--- sourceDocument: zurich Combined Product Files sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/delta-yokohama-zurich Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - zurich Combined Product Files ft:clusterId : - delta3zy bundleId : - delta3zy --- # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Yokohama to Zurich # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Yokohama to Zurich {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Zurich Updated October 8, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 8 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio Release Notes for Upgrades from Yokohama to Zurich This consolidated release notes document guides ServiceNow customers through upgrading Playbooks in Workflow Studio from the Yokohama release family to Zurich. It highlights pre- and post-upgrade tasks, new features, changes, deprecations, activation instructions, and important considerations such as accessibility, localization, and permissions. The notes help customers understand how to leverage enhanced capabilities and maintain smooth operations during the upgrade. Show full answer Show less ## Important Upgrade Information * **Post-Yokohama:** Update the Workflow Studio application via the ServiceNow Store after upgrading. * **Post-Zurich:** Similarly, update the Workflow Studio app from the ServiceNow Store to access the latest features and fixes. * Workflow Studio is part of the ServiceNow AI Platform® and is available by default, but updates and related demo applications should be downloaded for full functionality. ## New Features Introduced Between Yokohama and Zurich * **Yokohama Highlights:** * Support for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to generate playbooks using inputs referencing custom actions, flows, subflows, spokes, or activity definitions. * Playbook generation with OpenAI GPT-4o LLM from text inputs. * Custom translations for playbook labels, descriptions, and UI layouts. * Ability for end users to restart playbook activities that ended in error with automatic re-evaluation of variant conditions. * Enhanced 'Create Task' activity with more configurable fields. * Checklist creation directly within Workflow Studio without templates. * **Zurich Highlights:** * Expose playbooks as tools in Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to enable triggering and execution via MCP clients. * Configure AI agents for autonomous support per activity, enhancing control over AI behavior in playbooks. * Generate playbooks directly from knowledge base articles to streamline creation. * AI-powered summarization of playbooks for quick understanding of stages, activities, triggers, and inputs. * Add AI skills as lightweight activities within playbook flows with automatic output handling. * Support for custom AI agents in Agentic Playbooks with collaborative or autonomous modes. * Advanced control over variant evaluation timing and decision branching between stages with runtime user routing. * Permissions to control playbook authoring and runtime user capabilities, including viewing, editing, restarting, and completing work. * Configure multiple triggers per playbook and schedule-based triggering. * Choice of LLM providers (NowLLM, OpenAI ChatGPT4-o, Gemini, Claude) for playbook generation and recommendations. ## Changes to Existing Features * Trigger terminology updated to "Start" in Workflow Studio. * Triggers can be edited when duplicating playbooks or variants. * Zurich enables activation of playbooks without triggers, allowing programmatic triggering only. * Playbooks can be called via scriptable APIs using input objects rather than trigger records. * Improved user experience for decision activities, including better branch visualization and navigation, plus parallel activities within branches. * Rich text fields like email bodies now support a mix of text and multiple variable pills. * ServiceNow Otto brand introduced as the new AI experience branding without affecting entitlements. ## Deprecations * Older versions of the Create Task and Checklist activities remain functional but lack enhancements such as additional fields or inline checklist editing available in the newer versions. * Zurich introduces the new role **now.assist.creator** for activation and permission management. ## Activation and Additional Requirements * Download the latest Workflow Studio app from the ServiceNow Store to access new features and patches. * To use playbook generation, the ServiceNow Otto for Creator app must be installed. * No new browser requirements were introduced between Yokohama and Zurich. ## Accessibility and Localization * Enhanced keyboard navigation and screen reader support in Diagram view. * Updated color contrast to meet WCAG standards. * OpenAI LLM-based playbook generation is not available in the APAC region. ## Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers By upgrading to Zurich and updating the Workflow Studio app, customers gain powerful new AI-driven capabilities for creating, managing, and automating playbooks with greater flexibility, control, and user experience improvements. Enhanced integration options, permissions management, and AI agent configurations allow tailoring playbook execution to complex enterprise workflows. Customers should prepare by updating their applications post-upgrade, reviewing deprecated activities to consider migrating to enhanced versions, and ensuring necessary apps like ServiceNow Otto for Creator are installed for full functionality. Consolidated page of all release notes for Playbooks in Workflow Studio from Yokohama to Zurich. ## How to use this page To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Yokohama 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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio to Zurich Before you upgrade to Zurich, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__2} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | Upgrade information : After you upgrade to Yokohama, update the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow Store. | | Zurich | Upgrade information : After you upgrade to Zurich, update the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow Store. | [ ] ## New features Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__8} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | [Support for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) with playbook generation](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-assist&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate playbooks from inputs that refer to custom actions, flows, subflows, content from installed spokes, or activity definitions. Include the names of commonly used and recently published actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions available on your instance in your playbook generation requests. [Generate playbooks with the OpenAI GPT-4o LLM](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=change-default-llm-playbook-generation&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Use the OpenAI GPT-4o LLM to generate a playbook from text. [Translate playbooks content](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-translations-playbooks&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Add custom translations for labels, descriptions, and UI Layout properties in your playbooks. [Restart playbook activities that end in error](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=restart&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure activities so that end users can restart any activity that ends in an error and variant conditions are automatically re-evaluated when playbooks are restarted. [Add more fields in Create Task activities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-task-activity&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Add more fields in a more configurable Create Task activity. [Create a checklist directly in Workflow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=checklist-task-activity&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Create a checklist directly in the side panel without needing a checklist template. | | Zurich | [Playbook as an MCP tool](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-as-mcp-tool&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Expose a playbook as a tool in an MCP server, enabling MCP clients to trigger and execute the playbook through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). [AI agents autonomous support configurations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-activity-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure in the activity definition how you want autonomous support from AI agents for that activity. The additional configurations help you gain more control on the activity in a playbook. [Playbook generation from a KB article](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-generation-from-kb&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook directly from an existing knowledge base article to reduce manual effort when creating playbooks for documented processes. [Playbook summarization](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-summarization&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate an AI-powered summary of a playbook from the Workflow Studio canvas. The summary covers the playbook's stages, activities, triggers, and inputs, helping you understand quickly about its purpose and flow without reading through each activity individually. [Use AI skill as an activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=use-ai-skill-as-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Add an existing AI skill as an activity in your playbook to run lightweight, focused AI tasks as part of the playbook flow. When the playbook reaches the activity, the skill executes, produces structured outputs, and passes those outputs to subsequent activities automatically. [Use custom agent in Agentic Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=configure-agentic-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : In addition to the default AI Agents, you can add your custom AI Agent for an activity. Choose how you want to use the AI Agents in the activity- Collaborative or Autonomous. [Set child variants to evaluate later in a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=set-evaluation-point&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Instead of evaluating immediately after the trigger, set a playbook's child variants to be evaluated after a specific activity in the playbook. [Create decision branches for stages](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-decision-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Add a decision node between stages to determine which stage to run next, based on runtime conditions. [Route users to stages based on decisions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Send runtime users to a stage based off of the trigger record or input that users provide. [Agentic Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=agentic-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Enable AI agents to assist users with activities during runtime. [Add permissions for playbook authors](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user-access-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Control which playbook authors can create, edit, and view playbooks in Workflow Studio [Add permissions for runtime users](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-process-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Control whether runtime users can [view a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-process-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), [add optional activities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=optional-activities&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), [restart a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=restart&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), and [complete work within specific stages](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). [Set multiple triggers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook to run based on any one of multiple triggers. [Schedule when a playbook should trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-scheduled-trigger-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook to run based on a schedule. [Choose your LLM for playbook generation and recommendations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=change-default-llm-playbook-generation&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Choose between NowLLM, OpenAI ChatGPT4-o, Gemini, Claude for playbook generation and recommendations. [Generate a playbook with a trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-assist&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook with both a trigger and activities. | [ ] ## Changes Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Playbooks in Workflow Studio features. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__14} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | [Trigger label updated](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : The trigger is now labeled "Start" in Workflow Studio. [Change triggers in any playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=duplicate-process&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Edit triggers when you duplicate a playbook, in a variant, etc. | | Zurich | [Activate playbooks without a trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure and activate playbooks without specifying triggers, so that playbooks are only triggered programmatically. [Implement playbooks that are callable by a scriptable API](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook that executes with an input object instead of requiring the configuration of a trigger record reference and trigger conditions. [Decision activity enhancements](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-a-decision-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : User experience improvements to decision activities: * In the Board view, select the branch to see a list of dependent activities and branches, and to navigate to them. * When a decision or one of its branch nodes is selected in Diagram view, the decision and all of its branches are selected, and the side panel opens. * Add parallel activities within decision branches. [Enter a combination of pills and text in an email body](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Enter a combination of text and multiple pills in any rich text / HTML editor container, such as an email body. [ServiceNow Otto](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-for-creator-landing&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand. This change is reflected in the name of ServiceNow products, including Playbooks. Your product entitlements remain unchanged. Check your entitlements to determine your access to specific features. | [ ] ## Removed Between your current release family and Zurich, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were removed. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__20} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Deprecations Between your current release family and Zurich, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were deprecated. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__26} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | * * * If you have the old Create Task activity in your existing playbooks, it will continue to function. You just can't add the extra fields that are available only in the new Create Task activity. * If you have the old Checklist activity in your existing playbooks, it will continue to function. You just won't be able to update the checklist directly in Workflow Studio the way that you can with the new Checklist activity. | | Zurich | * now.assist.creator role | [ ] ## Activation information Review information on how to activate Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__32} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | Activation information : The application comes with the application can be downloaded for patch fixes.Workflow Studio ServiceNow Store app. Workflow Studio is part of the ServiceNow AI Platform® and is available by default. Get the latest Workflow Studio features by downloading the latest Workflow Studio app in the ServiceNow Store, as well as related applications like the Process Automation Content and Process Automation Experience Demo applications. The To use the playbook generation feature in Workflow Studio, download the [ServiceNow Otto for Creator](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/8178fec0ce0431105a7c9305875b2dca) application. 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: Workflow Studio is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes. | | Zurich | Activation information : The application comes with the application can be downloaded for patch fixes.Workflow Studio ServiceNow Store app. Workflow Studio is part of the ServiceNow AI Platform® and is available by default. Get the latest Workflow Studio features by downloading the latest Workflow Studio app in the ServiceNow Store, as well as related applications like the Process Automation Content and Process Automation Experience Demo applications. The To use the playbook generation feature in Workflow Studio, download the [ServiceNow Otto for Creator](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/8178fec0ce0431105a7c9305875b2dca) application. 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: Playbooks 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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__38} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | Additional requirements : Download the latest Workflow Studio app in the ServiceNow Store to access the newest features. | [ ] ## Browser requirements If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__44} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Accessibility information Review details on accessibility information for Playbooks in Workflow Studio, such as specific requirements or compliance levels. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__50} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | Accessibility information :
| | Zurich | Accessibility information : * In Diagram view, navigate between and configure stages and activities [via keyboard](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=keyboard-navigation-in-playbook-diagram-view&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). * Set the action bar to always show in Diagram view. To learn more, see [View all buttons without hover](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=view-all-buttons-without-hover&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). * In Diagram view, use a screen reader to help navigate the designer. * Updated color contrast for activities to meet WCAG standards. | [ ] ## Localization information If there are specific localization considerations for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__56} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | Localization information : Using OpenAI LLMs for playbook generation is not available in the APAC region. | | Zurich | Localization information : Using OpenAI LLMs for playbook generation is not available in the APAC region. | [ ] ## Highlight information If there are specific highlight considerations for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__62} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Yokohama | * Add custom translations for playbooks. * Restart playbook activities that have ended in error. * Create a checklist directly in the side panel without needing a checklist template. * Generate a playbook via API in other ServiceNow applications such as IT Operations Management (ITOM). * Generate playbooks from inputs that refer to active actions, flows, subflows, content from installed spokes, or activity definitions. See [Exploring playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | | Zurich | * Add permissions for playbook authors and runtime users. * Activate a playbook without a trigger. Set multiple potential triggers for a playbook, or trigger a playbook on a schedule. * Enable AI agents to complete activities without human intervention during runtime. * Set child variants to evaluate later in a playbook. * Create decision branches for stages. See [Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | [ ]