Combined Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated August 11, 2026
  • 8 minutes to read
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    Summary of Combined Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) Release Notes for Upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

    This consolidated release notes document provides ServiceNow customers with a comprehensive view of the updates, new features, changes, and important upgrade information for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) spanning from the Xanadu through Zurich releases. It is designed to help customers prepare for upgrades by summarizing enhancements and modifications across these release families.

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    Key upgrade considerations include role-based access to AI-driven agentic workflows and procedural guidance on pre- and post-upgrade tasks.

    Key Features

    • Role-Based Access to AI Agentic Workflows: Across releases, users with the procurementuser role can access AI agents that assist with hardware asset sourcing, transfer order creation, and purchase order creation within the hardware asset request workflows.
    • Hardware Asset Repair Automation: Introduced in Yokohama Patch 6 and refined in Zurich Patch 1, AI agents automate the repair of defective and out-of-warranty hardware by validating repair tasks, providing detailed troubleshooting instructions, and executing tasks upon user confirmation.
    • Configurable Access Control Lists (ACLs) for AI Agents and Agentic Workflows: Since Xanadu Patch 10 and Yokohama Patch 6, administrators can configure ACLs in AI Agent Studio to control which users can discover and trigger AI agents and workflows. This includes options to set AI agents as dynamic or AI users and to make them available to authenticated users or publicly.
    • Automated Hardware Asset Sourcing: Available since Yokohama Patch 4, AI agents automate sourcing tasks such as consuming assets from local stock, creating transfer orders, and generating purchase orders. This automation reduces manual effort, accelerates request resolution, and improves operational efficiency.
    • Default Activation of Now Assist Skills and Agentic Workflows: Starting with Yokohama Patch 11 and Zurich Patch 4, certain Now Assist skills, agents, and workflows are enabled by default for new installations and previously unconfigured items during upgrades. Existing configurations that were manually turned off remain inactive.

    Key Changes

    • Now Assist Usage Measurement Model Updated: Beginning with Yokohama Patch 5 and continuing in Zurich Patch 5, usage measurement transitioned from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, resetting usage at the contract anniversary date. This affects how AI usage is tracked and reported.
    • Default Activation Behavior: As noted above, automatic enabling of certain AI skills and workflows reduces manual setup effort post-upgrade but requires awareness of role configurations needed to use these features effectively.

    Activation and Licensing

    • To activate Now Assist for HAM, customers must request the application from the ServiceNow Store for each release family.
    • The application requires the Hardware Asset Management Pro plus license for all releases from Xanadu through Zurich.

    Additional Information

    • No removals or deprecations: No features or functionalities were removed or deprecated between Xanadu and Zurich releases.
    • Browser, accessibility, and localization: No updates or changes were introduced in these areas across the upgrade path.
    • Role configuration: Additional role assignments may be required to fully utilize agentic workflows and AI agents, especially given the default activation of certain skills and workflows in later patches.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    By upgrading to Zurich and applying associated patches, customers can leverage enhanced AI-driven automation for hardware asset sourcing and repair, improving efficiency and reducing manual workload. Configurable ACLs offer precise control over who can engage with AI agents, supporting security and governance requirements.

    Changes in usage measurement require customers to monitor their AI consumption differently to align with contract terms. The default activation of AI skills and workflows streamlines adoption but necessitates review of role permissions to ensure appropriate access.

    Overall, these updates enable a more intelligent, automated, and manageable hardware asset management experience within ServiceNow.

    Consolidated page of all release notes for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) from Xanadu to Zurich.

    How to use this page

    To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Xanadu to Zurich.

    Tip:
    If there were no updates for a release notes section in a certain family release, we included a short note for your reference. For example, if a product did not have any updates in Tokyo, the row says "No updates for this release."

    Important information for upgrading Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) to Zurich

    Before you upgrade to Zurich, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu
    Only users with the procurement_user role can access the Help manage hardware asset requests agentic workflow including the following AI agents:
    • Hardware asset management sourcing AI agent
    • Transfer order creation AI agent
    • Purchase order creation AI agent

    Yokohama
    Only users with the procurement_user role can access the Help manage hardware asset requests agentic workflow including the following AI agents:
    • Hardware asset management sourcing AI agent
    • Transfer order creation AI agent
    • Purchase order creation AI agent

    Zurich
    If you have the procurement_user user role, you can access the help manage hardware asset requests agentic workflow, which includes the following AI agents:
    • Hardware asset management sourcing AI agent
    • Transfer order creation AI agent
    • Purchase order creation AI agent

    New features

    Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM).

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    Xanadu Patch 10

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 6
    Optimize hardware asset repair process with the suite of AI agents
    Automate the repair of defective and out-of-warranty hardware assets by using AI agents in the Help repair hardware assets agentic workflow. These AI agents validate the repair tasks, provide detailed troubleshooting and repair instructions, and complete the tasks on receiving user confirmation.
    Configure ACLs for AI agents and agentic workflows
    Configure the Access Control Lists for who can discover and trigger AI agents and agentic workflows in their guided setups in AI Agent Studio. You can determine whether an AI agent or agentic workflow behaves as a dynamic user or as an AI user. You can also specify if an AI agent or agentic workflow can be available to all authenticated users or publicly available.
    Yokohama Patch 4
    Optimize hardware asset sourcing with the suite of AI agents
    Automate your hardware asset sourcing by using AI agents in the Help manage hardware asset requests agentic workflow. These AI agents can efficiently handle tasks such as automatically consuming assets from local stock, creating transfer orders, and generating purchase orders. By automating complex and repetitive tasks in the hardware asset request process, AI agents help to reduce manual intervention significantly, speed up request resolution, enhance the productivity of asset managers, and improve operational efficiency.

    Zurich
    Zurich Patch 1
    Optimize hardware asset repair process with the suite of AI agents

    Automate the repair of defective and out-of-warranty hardware assets by using AI agents in the help repair hardware assets agentic workflow. These AI agents validate the repair tasks, provide detailed troubleshooting and repair instructions, and complete the tasks on receiving user confirmation.

    Configure ACLs for AI agents and agentic workflows
    Configure the access control lists for who can discover and trigger AI agents and agentic workflows in their guided setups in AI Agent Studio. You can determine whether an AI agent or agentic workflow behaves as a dynamic user or as an AI user. You can also specify if an AI agent or agentic workflow can be available to all authenticated users or publicly available.

    Changes

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) features.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 11
    Changes to Now Assist usage measurement
    Starting with Yokohama Patch 5, Now Assist usage measurement is transitioning from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, with usage resetting at the contract anniversary date. For more information, refer to KB KB2704710: Now Assist Usage - Overview & New Measurement Logic.
    Some Now Assist skills are turned on by default
    The new default behavior works as follows:
    • New customers: When you install a Now Assist product, designated skills are turned on automatically.
    • Existing customers who are upgrading (starting with Yokohama Patch 11): Any previously unconfigured skill is turned on automatically (the skill was never configured and turned on, then turned off again). Previously configured skills that were turned on, then off, remain inactive.

    Zurich
    Zurich Patch 5
    Changes to Now Assist usage measurement
    Starting with Zurich Patch 5, Now Assist usage measurement is transitioning from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, with usage resetting at the contract anniversary date. For more information, refer to KB KB2704710: Now Assist Usage - Overview & New Measurement Logic.
    Zurich Patch 4
    Some Now Assist skills, agents, and agentic workflows are turned on by default
    The skills are automatically available to appropriate role users for the application, such as ITIL roles on incident forms or change forms. This change simply activates the skill and does not touch the roles that may be needed to use the skill. The new default behavior works as follows:
    • New customers: When you install a Now Assist product, designated skills and agentic workflows are turned on automatically.
    • Existing customers who are upgrading (starting with Zurich Patch 4): Any previously unconfigured skill, agent, or agentic workflow is turned on automatically (the AI asset was never configured and turned on, then turned off again). Previously configured skills and agentic workflows that were turned on, then off, remain inactive.

    Removed

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) features or functionality were removed.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Deprecations

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) features or functionality were deprecated.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Activation information

    Review information on how to activate Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM).

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu
    Install Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store.
    Note:
    To take full advantage of the Now Assist for HAM features, you should upgrade to Xanadu Patch 10 and install the Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) store application.
    Visit the ServiceNow Store website to view all the available apps and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.

    Yokohama
    Install Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store.
    Note:
     To take full advantage of the Now Assist for HAM features, you should upgrade to Yokohama Patch 6 and install the Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) store application.

    Zurich

    Install Now Assist for HAM by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store.

    Additional requirements

    If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    The Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) application requires the Hardware Asset Management Pro plus license.

    Yokohama

    The Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) application requires the Hardware Asset Management Pro plus license.

    Zurich

    The Now Assist for HAM application requires the Hardware Asset Management Pro plus license.

    Browser requirements

    If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Accessibility information

    Review details on accessibility information for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM), such as specific requirements or compliance levels.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Localization information

    If there are specific localization considerations for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Highlight information

    If there are specific highlight considerations for Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    Xanadu Patch 10 - Configure Access Control Lists (ACLs) for AI Agents and agentic workflows.

    Xanadu Patch 9 - Automate and streamline your hardware asset request process by using an agentic workflow.

    See Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) for more information.

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 11
    • Review changes to Now Assist usage measurement.
    • Some Now Assist skills, agents, and agentic workflows are on by default.
    • Additional role configuration is required for agentic workflows and AI agents included with Now Assist applications.

    Yokohama Patch 6 - Automate the hardware asset repair process by using an agentic workflow and configure Access Control Lists (ACLs) for both AI agents and agentic workflows.

    Yokohama Patch 4 - Automate and streamline your hardware asset request process by using an agentic workflow.

    See Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) for more information.

    Zurich

    Zurich Patch 5- Review changes to Now Assist usage measurement.

    Zurich Patch 4- Some Now Assist skills, agents, and agentic workflows are now turned on by default.

    Zurich Patch 1- Automate the hardware asset repair process by using an agentic workflow.

    See Now Assist for Hardware Asset Management (HAM) for more information.