Looking for a way to test App Engine Enterprise (AI features) in a sandbox environment

[XimenaR]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been exploring several tutorials on App Engine and noticed that many of the new AI-powered features are only available in the App Engine Enterprise version. I’m very interested in testing these capabilities, especially for building flows, applications, and automations using AI.

However, I haven’t found a straightforward way to get hands-on access. I’ve tried:

• Requesting development instances

• Using instances from official ServiceNow training courses

Unfortunately, these options don’t seem to include access to the Enterprise-level features. I’ve found some guided demos, which are helpful, but I’d really like to experiment directly within a sandbox environment.

Does anyone know how I can access a trial or development environment with App Engine Enterprise features enabled? Any tips or experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance 🙌

[Maik Skoddow · Accepted solution]

Hi @XimenaR 

Your challenge with accessing App Engine Enterprise features in development environments is quite common, as the AI-powered capabilities are indeed restricted to the Enterprise tier. Let me break down your options and provide some practical guidance.

Understanding App Engine Licensing Structure

ServiceNow App Engine operates on a tiered licensing model with two main packages:

• App Engine Starter Pack includes basic features like Studio IDE, Mobile App Builder, Guided Application Creator, Flow Designer, and limited custom tables.
• App Engine Enterprise Pack contains all Starter features plus the advanced AI capabilities you're seeking, including App Engine Studio, Now Assist for Creators, AI Agents, Process Mining, Performance Analytics, Virtual Agent, Predictive Intelligence, and unlimited custom tables.

Why Standard Development Instances Don't Include Enterprise Features

Personal Developer Instances (PDIs) available through developer.servicenow.com are designed for learning purposes and typically only include basic platform capabilities. These instances are not associated with customer subscriptions and don't include premium features like App Engine Enterprise.

Similarly, training course instances usually provide access to standard platform features but not enterprise-level add-ons due to licensing restrictions.

Accessing App Engine Enterprise Features

Corporate Sandbox Environments

If you're working with an organization that has ServiceNow, your best option is accessing their corporate sandbox or sub-production instances. Companies with App Engine Enterprise subscriptions can provision sandbox environments that include these features. You'll need to contact your ServiceNow administrators to get access to these environments.

Trial Through ServiceNow Sales

For hands-on access to App Engine Enterprise features, you'll likely need to engage with ServiceNow's sales team to request a trial environment. App Engine Enterprise pricing is not publicly listed and requires custom quotes based on requirements. Sales teams can often provision trial instances with full Enterprise features for evaluation purposes.

Partner and Consulting Access

ServiceNow partners and consulting firms often have access to more comprehensive development environments. If you're working with a ServiceNow implementation partner, they may be able to provide access to instances with App Engine Enterprise features.

Hope that helps.

Maik