Combined ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

How to use this page

To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management to Zurich

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


Release	Release notes
Xanadu	No updates for this release.
Yokohama	No updates for this release.
Zurich	No updates for this release.

New features

Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management.


Release	Release notes
Xanadu	No updates for this release.
Yokohama	Yokohama Patch 11 Identify similar records using Now Assist Detect similar existing demand records when creating or editing a demand using the identify similar records skill. The skill compares the Name, Description, and Business Case fields for contextual similarity. Accelerate target creation with the target generation skill Generate measurable targets from goals information and optional context with the target generation skill. The skill automatically populates key fields in the target creation form, helping teams define clear, measurable outcomes and create targets quickly. Schedule project insights email Schedule project insights email in the Configure project insights modal. The project email is emailed to the project managers and users and continues on the selected schedule that you select until the project is inactive or paused. Schedule and instantly send the project insights email to your project managers by selecting the Send preview button. Track important updates such as the delayed end dates, the status turning red, or the state updates of your projects and receive project insights email on the schedule that you select. Select the email frequency that works for you: weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Monitor critical elements such as milestones, resources, projects, and project tasks. Receive proactive, AI-based notifications when project milestones or critical tasks could lead to delays using Monitor project task agent. Use the Enable critical task alerts option from planning page to enable the project task monitor AI agent. Choose the recipients to whom you want to send the project insights email. Yokohama Patch 6 New third-party AI model provider options available for Now Assist Google Gemini 2.0 Flash, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, and AWS Claude 3.7 Sonnet are available for Now Assist skills and AI agents in addition to Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini. Write planning item skill Use this skill to improve record quality and user satisfaction by enabling AI assistance in the Description field across all Strategic Planning Workspace forms, including product idea, demand, epic, project, capability, feature, and story. Enable text refinement with the Elaborate and Shorten options on planning items to support product managers and agile team members in creating and editing content more effectively.
Zurich	Zurich Patch 4 Schedule project insights email Schedule project insights email in the Configure project insights modal. The project email is emailed to the project managers and users and continues on the selected schedule that you select until the project is inactive or paused. Schedule and instantly send the project insights email to your project managers by selecting the Send preview button. Track important updates such as the delayed end dates, the status turning red, or the state updates of your projects and receive project insights email on the schedule that you select. Select the email frequency that works for you: weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Monitor critical elements such as milestones, resources, projects, and project tasks. Receive proactive, AI-based notifications when project milestones or critical tasks could lead to delays using Monitor project task agent. Use the Enable critical task alerts option from planning page to enable the project task monitor AI agent. Choose the recipients to whom you want to send the project insights email. Identify similar records using Now Assist Detect similar existing demand records when creating or editing a demand using the identify similar records skill. The skill compares the Name, Description, and Business Case fields for contextual similarity. Accelerate target creation with the target generation skill Generate measurable targets from goals information and optional context with the target generation skill. The skill automatically populates key fields in the target creation form, helping teams define clear, measurable outcomes and create targets quickly. Generate acceptance criteria for stories Generate clear, consistent acceptance criteria for user stories with the acceptance criteria generation skill. By leveraging story context and predefined templates, the skill helps you align with requirements. Enhancements to Story generation Use the upgraded agile story generation skill to convert epics into actionable user stories quickly. Powered by an agentic workflow, the skill analyzes epic details to recommend the optimal number of stories, enables adjustments, refines story content, and creates story records. Zurich Patch 2 [Placeholder link text to key bundle-itbm.refine-text-with-write-planning-item-skill] Simplify record creation and updates by using the refine records skill with Now Assist context menu. Improve record quality by enabling AI-assisted text refinement in the text fields of Product idea, Demand, Epic, Projects, Capability, Feature, Stories, Project tasks, Risks, Strategic priorities, Goals, Targets, Initiatives, Feedback, Milestones, and Story forms. Zurich Patch 1 Configure ACLs for custom roles Update the ACLs for custom roles that require access to Now Assist skills. Generate and improve Docs content Help improve your content and productivity with the ability to enter custom prompts directly in the Docs, alongside the Summarize, Elaborate, and Shorten options. Generate content with ServiceNow Otto for SPM directly in your Docs. In addition, summarize existing sections, elaborate where needed, and refine drafts to help improve your productivity. You can interact with Now Assist directly in your Doc to create content, add context, or improve existing sections. New third-party AI model provider options available for Now Assist Google Gemini 2.0 Flash, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, and AWS Claude 3.7 Sonnet are available for Now Assist skills and AI agents in addition to Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini.

Changes

Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 Zurich Patch 4 Zurich Patch 1 ppm.ai_project_manager_agent user role The agentic workflow, agents, and scheduled jobs are configured to run under the new ppm.ai_project_manager_agent user role instead of the administrator account.

Removed

Between your current release family and Zurich, some ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management.


Release	Release notes
Xanadu	No updates for this release.
Yokohama	Now Assist features are available with activation of the ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management plugin. The ServiceNow Otto for SPM application requires a Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) Pro plus license. For more information, see Install Now Assist plugins.
Zurich	Now Assist features are available with activation of the ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management plugin. For more information, see Install plugins for ServiceNow Otto.

Additional requirements

If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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.

Browser requirements

If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management, 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management 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 ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management we have noted them here.


Release	Release notes
Xanadu	No updates for this release.
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. Generate measurable targets from goals information and optional context with the target generation skill. Use the identify similar records skill to find similar demands based on contextual similarity. Enable the project task monitor AI agent to autonomously monitor project tasks on the critical path of a project. Use the Send preview button to share a project insights email instantly. Yokohama Patch 6 Use Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude on AWS as AI model providers for Now Assist skills and AI agents in addition to Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI. Use a decorative loader to elevate visual interest during content loading in Strategic Planning. Refine the planning item text descriptions by enabling AI assistance. Use ServiceNow Otto for SPM AI agents to help optimize workflows, improve productivity, and automate your tasks. See ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management for more information.
Zurich	Zurich Patch 5 Review changes to Now Assist usage measurement. Zurich Patch 4 All ServiceNow Otto for SPM skills are activated by default. Use the identify similar records skill to find similar demands based on contextual similarity. Enable the project task monitor AI agent to autonomously monitor project tasks on the critical path of a project. Use the Send preview button to share a project insights email instantly. Generate measurable targets from goals information and optional context with the target generation skill. Zurich Patch 1 Use Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude on AWS as AI model providers for Now Assist skills and AI agents in addition to Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI. See ServiceNow Otto for Strategic Portfolio Management for more information.