Get Ready for ServiceNow Yokohama: A Sneak Peek at What's Coming This Week

The countdown is on: this Thursday, March 13, 2025, ServiceNow unveils the general availability (GA) of its Yokohama release. Named after Japan's dynamic port city, Yokohama promises to bring a tidal wave of innovation to the platform, blending cutting-edge AI, refined workflows, and tools that cater to IT admins and frontline workers. With early access already sparking excitement since late January, here's a sneak peek at what's coming—and why it's worth clearing your schedule for.

AI That Works Smarter, Not Harder

At the heart of Yokohama is Agentic AI, a leap beyond traditional automation. These aren't just rule-following bots; they're autonomous agents that learn, adapt, and handle tasks with minimal human nudging. Picture an IT team bogged down by repetitive ticket resolutions—Agentic AI steps in, triages issues, and even suggests fixes based on past patterns. It's paired with an upgraded Now Assist, ServiceNow's generative AI suite, which now boasts slicker interfaces and flow generation capabilities. Need a workflow for onboarding new hires? Type a prompt, and watch it take shape—no coding required. For businesses chasing efficiency, this could be the edge that turns chaos into calm.

Workflows That Flow Like Never Before

Yokohama isn't just about AI flash—it's about making everyday tasks smoother. The Query Builder gets a modern overhaul, merging classic functionality with a drag-and-drop interface that even non-techies can master. Do you want to pull data on open incidents from the last quarter? It's now a few clicks away, complete with visual cues to guide you.

Meanwhile, the Catalog Builder introduces a visual editor for service catalog items, perfect for crafting requests like equipment orders or travel approvals. With enhanced multi-language support, it's a win for global teams spread across time zones.

Tools for the Tech Crowd

Developers, get ready to geek out. Yokohama makes ServiceNow Studio a default Personal Developer Instances (PDIs) default feature, creating a one-stop shop for no-code, low-code, and pro-code projects. A new Developer Sandbox lets you tinker with ideas—say, a custom app for tracking project milestones—without risking your live environment. Add in Text-to-Form in Creator Studio, where you can say, "Build me a form for expense reports," and watch it materialize, and you've got a release that turbocharges innovation.

Security and Scale, Solved

Yokohama also tackles the nuts and bolts. The Data Management Console gives admins a dashboard to monitor storage, set archiving rules, and purge outdated records—think of it as a digital spring-cleaning tool. Security gets tighter with mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for local logins, though you can tweak exemptions if needed. There's more for industries like retail or manufacturing: a Retail Core Application streamlines store operations, while Operational Technology (OT) features like Industrial Process Manager map equipment models for faster troubleshooting.

Why Yokohama Matters

Following releases like Xanadu (Q3 2024) and Washington DC (Q1 2024), Yokohama doubles down on ServiceNow's mission to simplify work through automation and insights. Early buzz from the "TechNow: Yokohama" webinar in January and the Release Testing Preview (RTP) suggests this could be a pivotal update for organizations leaning into business transformation. Whether you're in IT, HR, or operations, Yokohama's blend of AI power and practical tools could unlock new levels of productivity.

What's Next?

Come Thursday, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of Yokohama's features and how to make them work for you. For now, think about your biggest workflow headaches—chances are, this release has a fix. Planning to upgrade? ServiceNow's Upgrade Center can guide you through testing in a sub-production instance.

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