The purpose of this article and academy is to give you the tools and terms to be able to learn more about individual features, and is a general overview of what is out there. For more detailed information, check out the Next Experience Center of Excellence.
Journey to Re-Platform
Our journey to re-platforming ServiceNow's user interface began several years ago, starting with Quebec and Rome releases. We initiated a multi-year effort to enhance the configurability of our workspace product, laying the groundwork for future advancements. Configurable workspaces debuted alongside UI Builder in San Diego, marking a pivotal step towards bridging the gap between classic environments and modern frameworks. The subsequent releases, including Tokyo, Utah, and Washington, have brought iterative improvements, culminating in a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.
Next Experience Architecture
At the core of our re-platforming efforts lies the Next Experience UI framework, internally referred to as "seismic." This framework, built on web components standards, represents a significant departure from previous technologies like Jelly and AngularJS. It provides a standardized platform for user interface development, offering a cohesive and modern framework for building immersive experiences. While terms like "seismic" and "Now Experience UI framework" may be used interchangeably, they allude to the underlying architecture driving ServiceNow's evolution which is the Next Experience UI Framework.
Terminology
Understanding the terminology associated with Next Experience is crucial for navigating the platform effectively. The Next Experience UI represents the user interface introduced in San Diego, built upon the Next Experience UI framework. Configurable workspaces, an integral aspect of Next Experience, replace traditional lists and forms, offering a more flexible and personalized user experience. Conversely, Core UI, also known as UI 16, serves as the interface when Next Experience is disabled, catering to legacy functionalities.
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Term |
Description |
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Next Experience UI Framework |
Our new JavaScript framework built on web component standards |
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Next Experience UI |
Our new user interface released on San Diego which is built on the Next Experience UI Framework |
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Configurable Workspace |
Our new way of working that replaces working out of lists and forms, also known as Workspace UI |
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Agent Workspace |
The legacy workspace UI introduced in Madrid and has been replaced by configurable workspaces |
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Core UI |
Previously known as UI16. This is the interface used when Next Experience is disabled |
Next Experience UI Vs UI 16/Core UI
Distinguishing between Next Experience UI and Core UI is essential for users transitioning to the modern interface and experienced users alike. While Core UI maintains its functionality, Next Experience UI introduces a refreshed aesthetic and enhanced usability. The unified navigation and streamlined menus of Next Experience UI offer a more intuitive and efficient experience compared to Core UI's traditional layout. Moreover, the automatic activation of Next Experience UI upon upgrades beginning in Vancouver ensures a seamless transition for users. For more information on what this means for you, check out our previous academy talking about the Vancouver upgrade.
Next Experience Features
The evolution of Next Experience brings forth a plethora of features aimed at enhancing user productivity and satisfaction. While certain functionalities may still be undergoing refinement, the platform continues to evolve with each release. Notable features include Unified Navigation, Landing Page customization, Admin Configurable Menus, Multi-Menu Filtering, Favorite Grouping, and History Details. These features collectively contribute to a more cohesive, personalized, and efficient user experience within the ServiceNow ecosystem.
Unsupported Features
Despite the advancements introduced with Next Experience, certain features may not be fully supported or may require adaptation. As of the Washington release, notable unsupported features include the live feed and field watcher. However, significant strides have been made in bridging the gap between Core UI and Next Experience, with ongoing efforts to ensure feature parity across both frameworks.
- Unsupported Features
- Live Feed
- JavaScript Console Log
- Field Watcher
- Custom Header Menus, i.e., DOM manipulation on Unified Navigation – Check out Admin Configurable Menus!
- Editing or creating Homepages (viewing is supported)
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Important to note
- Connect Chat is replaced with Sidebar
- Connect Support is replaced with Agent Chat
- Automated Test Framework supports Forms & Lists Components on Workspaces & has full support for non-workspace Forms & Lists
- Platform Analytics Dashboards are supported
- Unsupported features can change each release, check release notes for more information.
Unified Navigation
Unified Navigation represents a fundamental aspect of Next Experience, providing users with a modern and extensible menu system. Users can seamlessly switch between different modules and workspaces, with the ability to customize their navigation preferences. The streamlined interface enhances usability and accessibility, promoting a more intuitive and productive workflow.
Landing Page
The Landing Page feature, shipped with Next Experience UI, offers users a customizable and dynamic homepage tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Leveraging UI Builder, administrators can create variants to cater to different user personas, displaying relevant content and applications. This feature enhances user engagement and efficiency by providing quick access to essential information and functionalities.
Admin Configurable Menus
Admin Configurable Menus empower administrators to create custom menus tailored to different user roles and workflows. This feature eliminates the need for manual configuration of favorites, streamlining the onboarding process for new users. By providing a personalized and intuitive menu structure, administrators can enhance user productivity and satisfaction.
Multi-Menu Filtering
Multi-Menu Filtering simplifies navigation by allowing users to filter across multiple menus simultaneously. This feature improves searchability and reduces the time spent navigating through various modules and applications. With the ability to filter favorites, workspaces, and history, users can efficiently access relevant information and tasks.
Favorite Grouping
Next Experience introduces enhanced favorite grouping capabilities, allowing users to organize their favorites into customizable groups. This organizational feature enhances usability and personalization, enabling users to categorize and access frequently used items more efficiently. With support for nested groups, users can create hierarchical structures to further optimize their workflow.
History Details
The History feature in Next Experience provides users with comprehensive visibility into their recent activities across forms, lists, and workspaces. With improved date/time stamping and extended history duration, users can track their interactions more effectively. This feature enhances productivity and facilitates navigation by providing quick access to recently accessed records and tasks.
Configurable In-Product Notifications
Admins can define custom in-product notifications to communicate important updates and events within the Next Experience interface. By specifying conditions and triggers, admins can ensure timely delivery of relevant information to users. With support for toast banners and dropdown notifications, users can stay informed and engaged with critical updates while working within the platform.
Guided Tours on Workspaces
The interoperability of Guided Tours with workspaces has been significantly improved since the Vancouver release, enabling seamless transition between classic pages and workspaces. This feature enhances user onboarding and training by providing interactive guidance and support within the Next Experience interface. Admins can create targeted tours to familiarize users with new features and workflows, promoting user adoption and proficiency.
Banner Announcements
Banner Announcements offer a flexible and customizable way to communicate important information to users across the platform. With options to configure visibility, dismissibility, and targeting based on user roles, admins can ensure effective communication of critical updates and announcements. This feature enhances user awareness and engagement, promoting alignment with organizational goals and initiatives.
Instance Tools Utility Menu
The Instance Tools Utility Menu provides easy access to essential tools and utilities, consolidating functionality previously scattered across the platform. Admins can enable this menu to access tools such as Application Scope and Update Set Picker, streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing productivity. With plans for further expansion, the utility menu promises to become a central hub for instance management and configuration.
Polaris Theme and Dark Theme
Next Experience ships with the Polaris theme as the default, offering both light and dark variants to suit user preferences. The dark theme, significantly expanded since the Utah release, provides a consistent and visually appealing experience across various components and interfaces. With support for themes in workspaces, dashboards, and knowledge articles, users can customize their environment to match their preferences and enhance readability in low-light conditions.
Theming in Next Experience UI
Theming in Next Experience UI has undergone significant enhancements, particularly with the introduction of Theme Builder in the Utah release. Theme Builder, a platform feature available at no additional cost, offers a streamlined approach to theming your instance. To access Theme Builder, users need to download it from the ServiceNow store and install it via the application manager.
With Theme Builder, theming your instance becomes a straightforward process, eliminating the need for extensive CSS expertise. Users can preview themes across multiple sections of the interface, facilitating easy customization. However, deciding when to customize and to what extent can be a nuanced decision.
Three Tiers of Theming
Theming can be categorized into three tiers based on customization requirements:
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Out-of-the-Box Themes: For users who require a dark theme or minimal customization, sticking with the pre-built options is recommended. The out-of-the-box themes offer zero effort in setup but have limited branding options.
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Theme Builder: Users who need custom colors and moderate customization should utilize Theme Builder. While it provides a high level of customization and ease of use, some advanced customization options may not be accessible through Theme Builder alone. ServiceNow continues to enhance Theme Builder with each store release, introducing features like component-level editing and deeper customization options as of Washington D.C.
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Custom Themes: For users seeking extreme customization beyond what Theme Builder offers, creating a custom theme is the solution. Custom themes provide unparalleled flexibility but require significant time, CSS expertise, and maintenance effort. They may not be upgrade-proof and lack official support, making them suitable for advanced users with specific requirements.
Theme Builder Functionality
Theme Builder empowers administrators to create and manage themes efficiently. Users can build themes directly within Theme Builder, previewing changes in real-time across various sections of the interface. However, it's essential to note that making manual edits to Theme Builder themes outside of the application can result in loss of changes when re-entering Theme Builder.
Moreover, Theme Builder is exclusively designed for Next Experience UI and does not support Angular portals or UI 16/Core UI. While there are plans to enhance Theme Builder further, including support for multiple themes per instance, users should leverage alternate color palettes and variants to provide theme options for end-users.
Best Practices and Resources
For those embarking on their journey with UI Builder and Next Experience UI, adhering to best practices and leveraging available resources is key. Utilize community forums, ServiceNow's official documentation, and learning paths on developer.servicenow.com to deepen your understanding and troubleshoot issues effectively.
Additionally, stay updated on new releases and features through ServiceNow's Community Product Hub and the Next Experience Center of Excellence. These resources provide valuable insights, tutorials, and community-driven content to support your ongoing learning and development journey.
- Next Experience Center of Excellence – https://nxtxp.link/coe (contains link to academies)
- You & I Builder Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHo_uWPeoec&list=PL3rNcyAiDYK2Bgzj4mRdtfxMpGkI5KXBJ
- Deoprototypes - https://theme.deoprototypes.com/hooks
- Eric’s articles - https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/all-about-next-experience-polaris-them...
- Theme Builder Academy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enjB3abGMjs
- Lady Coding Happy Hour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMM3-RuIYiM
- Customers should use the Next Experience Readiness Checker tool to determine which features are unsupported for their instance version as well as the product documentation for the release they are upgrading to.
- Hacktoberfest GitHub repos with example custom component: https://github.com/ServiceNowDevProgram/Menu-Generating-Operations-Program-Widget-Custom-Component
- Amazing Declarative Actions community post: https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-blog/declarative-actions-in-servicenow-the-complete-g...
- now-icon gallery on developer site: https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/reference/next-experience/quebec/now-components/now-icon/g...
- UI Builder UX Page properties: https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/workspace-app-shell-ux-page-properties...
- Next Experience Developer Tools Chrome Extension Link: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/next-experience-developer/ilkodijinjhpdnnfpccijledlapkfmhc
- Check out Brad's article on when to use an UI Builder Experience and when to use a Service Portal! https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/ui-builder-and-service-portal/ta-p/237...
- Next Experience COE long link if shortlink doesn't work: https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/next-experience-center-of-excellence/t...
