ServiceNow RPA Bot Generation with Now Assist

[Pranav Bhagat]

ServiceNow's Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capabilities have taken a significant leap forward with the introduction of RPA bot generation using Now Assist in the Yokohama release. This powerful new feature leverages generative AI to dramatically speed up and simplify the process of creating RPA bots.

In this blog, we'll explore how Now Assist for RPA works, its key benefits, and how developers can start using it to build automations faster and more efficiently.

The Challenge of RPA Development

Traditionally, building RPA bots has been a time-consuming process, even for experienced developers. Simple automations could take 1-2 weeks to build and deploy, while more complex bots might require 4+ weeks of development time. This presented a significant barrier to rapidly implementing automations and realizing their benefits.

Enter Now Assist for RPA

ServiceNow has addressed this challenge by infusing generative AI capabilities into the RPA development process. Now Assist for RPA allows developers to generate bot logic and components simply by describing the desired automation in natural language. This "text-to-bot" functionality can dramatically accelerate development time while also making RPA more accessible to a wider range of users.

Key Features of Now Assist for RPA:

1. Natural language bot generation: Describe your desired automation in plain English and Now Assist will generate the corresponding bot logic.

2. Multiple entry points: Developers can leverage Now Assist when creating new automations, extending existing ones, or adding new activities to a project.

3. Seamless integration: Now Assist works within the familiar RPA Studio environment, complementing existing RPA development workflows.

How It Works: A Practical Example

The video demonstration showcased a common use case: automating the process of extracting information from emailed invoices. Here's how a developer might approach this using Now Assist:

1. Create a new automation and choose "Build with Now Assist"
2. Provide a prompt describing the desired automation (e.g., "Retrieve unread emails, save PDF attachments to a specific folder")
3. Review the generated preview of the automation logic
4. Accept or refine the generated components
5. Make any necessary adjustments or connections
6. Test and deploy the automation

The Power of the Prompt

A critical aspect of using Now Assist effectively is crafting clear and specific prompts. The more precise and detailed the prompt, the more accurate and useful the generated automation will be. ServiceNow provides guidance and examples to help developers write effective prompts.

Example of a Bad Prompt:
"Create an incident."
➡ This is too vague. Now Assist lacks the necessary context, such as what the incident is about, priority level, or any specific assignment details.

Example of a Good Prompt:
"Create a high-priority incident for the IT support team regarding a network outage affecting multiple users. Assign it to the Network Operations group and include a request for an immediate resolution."

➡ This provides clarity, context, and specific details, leading to a more accurate and useful automation.

Conclusion

Now Assist for RPA represents a significant step forward in democratizing automation development within the ServiceNow ecosystem. By harnessing the power of generative AI, ServiceNow is making it faster and easier for developers of all skill levels to create powerful RPA bots. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more advanced capabilities that will further streamline the automation development process. For ServiceNow developers looking to get started with Now Assist for RPA, be sure to install the Now Assist for RPA Hub and activate the RPA bot generation skill in your instance. With these powerful tools at your disposal, you'll be building and deploying automations faster than ever before.

Here's the video