Process Automation Content release notes

  • Release version: Store
  • Updated May 5, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Process Automation Content release notes

    The Process Automation Content application on the ServiceNow Store delivers out-of-the-box activity definitions that enable developers and ServiceNow customers to create connected, enterprise-grade process automation without coding. These release notes detail the version history, enhancements, fixes, and changes across multiple platform releases, ensuring customers can efficiently automate processes using up-to-date and improved activities.

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    Key Features and Updates

    • New and Renamed Activities: Introduction of the Create Records activity and renaming of key activities for clarity, such as changing "Create Records" to "New Record Form with List" and "Ad Hoc Approval" to "Ask for Ad Hoc Approval," improving usability and alignment with process terminology.
    • Improved Accessibility and Usability: Enhancements to the list functions in activity definitions, better support for languages like Japanese, and updates to the activity picker to categorize activities as "Interactive" or "Common" for easier discovery.
    • Declarative Action Fixes: Restoration of missing Restart declarative actions to out-of-the-box activities, ensuring smoother playbook operations.
    • Activity Picker Reorganization: Removal of certain outdated activities (e.g., Create Child Case/Task, Update Record) from the picker to streamline configuration, with recommended alternatives provided to maintain functionality.
    • Enhanced Approval Activities: Updates to Ad-hoc Approval handling custom date/time formats and improvements in rendering within the Playbook, as well as changes to cancellation behavior of approval requests when processes are canceled.
    • Installation and Packaging: Migration of key activities such as Show List of Records and Update Records into the store app, simplifying installation and integration with the Playbook Experience.

    Practical Impact for ServiceNow Customers

    • Customers can leverage improved and newly introduced activities to automate complex processes with greater ease and accuracy.
    • Refinements in activity picker organization and naming conventions enhance the configuration experience and reduce confusion.
    • Fixes and updates ensure that playbooks run reliably with proper support for restart actions and approval workflows, improving operational stability.
    • Removal of deprecated activities from selection options encourages best practices by guiding customers to use updated, supported activities.
    • Multi-language support and accessibility enhancements enable broader adoption across diverse user groups.

    Version history for the Process Automation Content application on the ServiceNow Store.

    Important:
    For details on system requirements and family compatibility, view the application listing on the ServiceNow Store website.

    Version history

    Version 28.1.6 - May 2026 (Zurich)
    Fixed: Ad-hoc Approval handles custom date/time formatting and still renders the activity in the Playbook- Better support for Japanese language when using the mini activity picker
    Version 28.1.5 - March 2026 (Zurich)
    Changed: Updated description for New Record Form with List
    Version 28.1.3 - August 2025 (Zurich)
    • Changed:
      • Updated the View Approval Request Activity Definition
      • Renamed Create Records to New Record Form with List
      • Renamed Show List of Records to Record List
      • Renamed Ad Hoc Approval to Ask for Ad Hoc Approval
      • Renamed Request Manager Approval to Ask for Manager Approval
      • Renamed Request Multi-Level Approval to Ask for Multi-Level Approval
    Version 27.0.3 - March 2025 (Yokohama)
    Fixed: Made the Open List declarative action visible on the Show List of Records activity.
    Version 27.0.1 - February 2025 (Yokohama)
    Changed: Improved accessibility, usability, and performance of the list function in the Create Records activity definition.
    Version 26.0.2 - August 2024 (Xanadu)
    • Changed:
      • Moved into the "Common" section of the activity picker:
        • Show List of Records
        • Request Ad Hoc Approval
        • Create Records
      • Updated all out-of-the-box activity definitions to be read-only
      • Categorized the following activities as "Interactive" instead of "Default" in the activity picker:
        • Create Records
        • View Approval Records
        • Request Manager Approval
        • Request Multi-Level Approval
        • Request Ad Hoc Approval
    • Fixed:
      • Added missing Restart declarative actions back to some out-of-the-box activities.
      • Updated custom Activity UIs from hardcoded use of the Global Playbook Experience to correct mapping.
      • Fixed the list query in custom activity UIs.
    • Removed:
      • Removed the following activities from the activity picker:
        • Create Child Case
        • Create Child Task
        • Update Record
        • These activities still function in existing playbooks, but are no longer available to choose when configuring an activity. Use the Create Record activity in place of the Create Child Case and Create Child Task activities, and use the User Form and Automated Update Record activities in place of the Update Record activity.
    Version 25.1.3 - August 2024 (Washington DC)
    • Fixed:
      • Added missing Restart declarative actions back to some out-of-the-box activities.
      • Re-organized activities within the activity picker.
      • Corrected the description of the Show List of Records activity definition.
    Version 25.1.1 - February 2024
    • Changed:
      • These activities will now cancel when a process/playbook is canceled:
        • Request Manager Approval
        • Request Ad Hoc Approval
        • Request Multi-Level Approval
    Version 23.0.5 - August 2023 (Utah)
    Changed: For the Update Record activity, show the Table, Record, Fields, and Wait for user input fields in the Standard Modal and Side Panel.
    Version 23.0.3 - February 2023
    • New: Create Records out-of-the-box activity
    • Changed:
      • The Show List of Records out-of-the-box activity is now part of the store app instead of the PAD Core plugin.
      • The Update Records out-of-the-box activity is now part of the store app instead of the PAD Core plugin.
      • This app will now be installed with Playbook Experience.
    Version 22.0.4 - August 2022
    The Process Automation Content app provides out of the box activity definitions, enabling developers to define connected, enterprise process automation with no code.