Example Build Agent use cases

Use Build Agent for a wide range of development scenarios beyond application creation, including app analysis, modernization, documentation, governance, and learning assistance. Reference these scenarios to identify ways to apply Build Agent across your development workflow.

Documentation creation

Use Build Agent to create customized knowledge base articles and knowledge articles, so users can access information and learn the application more easily.

Build Agent can automate the creation of readme files for source code repositories. Generated readme files provide clear, structured documentation that outlines installation procedures, usage guidelines, and example snippets, which streamlines the onboarding process for new developers.

Learning assistance

Use Build Agent as a resource for learning ServiceNow application development practices. You can ask about a wide range of topics, including development techniques, available APIs, and the overall functionality of the ServiceNow AI Platform.

Build Agent supports continuous learning by summarizing relevant documentation, highlighting key points, and providing concrete examples that illustrate complex concepts. All of this helps developers grasp and apply general guidelines in their work.

Brainstorming sessions

Use Build Agent to refine application development ideas and capture structured requirements for later build steps during brainstorming sessions. Requirements are captured in detail during these sessions, supporting a structured process for developing application features. All ideas are documented so your team can reference previous discussions and integrate feedback during the development lifecycle.

Additional use cases

Use the following scenarios to identify specific ways to apply Build Agent in your development workflow.

App gap analysis

Summarize an existing app, identify gaps in coverage, and propose targeted enhancements. For example, Build Agent flags tables without ACLs, business rules with no test coverage, and manual steps that could be automated with flows.

Security posture review

Open an existing app and audit its ACLs, roles, and data filters. Build Agent identifies gaps such as tables with no ACLs, overly permissive rules, and missing role hierarchy, then generates fixes.

Test coverage bootstrapping

Analyze an app's metadata, identify what has zero test coverage, generate Automated Test Framework (ATF) tests for the gaps, run them, and triage failures.

Architecture diagrams

Generate Mermaid.js diagrams by querying and collating data from the platform.

Common workflow patterns

Describe a common business process, such as intake and approval, escalation routing, or SLA monitoring with dashboards. Build Agent then scaffolds the full workflow, including tables, flows, catalog items, notifications, and reporting.

Migration acceleration

Provide your source system's table definitions, business logic, or data model pasted as SQL, text, CSV, or screenshots. Build Agent then recreates the equivalent tables, fields, relationships, and automation on the ServiceNow AI Platform.

App modernization

Analyze legacy customizations such as classic workflows, Jelly UI, and script-heavy logic, then rebuild them using modern patterns: flows instead of workflows, React UI pages instead of Jelly, and structured security instead of script-based checks.

Data-model scaffolding

Paste a CSV file, drop a spreadsheet screenshot into the chat, or describe your data model in plain text. Build Agent generates the matching ServiceNow tables, columns, and relationships. For Excel or PDF input, convert to CSV or paste a screenshot first.

Cross-scope workflows

Build custom apps that write to global tables such as Incident. For example, auto-generate incidents when assets become overdue.

Build from user stories

Point Build Agent at a user story from the rm_story table or paste one from another tool. The acceptance criteria drive development, creating the tables, logic, and tests that satisfy each criterion.

Note:

Querying rm_story directly requires the Agile Development 2.0 plugin.

SQL to table

Paste a SQL CREATE TABLE definition into the chat and Build Agent translates it into a ServiceNow table with matching column types and relationships.

Post-build summaries

Generate release notes and summary documents after the build foundation is complete.

Instance governance setup

Create instance scan checks that enforce your organization's standards, including naming conventions, security requirements, and code quality. Checks run as part of your existing instance scan infrastructure.

Use cases by development goal

Use the following table to identify Build Agent use cases based on your development stage and goal.

Table 1. Build Agent use cases by development stage and goal

Use case	Immediate productivity	Process and quality improvement	Strategic transformation
Explore (zero risk, read-only)	Explain any concept, API, or metadata type in plain language Look up how a specific business rule, flow, or ACL works	Document an existing app end-to-end: architecture, security model, and data flows Generate Mermaid diagrams of table relationships and integration points	Run existing Automated Test Framework (ATF) tests and triage failures to assess application health before a release Audit security posture: review ACLs, identify missing role controls, and surface compliance gaps
Enhance (modifications, reviewable before promotion)	Add a field, client script, or UI policy to a form Add a catalog variable or update a record producer	Add email notifications, scheduled jobs, and flows to automate a manual process Build a scripted REST API for an external integration	Generate ATF test suites for untested apps, then run and triage them to establish a quality baseline Add instance scan checks to enforce governance standards across the platform
Build (new development on non-production)	Prototype an app from a one-line description Create a catalog item with variables and a fulfillment flow	Build a full app with tables, roles, ACLs, business rules, flows, catalog items, and a UI page Build a Service Portal or workspace for self-service	Build AI agents and ServiceNow Otto skills to bring intelligent automation into your processes Build from design mockups or a detailed PRD, complete with automated test coverage from day one