The purpose of this article and academy is to give you the tools and terms to be able to learn more about individual features, and is a general overview of what is out there. For more detailed information, check out the Next Experience Center of Excellence.

Journey to Re-Platform

Our journey to re-platforming ServiceNow's user interface began several years ago, starting with Quebec and Rome releases. We initiated a multi-year effort to enhance the configurability of our workspace product, laying the groundwork for future advancements. Configurable workspaces debuted alongside UI Builder in San Diego, marking a pivotal step towards bridging the gap between classic environments and modern frameworks. The subsequent releases, including Tokyo, Utah, and Washington, have brought iterative improvements, culminating in a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.

Next Experience Architecture

At the core of our re-platforming efforts lies the Next Experience UI framework, internally referred to as "seismic." This framework, built on web components standards, represents a significant departure from previous technologies like Jelly and AngularJS. It provides a standardized platform for user interface development, offering a cohesive and modern framework for building immersive experiences. While terms like "seismic" and "Now Experience UI framework" may be used interchangeably, they allude to the underlying architecture driving ServiceNow's evolution which is the Next Experience UI Framework.

Terminology

Understanding the terminology associated with Next Experience is crucial for navigating the platform effectively. The Next Experience UI represents the user interface introduced in San Diego, built upon the Next Experience UI framework. Configurable workspaces, an integral aspect of Next Experience, replace traditional lists and forms, offering a more flexible and personalized user experience. Conversely, Core UI, also known as UI 16, serves as the interface when Next Experience is disabled, catering to legacy functionalities.

Term	Description
Next Experience UI Framework	Our new JavaScript framework built on web component standards
Next Experience UI	Our new user interface released on San Diego which is built on the Next Experience UI Framework
Configurable Workspace	Our new way of working that replaces working out of lists and forms, also known as Workspace UI
Agent Workspace	The legacy workspace UI introduced in Madrid and has been replaced by configurable workspaces
Core UI	Previously known as UI16. This is the interface used when Next Experience is disabled

Next Experience UI Vs UI 16/Core UI

Distinguishing between Next Experience UI and Core UI is essential for users transitioning to the modern interface and experienced users alike. While Core UI maintains its functionality, Next Experience UI introduces a refreshed aesthetic and enhanced usability. The unified navigation and streamlined menus of Next Experience UI offer a more intuitive and efficient experience compared to Core UI's traditional layout. Moreover, the automatic activation of Next Experience UI upon upgrades beginning in Vancouver ensures a seamless transition for users. For more information on what this means for you, check out our previous academy talking about the Vancouver upgrade.

Next Experience Features

The evolution of Next Experience brings forth a plethora of features aimed at enhancing user productivity and satisfaction. While certain functionalities may still be undergoing refinement, the platform continues to evolve with each release. Notable features include Unified Navigation, Landing Page customization, Admin Configurable Menus, Multi-Menu Filtering, Favorite Grouping, and History Details. These features collectively contribute to a more cohesive, personalized, and efficient user experience within the ServiceNow ecosystem.

Unsupported Features

Despite the advancements introduced with Next Experience, certain features may not be fully supported or may require adaptation. As of the Washington release, notable unsupported features include the live feed and field watcher. However, significant strides have been made in bridging the gap between Core UI and Next Experience, with ongoing efforts to ensure feature parity across both frameworks.

• Unsupported Features
  
  • Live Feed
    
  • JavaScript Console Log
    
  • Field Watcher
    
  • Custom Header Menus, i.e., DOM manipulation on Unified Navigation – Check out Admin Configurable Menus!
    
  • Editing or creating Homepages (viewing is supported)
• Important to note
  
  • Connect Chat is replaced with Sidebar
    
  • Connect Support is replaced with Agent Chat
    
  • Automated Test Framework supports Forms & Lists Components on Workspaces & has full support for non-workspace Forms & Lists
    
  • Platform Analytics Dashboards are supported
• Unsupported features can change each release, check release notes for more information.

Unified Navigation

Unified Navigation represents a fundamental aspect of Next Experience, providing users with a modern and extensible menu system. Users can seamlessly switch between different modules and workspaces, with the ability to customize their navigation preferences. The streamlined interface enhances usability and accessibility, promoting a more intuitive and productive workflow.

Landing Page

The Landing Page feature, shipped with Next Experience UI, offers users a customizable and dynamic homepage tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Leveraging UI Builder, administrators can create variants to cater to different user personas, displaying relevant content and applications. This feature enhances user engagement and efficiency by providing quick access to essential information and functionalities.

Admin Configurable Menus

Admin Configurable Menus empower administrators to create custom menus tailored to different user roles and workflows. This feature eliminates the need for manual configuration of favorites, streamlining the onboarding process for new users. By providing a personalized and intuitive menu structure, administrators can enhance user productivity and satisfaction.

Multi-Menu Filtering

Multi-Menu Filtering simplifies navigation by allowing users to filter across multiple menus simultaneously. This feature improves searchability and reduces the time spent navigating through various modules and applications. With the ability to filter favorites, workspaces, and history, users can efficiently access relevant information and tasks.

Favorite Grouping

Next Experience introduces enhanced favorite grouping capabilities, allowing users to organize their favorites into customizable groups. This organizational feature enhances usability and personalization, enabling users to categorize and access frequently used items more efficiently. With support for nested groups, users can create hierarchical structures to further optimize their workflow.

History Details

The History feature in Next Experience provides users with comprehensive visibility into their recent activities across forms, lists, and workspaces. With improved date/time stamping and extended history duration, users can track their interactions more effectively. This feature enhances productivity and facilitates navigation by providing quick access to recently accessed records and tasks.

Configurable In-Product Notifications

Admins can define custom in-product notifications to communicate important updates and events within the Next Experience interface. By specifying conditions and triggers, admins can ensure timely delivery of relevant information to users. With support for toast banners and dropdown notifications, users can stay informed and engaged with critical updates while working within the platform.

Guided Tours on Workspaces

The interoperability of Guided Tours with workspaces has been significantly improved since the Vancouver release, enabling seamless transition between classic pages and workspaces. This feature enhances user onboarding and training by providing interactive guidance and support within the Next Experience interface. Admins can create targeted tours to familiarize users with new features and workflows, promoting user adoption and proficiency.

Banner Announcements

Banner Announcements offer a flexible and customizable way to communicate important information to users across the platform. With options to configure visibility, dismissibility, and targeting based on user roles, admins can ensure effective communication of critical updates and announcements. This feature enhances user awareness and engagement, promoting alignment with organizational goals and initiatives.

Instance Tools Utility Menu

The Instance Tools Utility Menu provides easy access to essential tools and utilities, consolidating functionality previously scattered across the platform. Admins can enable this menu to access tools such as Application Scope and Update Set Picker, streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing productivity. With plans for further expansion, the utility menu promises to become a central hub for instance management and configuration.

Polaris Theme and Dark Theme

Next Experience ships with the Polaris theme as the default, offering both light and dark variants to suit user preferences. The dark theme, significantly expanded since the Utah release, provides a consistent and visually appealing experience across various components and interfaces. With support for themes in workspaces, dashboards, and knowledge articles, users can customize their environment to match their preferences and enhance readability in low-light conditions.