Understanding ReleaseOps in ServiceNow's Zurich Release

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What is ReleaseOps ?

ReleaseOps standardizes and automates software deployment in ServiceNow through:

• Releases: Packages multiple updates or apps together.

• Deployment Requests: Manage retrieve → preview → commit workflows.

• Pipelines: Govern transitions from development to production.

• Automated Quality Checks: Integrates tools like Instance Scan, ATF, and Change Management to detect issues early

Why ReleaseOps Matters in ServiceNow's Zurich Release? 

Zurich significantly enhances release governance and control:

• Enforce organizational standards during deployments.

• Provide real‑time visibility via progress tracking and auto‑generated tasks for any detected issues.

• Allow scheduled releases (planned bundles) and on‑demand hotfixes for agile deployments

Key Features of ReleaseOps in ServiceNow

Feature	Description
Release & Deployment	Aggregate small changes into structured releases, or fast‑track urgent ones.
Automated Quality Gates	Scan deployment requests, assign deployment tasks for resolution ahead of release.
Pipeline Enforcement	Powers built workflows that enforce approvals, testing, and coding standards.
Visibility & Tracking	Real‑time dashboards and status updates to synchronize teams.

 

Who Should Care?

• Release Managers: Gain visibility and control over changes with automated workflows.

• Developers: Benefit from standardized, rule‑driven deployments, with fewer surprises.

• Governance Teams: Enforce quality and compliance across releases systematically.

Best Practices & Tips

• Start by designing simple pipelines before progressing to complex flows.

• Use Deployment Tasks to involve the right stakeholders early in problem resolution.

• Combine scheduled and on-demand releases to balance planning with agility.

• Review dashboards regularly to ensure cross‑team alignment and visibility.

What's more in the Zurich Release

ReleaseOps is just one highlight of Zurich. Other notable features include:

• Enhanced Flow History, debugging and traceability.

• Dev Sandboxes for isolated development.

• Reusable Scheduled Triggers in Flow Designer.

• Now Assist and AI‑driven support for creators and builders

ReleaseOps delivers a controlled, auditable deployment lifecycle in Zurich - introducing pipelines, governance, built‑in validations, and holistic tracking. Whether you're managing frequent update sets or rolling out apps across multiple instances, ReleaseOps makes change delivery safer, more consistent, and more transparent.

Want to Learn More?

Visit the official ServiceNow Zurich ReleaseOps Release Notes for additional details.