Flow generation

Create multi-step flow outlines with generative AI. Flow outlines require configuration to add input values and data references.

Activation

Flow generation is a skill installed with the Now Assist for Creator (sn_now_creator) application. You can install this application from the ServiceNow Store website.

Benefits

Enable flow generation to gain these benefits.

• Build a multi-step flow outline from a flow description in Workflow Studio. Flow outlines require configuration to add input values and data references.
• Train the large language model (LLM) to generate better flow structures.
• Use standard flow design patterns.

Supported user interfaces

Access flow generation skills from the Workflow Studio user interface.

Figure 1. Flow generation from the Workflow Studio user interface

Supported Now Assist skills

Flow generation supports a limited selection of skills in English.

Create a flow from Workflow Studio

Select Build with Now Assist from the new flow settings dialog.

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) support

Flow generation uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to include the names of common and recently published actions and subflows available on your instance. Workflow Studio updates the list of common and recently published actions and subflows every hour to make them available to flow generation. You can list published actions and subflows by name in your flow generation directions.

Example prompts

Here are some examples that you can use to create flows and subflows.

Example flow prompt 1: scheduled trigger

You can use this prompt to create a flow with a scheduled trigger.

Create a flow that runs every day at midnight, and then find all the newly created problem records for the past day. Iterate over them. If they are not assigned, update it to assign the problem to level 1 triage group, move the state to "triaged," and then send a notification to the group.

Example flow prompt 2: Service Level Agreement (SLA) Task trigger

You can use this prompt to create a flow with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) Task trigger.

Create a flow with SLA trigger. Wait for 50% of the SLA, then send a notification. Next, wait for 75% of the SLA then send another notification. After 100% of the SLA is complete, do an if statement to determine if the SLA is breached or was completed.

Example flow prompt 3: Record trigger

You can use this prompt to create a flow with a record trigger.

Whenever a change request is created or updated where model is unauthorized demo, do the following in parallel. First, Apply change approval policy. If approvals are approved or skipped, update change request record as approved. If not, updated change request record as rejected. Evaluate the model once again. If rejected, send email. Second, Wait until active is false, disregard change request approvals and evaluate the change model.

Example subflow prompt 4: Record input

You can use this prompt to create a subflow with a record input.

Create a subflow that logs the name of the problem input, and then check if the last updated by person is the same as the assigned to. Output the result from the subflow output.

Example subflow prompt 5: Approval input

You can use this prompt to create a subflow for an approval.

Create a subflow to create a flow launcher job using the given job config sys id and workload generator parameters. If the job sys id is not empty, assign it as the job exec id subflow output. Subsequently, start the flow launcher for the created job sysid and assign subflow outputs.

Example subflow prompt 6: Catalog tasks

You can use this prompt to create a subflow that creates catalog tasks.

Create a subflow that for every user with an assigned laptop it sends an email stating that their operating system has to be updated immediately and sends an SMS with the instructions to do it.

Placeholder steps

Flow generation inserts a placeholder step when it can’t match part of your request to an available action or subflow. Placeholder steps don't perform any operations. They’re empty steps that only display an annotation. Flow authors can use the placeholder text to select an appropriate replacement action or subflow.

Important:

You can't activate a flow that contains placeholder steps. You must either delete or replace each placeholder step with an action or subflow.

General guidelines

Follow these general guidelines when writing Now Assist directions.

Always describe the trigger first

Describe the flow trigger and its data conditions first. After the trigger, describe the actions and flow logic in the same order that you want them to be in the flow.

Be precise and descriptive in your request

Make sure that your request is precise and descriptive. Describe the flow trigger, record data, actions, and flow logic in as much detail as you can.

Review generated flow outline and configure inputs

Review each action, flow logic, and subflow in the generated flow outline. You must configure action inputs, and add relevant data references to each item.

• Turn on the Flow generation skill
  Turn on the Flow generation skill to use generative AI to create and edit flows.