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Good Practices for Migrating to Workspaces

New article articles in ServiceNow Community · Mar 31, 2025 · article

Migrating to Workspaces in ServiceNow requires careful planning and implementation to ensure a seamless transition. This guide covers key areas, including an overview of Next Experience, best practices for implementation, workspace configuration, and essential training resources.

The [Next Experience UI Framework](https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/reference/next-experience/xanadu/ui-framework/getting-started/introduction) introduces a modern approach to UI development within ServiceNow. Built on standard JavaScript web components, it enables consistency and ease of customization. Some key highlights include:

* A standardized framework for a cohesive user experience
* Enhanced UI capabilities that go beyond classic interfaces
* Improved navigation and workspace design for better productivity

For more information see the topics [Next Experience Center of Excellence](https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/next-experience-center-of-excellence/ta-p/2332092) and [Next Experience Architecture and Terminology](https://community.servicenow.com/community?id=community%5Farticle&sys%5Fid=27d55ca2db9dd990dd886c8e13961942).

## Workspaces

Workspaces are a type of experience built on the Next Experience UI Framework. They are designed to provide teams with targeted, purpose-built tools and information all within a single, configurable workspace:

Workspaces have three primary benefits:

1. Deliver Engaging Experiences - Workspaces simplify how teams work by providing context-driven information and resources. This means that users can access the tools and data they need without having to navigate through multiple interfaces, making their workflow more efficient and intuitive.
2. Work Smart, Work Fast - Workspaces surface insights and deliver intuitive information based on historical data and context. This helps teams make informed decisions quickly and efficiently, improving overall productivity.
3. Build Quickly - Workspaces allow for the creation and configuration of engaging experiences that boost team efficiency. With the Next Experience UI Framework, teams can easily customize their workspace to meet their specific needs, ensuring that they have the right tools and information at their fingertips.

## Implementing Workspaces:

So how do you migrate to a workspace to benefit from this new functionality? To ensure a smooth workspace migration, consider these good migration practices.

### Look at the Workspace-Specific Documentation

With over 70+ workspaces available, reviewing documentation specific to your use case is essential. Each workspace is built by different product teams who are experts on the personas being targeted in their workspaces. This means that these workspaces can both function and be configured differently than others, so it's extremely important to be familiar with the specific workspace to which you're looking to migrate.

**You may be asking why are the workspaces different?**

Here are a few reasons why workspaces can be different:

1. **Targeted User Personas**: Each workspace is built by different product teams who are experts on the personas being targeted in their workspaces. This means that the design, functionality, and configuration of each workspace are tailored to meet the specific needs of different user groups.
2. **Purpose-Built Tools**: Workspaces provide targeted, purpose-built tools and information to enhance productivity. For example, a workspace designed for IT Service Management (ITSM) will have tools and features that are specifically useful for ITSM tasks, while a workspace for Customer Service Management (CSM) will have tools tailored for customer service activities.
3. **Customization and Configuration**: Workspaces can be customized and configured to suit the specific requirements of different teams. This includes configuring themes, tab settings, service catalogs, and list configurations. The level of customization can vary depending on the workspace and the needs of the user personas.
4. **Functionality and Features**: Different workspaces may have unique functionalities and features that are relevant to their specific use cases. For example, some workspaces may include advanced analytics and reporting tools, while others may focus on streamlined workflows and task management.
5. **Regular Updates**: Workspaces and UI Builder updates are released quarterly, requiring regular maintenance. Keeping store apps updated ensures that workspaces benefit from the latest features and improvements, which can lead to differences in functionality and user experience.

This targeted approach helps teams work smarter and faster, ultimately boosting productivity and engagement.

Here are some links to some of the specific workspaces to review:

## Watch the below recorded session for more details about migrating to Workspaces.

## Best Practices for Migration:

### Plan and Prepare

Have a clear plan that includes understanding the current setup, identifying migration goals, and outlining the steps to achieve them.

### Avoid Lift-and-Shift

Rethink workflows rather than simply migrating legacy customizations.

Use the overview tab on workspace record pages instead of annotations and formatters to show additional read-only data.

Putting things in the sidebar rather than popping modals.

#### Use Pilot Groups

During planning to implement configurable workspaces while still allowing agents to use the existing core UI. This approach ensures that the transition is smooth and doesn't disrupt current workflows. By enabling configurable workspaces without overwriting existing configurations, administrators can take their time to set up the new workspace while agents continue to work as usual. Additionally, using pilot groups to provide feedback during the configuration process is a great idea. It allows you to gather valuable insights on what works well and what needs improvement.

Observing how agents currently use the Core UI will help you identify their needs and preferences, which can be incorporated into your Configurable Workspace plan. This way, you can create a workspace that enhances their productivity and addresses any issues they might be facing.

### Define Personas

Configurable Workspaces allow for tailored experiences for different user personas by using variants. It's important to define and agree upon these personas before deployment to manage effort and maintenance costs.

### Look at your current form customizations

Not All Core UI Customizations are supported in Workspace

UI Macros and Formatters

Client scripting

Some client side UI Actions

Modals

### Keep Store Apps Updated

Workspaces and UI Builder updates are released quarterly, requiring regular maintenance to benefit from the latest features and improvements.

### Train Admins and Developers

Continuous learning via documentation, online courses, and community resources ensures teams remain proficient.

Depending on the level of customization you require in your workspace, you may need to learn how to build and customize pages with UI Builder.

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https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/good-practices-for-migrating-to-workspaces/ta-p/3164348