In today’s dynamic technology market, a company’s ability to scale its products depends directly on how quickly and efficiently it can obtain the necessary resources. In ITIL 5, the Acquire activity takes on a strategic role within the Service Value Chain, ensuring that the organization has what it needs to transform ideas into real value.

If you are an IT manager or seeking the Foundation certification, understanding the Acquire activity in ITIL 5 is essential. It is not just about “buying hardware,” but rather a sophisticated process involving licensing, cloud allocation, and talent management.

Read also: The Definitive Guide to ITIL 5

What is the Acquire Activity in ITIL 5?
The core purpose of the Acquire activity is to secure and allocate the necessary resources efficiently, ensuring the sustainability and scalability of products and services. Within the context of the Service Value System (SVS), this activity serves as the engine that fuels the build and transition phases.

Modern digital products are complex combinations of internal resources and services consumed from third parties. Therefore, the Acquire activity in ITIL 5 covers two primary fronts:

• External Acquisition: Identifying, selecting, and integrating external vendors (such as SaaS or IaaS providers).
• Internal Reallocation: Identifying and moving existing technological or human resources within the organization to a new value stream.

For the IT professional, mastering this stage means avoiding waste and ensuring that the development team is never stalled due to a lack of infrastructure or tools.

The Acquire Activity Workflow
To ensure that acquisition does not become a bureaucratic bottleneck, ITIL 5 defines a clear workflow consisting of five essential steps:

1. Analyze Requirements: Understand exactly which resources or services are needed for the product.
2. Evaluate Sourcing Options: Compare whether it is better to build internally, buy, or hire as a service.
3. Agree on Terms and Conditions: Negotiate contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that protect the Service Value System.
4. Procure Resources or Services: The practical execution of the purchase or internal allocation.
5. Communicate Availability: Inform the requester that the resource is ready for use.

In high-maturity digital environments, many of these steps are automated. For example, allocating cloud instances via Infrastructure as Code (IaC) allows the Acquire activity to occur in seconds, drastically accelerating the product lifecycle.

Integration with Management Practices
The Acquire activity in ITIL 5 does not function in isolation. It is supported by fundamental management practices that ensure governance and financial control. The key practices include:

• Supplier Management: Ensures that external partners deliver what was promised with high quality.
• Financial Management: Ensures that acquisitions stay within budget and deliver the expected Return on Investment (ROI).
• IT Asset Management (ITAM): Records and monitors the lifecycle of each acquired resource, preventing duplicate spending.

A lack of coordination between these practices often leads to extra costs and delays. ITIL 5 emphasizes that budget responsibility should be close to the product teams to speed up purchasing decisions.

How Does This Boost Your Career and Your Company?
Understanding the Acquire activity in ITIL 5 transforms the perspective of the IT professional. You move from being a “technician” to acting as a strategic resource manager.

For the company, the benefits are clear:

• Scalability: The ability to rapidly increase resources according to market demand.
• Cost Reduction: Less waste through more precise requirements analysis.
• Agility: Smoother acquisition processes reduce the time-to-market for digital products.

Take the Next Step in Your ITIL Journey
Mastering the Service Value Chain and its activities is the differentiator for professionals leading modern IT. The transition to ITIL 5 requires a mindset focused on agility and integration.

At PMG Academy, our experts help you translate these technical concepts into practical results for your daily operations. Prepare for official certifications and become an authority in digital product and service management.

Explore our ITIL courses and accelerate your certification!

Have you faced difficulties in acquiring resources for your projects? Share your experience below and let’s exchange ideas on how ITIL 5 can help!