s and network failure. For example, two bridges intended for the same functions, with a similar look and feel, and with similar specifications and cost. The only difference is a single digit difference in the product code. This might correspond to a major impact if the bridges are intended for working in two different configurations, making one nonsuitable for working in the other's configuration. While there is a high prob- ability that based on external features, the two bridges may look similar and the manual entry in IM might result in a bug. This problem does not arise when the product code and other parameters are read using a scanner even when the product code is an alpha numeric string or a barcode. Auto discovery and status update is available in some inventory management modules, where the IM module interacts with element managers or the agents in the network elements to get status updates and to automatically discover a new resource that is added to the network and not updated in IM module. Automation of the inventory management system is a necessity considering the evolution in communication networks to offer complex services on a multivendor environment. This increased complexity demands simple and flexible ways to allo- cate resources and to manage, maintain, and plan how networks are configured. Planning requires operators to maintain configuration records, to search the records with simple queries, and refer consolidated reports when required. A proper plan- ning process would be possible only by integration of records by a common system like the inventory manager (see Figure 20.5), where these records rapidly become manageable even when they are stored at multiple localized databases. An automated inventory management system is a key module for having flow through provisioning. The IM interacts with an order module to allocate the resources. The provisioning system checks the inventory modules for allocated resources to do provisioning and finally updates the IM with the status of the resources a