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ft:publication_title :

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---

# Combined Smart Assessment Engine release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

# Combined Smart Assessment Engine release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Zurich  
Updated October 8, 2026  
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## Summary of Combined Smart Assessment Engine Release Notes for Upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

This consolidated release notes document guides ServiceNow customers through the key updates, new features, and important upgrade considerations for Smart Assessment Engine (SAE) from the Xanadu release through to Zurich.
It is designed to assist you in preparing, performing, and optimizing your upgrade to Zurich, ensuring you leverage the latest enhancements for assessment creation, execution, and management.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Template Designer (Xanadu):** Create and customize assessment templates with multiple question types, guidance texts, conditional visibility, and integrated response justifications. Organize questions into sections and subsections and include live reference data from the assessment scope to improve assessor accuracy and context.
* **Assessment Response Efficiency:** Navigate assessments with progress indicators and paginated questions. Work is auto-saved, and reassignment or cancellation of in-progress assessments is supported.
* **Trigger and Combine Assessments:** Launch assessments using published templates with assigned scopes and deadlines. Combine multiple assessments into a single unified submission for streamlined management, with bulk submit and reassign capabilities.
* **Domain Separation:** Organize data, processes, and administration into distinct domains for controlled access and visibility, separating templates by process and assessments by data.
* **Migration Support:** Migrate legacy assessment metric types and dependencies from ServiceNow Assessments and Surveys to SAE templates, including improved handling of checkbox questions and conditional visibility in Zurich.
* **Template Copying and Filtering (Yokohama):** Duplicate fully configured assessment templates for reuse, and filter questions to focus on unanswered items.
* **Automation and Scoring (Yokohama):** Configure default or scripted automatic responses to speed assessment completion. Calculate scores at various levels and automate post-assessment actions like field updates or follow-ups via a rule engine.
* **Enhanced Visuals and Collaboration (Yokohama \& Zurich):** Add descriptive images to question guidance and enable real-time collaboration among multiple contributors with presence indicators for improved teamwork on assessments.
* **Normalization and New Question Types (Zurich):** Standardize assessment scores on a common scale for fair comparison. Introduce barcode and QR code questions to capture data directly from physical documents quickly and accurately.
* **User Experience Improvements (Zurich):** Simplify template categorization by replacing the Template category field with a streamlined Purpose field. Combine assessments from different templates into a single view for better workflow efficiency.

## Upgrade and Activation Information

* Before upgrading to Zurich, review and complete pre- and post-upgrade tasks as outlined to ensure a smooth transition.
* Smart Assessment Engine is available via the ServiceNow Store; installation requires requesting the app from the store.
* Check entitlements for features such as post-assessment automations, response automation, and collaboration capabilities to confirm access after upgrading.

## Accessibility and Compliance

Accessibility improvements introduced in the Yokohama release provide a configurable workspace that supports WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, enhancing usability for all users.

## Practical Outcomes for ServiceNow Customers

* Create highly customized, efficient assessments with rich guidance, conditional logic, and integrated real-time data references.
* Improve assessment management through bulk operations, progress tracking, and seamless collaboration among multiple contributors.
* Streamline migration from legacy assessment frameworks with improved utilities supporting more question types and dependencies.
* Leverage automation and scoring to expedite assessment completion and actionable insights.
* Benefit from enhanced data capture methods including barcode and QR code scanning to reduce manual entry errors.
* Maintain compliance and accessibility with built-in standards support.  
Consolidated page of all release notes for Smart Assessment Engine from Xanadu to Zurich.

## How to use this page

To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Smart Assessment Engine 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 Smart Assessment Engine to Zurich

Before you upgrade to Zurich, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__2}

| 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 Smart Assessment Engine.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__10}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | [Use template designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-template-designer&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   By using the template designer in Smart Assessment Engine, you can easily create assessment templates and add instructions, questions, and reference information to an assessment template. * [Add instructions and questions to an assessment template](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-populate&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US): SAE supports the most commonly used question types such as radio buttons, check boxes, drop-down lists, and more. Smart assessments are highly customizable so that you can do the following tasks: * Organize questions into sections and subsections for clarity. * Add instructions to help the assessors understand the context and requirements of each question to improve the accuracy and relevance of the responses. * Configure the question guidance texts to help the assessors answer questions. * Configure the questions to appear or hide depending on the assessor's previous answers. * Integrate the response justification prompts that provide the assessors with the explanations that are based on their selected responses. * Require the assessors to attach the supporting documents like contracts, permits, or invoices that are based on the responses. * [Add reference information to an assessment template](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-add-reference&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US): Incorporate the live data from the Assessment Scope as reference information to help ensure that the assessors have immediate access to the necessary information while they're responding to the assessments. This live data minimizes the need for external references. * [Create an assessment template category](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-category-create&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US): Create a template category as a container of related assessment templates. By creating an assessment template category, you can help to ensure that only authorized personnel can access and change the template. [Respond to assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-respond-to-asmnt&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   Navigate through the assessments more efficiently by using a progress indicator that shows how much of the assessment is completed. The questions are paginated to help you more easily navigate the assessment. Your work is automatically saved, which eliminates the need for manual saving and helps to prevent data loss. You also have the option to reassign in-progress assessments to another user or cancel assessments that are no longer needed. [Trigger assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-triggering&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   Initiate an assessment by using the Trigger Smart Assessment flow action that is based on a published assessment template. You can assign an assessment to a designated assessor with a defined scope and deadline. [Combine multiple assessments into a single, unified submission](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-combine&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   Combine multiple assigned assessments into a single, streamlined view. You can efficiently manage, submit, or reassign these combined assessments at one time. You can use features, like Bulk Submit or Bulk Reassign, to handle all assessments in one action. [Domain-separated Deployment](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-domain-separation&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   Domain separation in the Smart Assessment Engine is supported starting with the Xanadu release, enabling data, processes, and administrative tasks to be organized into distinct domains. Within this framework, templates are separated by a process, while assessments are separated by data, helping to ensure controlled access and visibility according to the domain. [Migrate legacy assessment metric types to Smart assessment templates](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-migrating&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) :   Migrate existing assessment designs from the ServiceNow® Assessments and Surveys application. Your templates are automatically transferred as drafts with just one click. After you migrate the designs, you must review and publish these drafts, and confirm the results. The sets of questions in the Assessments and Surveys application are saved as metric types. When migrated, these metric types are saved as question types. Custom, Duration, Image scale, Percentage, Rankings, and Ratings question types aren't supported for migration. |
| Yokohama | [Copy an assessment template](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-duplicate&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Create a copy of an existing smart assessment template, including all questions, sections, and existing configurations. This feature enables you to duplicate a fully configured assessment, so you don't need to recreate the content. You can then customize the copied template to fit new requirements or scenarios. [Filter unanswered questions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-respond-to-asmnt&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Filter questions in the assessments to display only unanswered questions, helping you focus on the remaining questions. [Use template designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-template-designer&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Search for text within assessment sections, subsections, or questions, enabling you to locate specific information or keywords. This feature enhances navigation and enables you to find relevant content without manually scrolling through the entire assessment. [Auto-copy responses to all templates](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=combine-assessments&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Replicate your responses across all applicable assessments while combining assessments by enabling the auto-copy feature. It saves time and effort by copying your answers consistently without the need for manual repetition. [Automate responses](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=automate-response&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Set up automatic responses for questions to enable assessors to complete assessments efficiently. You can either create default responses for all question types or define a script to fetch and map the values or data to responses. [Assessment scoring and analysis](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=scoring-in-assessments&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Calculate meaningful scores for assessment responses at the assessment, section, or subsection levels. These scores can then be used for reporting. [Post-assessment automation](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=impact-automation&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Automate actions based on assessment responses. Template designers can predefine actions using a rule engine, such as updating fields, creating follow-up assessments, or generating other records. [Descriptive images in assessment questions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-q-text-create&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) :   Attach descriptive images in the guidance section of the assessment questions. This means that template managers can include helpful visuals to assist respondents, making the instructions clearer and easier to understand. |
| Zurich | [Combining assessments and copying responses](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=combine-assessments&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   Combine assessments from different templates into a single, streamlined view. Eliminating the need to open each assessment separately, preserving context, and improving efficiency. [Collaboration in assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=collaboration-in-assessments&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   Enhance assessments with the new collaboration feature, enabling owners to add multiple contributors to work together in real time. This update enables assessors to collaborate efficiently by adding several contributors to an assessment. Real-time updates reflect each contributor's changes, and presence indicators show who is present on the assessment. [Normalization in assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=normalization-in-assessment&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   Adjust assessment scores to a common scale to promote fair comparison and prioritization. This normalization process helps standardize these measurements, enabling different metrics or scores to be evaluated on the same scale. [Creating code questions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-q-code-create&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   Capture data quickly and accurately from physical documents using a new barcode and QR code question type for assessments. By scanning barcodes or entering QR codes, the system can instantly retrieve and input relevant information. [Creating an assessment template from legacy metric types](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-migrating&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   Migrate question dependencies with an improved migration utility, which now supports the check box question type and conditional visibility criteria defined on templates. |
[ ]

## Changes

Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Smart Assessment Engine features.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__18}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | No updates for this release. |
| Yokohama | No updates for this release. |
| Zurich | [Template category field](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-assessment-template-form&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) :   The Purpose field has replaced the Template category field. This single select option streamlines the user experience and improves the accuracy of template categorization. |
[ ]

## Removed

Between your current release family and Zurich, some Smart Assessment Engine features or functionality were removed.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__26}

| 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 Smart Assessment Engine features or functionality were deprecated.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__34}

| 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 Smart Assessment Engine.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__42}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | Install SAE by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) 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](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sn-store-release-notes&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US). |
| Yokohama | Activation information :   Install Smart Assessment Engine by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) 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](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sn-store-release-notes&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US). Important: Smart Assessment Engine is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes. |
| Zurich | Activation information :   Install Smart Assessment Engine by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) 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](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sn-store-release-notes&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). Important: Smart Assessment Engine is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes. |
[ ]

## Additional requirements

If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Smart Assessment Engine we have noted them here.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__50}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | No updates for this release. |
| Yokohama | Additional requirements :   Check your entitlements to determine whether you have access to the post-assessment automations and response automation for the SAE application. |
| Zurich | Additional requirements :   Check your entitlements to determine whether you have access to the collaboration features in the SAE application. |
[ ]

## Browser requirements

If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Smart Assessment Engine we have noted them here.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__58}

| 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 Smart Assessment Engine, such as specific requirements or compliance levels.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__66}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | No updates for this release. |
| Yokohama | Accessibility information : Accessibility improvements :   Accessibility improvements were done to create a configurable workspace that supports WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance. |
| Zurich | No updates for this release. |
[ ]

## Localization information

If there are specific localization considerations for Smart Assessment Engine we have noted them here.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__74}

| 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 Smart Assessment Engine we have noted them here.  
{#dfrn3-smartassessmentengine-summary__entry__82}

| Release | Release notes |
|-|-|
| Xanadu | * Create your assessments by using the new template designer. * Improve your assessment processes with the new SAE Assessment experience. * Combine the multiple assessments into a single, unified submission. * Migrate the legacy assessment metric types to SAE templates. See [Smart Assessment Engine](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=smart-asmnt-engine-landing-page&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. |
| Yokohama | * Configure default responses for questions. * Copy an existing SAE template with all questions, sections, instructions, and configurations to save time. * Filter questions in an assessment to display only unanswered questions. * Search for text within assessment sections, subsections, and questions. * Auto-copy responses to all assessments when combining assessments, saving time and effort. * Calculate scores for assessment responses at the assessment, section, or subsection levels. * Set up post-assessment actions based on assessment responses. * Benefit from accessibility improvements to create a configurable workspace that supports Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA conformance. * Descriptive images are now supported in the guidance section for questions. See [Smart Assessment Engine](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=smart-asmnt-engine-landing-page&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. |
| Zurich | * Collaborate on assessments in real time with multiple contributors. * Normalize assessment question scores to a common scale for fair comparison. * Capture data from physical documents quickly and accurately with barcode and QR code scanning. * Migrate question dependencies with an improved migration utility. * Simplify your workflow by combining assessments from different templates in a single and unified view. See [Smart Assessment Engine](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=smart-asmnt-engine-landing-page&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. |
[ ]