle ends after being active.
Swap	Replacement completed	Active	New asset becomes active.
Swap	Asset is returned	Returned	Defective or replaced asset is returned.
Successor	Successor activated	Active	New asset replaces the previous one.
Returned	Asset stored	Stored	Asset is kept for later reuse.
Returned	Asset is removed	Unsubscribed	Asset is retired after return.
Stored	Asset reassigned	Active	Stored asset is put back into use.
Stored	Asset retired	Unsubscribed	Stored asset is permanently removed.

The actions in the left-hand column are the ones you carry out in Fulfillment. An exchange runs through Changes, a return through the production steps on its position, and storing happens with the Store action or automatically when a return is completed.