36 New Features || 36th Release Xanadu ||ServiceNow Release #GenAI || #nowAssist

Introduction

Hi everyone! Once again, welcome to and welcome back to my Channel. Today, I hope you're doing good and well and enjoying your life. I'm sure that by seeing this screen you get an idea of what I bring for you today. Yes, on the 1st of August, ServiceNow released Xanadu on early availability on the PDI. This is the 36th release from ServiceNow, and we're able to get 36 new features directly from the release notes with a demo. In this particular article, you'll get the features that are not demoed or shown in the TechNow episode. Some features are picked from there as well, but the rest are mainly from the release notes itself. Let’s proceed further.

But before moving forward, I would like to take a moment to say thanks to Chuck Tomasi for his immense contribution, motivation, guidance, and support to each and everyone in the ServiceNow community. As everyone knows, Chuck is retiring on the 6th of September. Now I would like to welcome Christy, the new ServiceNow Developer Advocate, who’s bringing a lot of new things to this new era.

New Release Details

ServiceNow released its 36th release named Xanadu, which is available on PDI starting from the 1st of August. Many users have seen plenty of content, screenshots, and updates on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Here's a summary of the release history:

Journal Availability: Announced in the TechNow episode, the general availability of Xanadu is set for the 10th of September, 2024, and the upcoming two releases, Yokohama and Zik, are on schedule.
Landing Page: A refreshed landing page is introduced, where users can access Creator Studio, App Engine, IT, Workflow, and UI Builder, along with the Mobile App Builder.
Email Notifications: A new property under System Properties allows opening emails in the Self-Service Operation Workspace (SSO) only if the user has the SSOR user role.
Product Deprecation: Release V2 is officially deprecated in Xanadu. Support is still available, but ServiceNow recommends moving to the new Digital Product Release (DPR).
On-Call Schedule Engine: A 2024 schedule engine is introduced to improve on-call scheduling, adding, deleting, and removing groups and users while addressing performance issues.
User Preferences: Several updates, including an "Open Frame UI" shortcut, multiple themes for different environments, and a user experience section.
Sensitive Data Redaction: Activate the "Sensitive Data Redaction for Inbound Emails" plugin to redact sensitive information like credit card numbers from emails.
Sidebar Enhancements: Groups are now configurable in the sidebar for task and non-task based records.
Client Interaction Logs: A new table called "Glide UI Next Experience" allows monitoring of client interactions and performance.
Knowledge Management: An Advanced Plugin is now default, with dashboards for evaluating articles set to expire within 90 days.
Problem Management: Similar to Change Management, a Problem Model has been introduced, such as adding the ability to reassess a working task.
Service Portal Enhancements: A portal can be deactivated and set to redirect users to another portal.
Product and Licensing Info: Enhanced visibility into ServiceNow products and licensing, with better categorization.
Gen AI: Multiple generative AI features like generating graphs or creating catalog items, although not available in PDI, can be seen in TechNow demos.
Next-Gen Mobile Updates: Auto-population of fields like Priority based on Impact and Urgency in mobile applications.
ACL Updates: Introduction of the "Allow if, Deny if" model for more granular access control.
Workspace Updates: Now, the VIP flag is displayed correctly. Also, a new category for password resets has been introduced, visible as a UI action.
Theme Builder: Now allows the publishing of themes directly from the Theme Builder and prioritization based on sequencing.
Now Assist: Provided as a concept in PDI with several new features in admin and end-user interactions, although plugins are still not available.

These are some of the new features in the ServiceNow Xanadu release. Each feature brings more efficiency, flexibility, and the latest technology to ServiceNow users. I will continue to explore this release and share more insights in the coming days. If you like this article, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Spread the knowledge with everybody.

Keywords

ServiceNow Xanadu
Early Availability
36th Release
Journal Availability
Email Notifications
Product Deprecation
On-Call Schedule Engine
User Preferences
Sensitive Data Redaction
Sidebar Enhancements
Client Interaction Logs
Knowledge Management
Problem Management
Service Portal Enhancements
Product and Licensing Info
Gen AI
Next-Gen Mobile Updates
ACL Updates
Workspace Updates
Theme Builder
Now Assist

FAQ

1. What is the general availability date for ServiceNow Xanadu?

The general availability date for ServiceNow Xanadu is the 10th of September, 2024.

2. What new feature is introduced in the landing page of ServiceNow Xanadu?

ServiceNow Xanadu introduced a refreshed landing page where users can access Creator Studio, App Engine, IT, Workflow, UI Builder, and the Mobile App Builder.

3. How does the new email notification feature work?

A new property in System Properties allows emails to open in the Self-Service Operation Workspace (SSO) if the user has the SSOR user role. If the role is not present, it redirects to the native UI.

4. What is the replacement for the deprecated Release V2?

The replacement for the deprecated Release V2 is the Digital Product Release (DPR).

5. How has the on-call scheduling engine been improved?

The new 2024 schedule engine improves on-call scheduling, allowing better performance, adding, deleting, and removing groups and users.

6. What is the new feature in User Preferences?

New features include an "Open Frame UI" shortcut, selecting multiple themes, and a new user experience section.

7. What is the purpose of the "Sensitive Data Redaction for Inbound Emails" plugin?

This plugin redacts sensitive information such as credit card numbers and bank details from emails before they are fully processed and shared.

8. How can groups be added in the sidebar?

Groups can now be added in the sidebar for both task-based and non-task-based records, enhancing user interaction and collaboration.

9. What is enhanced in Knowledge Management in the new release?

The Advanced Plugin is now default in Knowledge Management with a new dashboard to monitor articles expiring within the next 90 days.

10. How can the Service Portal be deactivated?

A new "Inactivate" checkbox is added, allowing users to deactivate a portal and redirect users to another portal seamlessly.

11. What generative AI features are introduced in ServiceNow Xanadu?

ServiceNow Xanadu brings generative AI features like generating graphs, creating catalog items, replying to emails with better drafts, and creating multiple apps.

12. What changes have been made to the ACL in this release?

A new decision type "Allow if, Deny if" model has been introduced for more granular access control.

13. What new category has been added to the workspace?

A new category for password reset has been added, providing UI action for resetting passwords directly from the workspace.

14. What are the new updates in the Theme Builder?

Now, themes can be published directly from the Theme Builder and prioritized based on sequencing.

15. What is Now Assist?

Now Assist is introduced as a concept in PDI with new features in admin and end-user interactions, although the necessary plugins are not yet available for use.