Exploring Flow generation with images

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated August 7, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Exploring Flow generation with images

    ServiceNow customers can create flows or subflows by using images with the Now Assist feature in Workflow Studio. By capturing the detailed process in an image and attaching it to Workflow Studio, Now Assist generates a preview flow that can be modified and regenerated. This capability is available with the Now Assist for Creator application, which can be installed from the ServiceNow Store.

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    Key Features

    • Flow generation from images: Build multi-step flows or subflows by providing clear process images, which Now Assist interprets into flow designs.
    • Supported triggers: Limited to scheduled triggers, record triggers (created/updated), Service Level Agreement triggers, inbound email triggers, and Service Catalog triggers. Text directions can specify these trigger types.
    • AI model providers: Supports Azure OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Anthropic Claude on AWS for AI processing. Configuration options are managed via AI Control Tower and the Now Assist Admin console.
    • Flow design: Generated flows use standard flow design patterns with appropriate data pill values for triggers and actions.

    Best Practices for Effective Flow Generation

    • Use high-quality images: Ensure images are high resolution with clear shapes, text, and arrows; avoid blurred or unclear diagrams.
    • Keep diagrams simple: Avoid excessive nodes; break complex processes into smaller flows or subflows.
    • Use standard flowchart symbols: Rectangles for steps, diamonds for decisions, etc., to help AI accurately interpret structure.
    • Clear labeling: Use legible and consistent step names and annotations across the image.
    • Start with triggers: Clearly indicate the flow trigger first, followed by actions and logic in the intended order.
    • Show decision points explicitly: Mark yes/no branches clearly to avoid ambiguity.
    • Modular approach: Prefer generating multiple smaller subflows through separate images rather than one large complex flow.

    Customer Benefits

    Enabling flow generation from images helps customers accelerate workflow automation by converting visual process diagrams directly into editable flows. This reduces manual flow creation effort, ensures use of standard design patterns, and provides flexibility to refine and regenerate flows efficiently within Workflow Studio.

    Create a flow or a subflow from an image by using Now Assist. Capture the detailed process in an image and attach the image to Workflow Studio. Now Assist generates a preview of the flow that you can modify and regenerate.

    Activation

    The skill Flow generation with images is installed with the Now Assist for Creator (sn_now_creator) application. You can install this application from the ServiceNow Store website.

    Benefits

    Enable flow generation with images to gain these benefits.
    • Build a multi-step flow or subflow from an image in Workflow Studio. Supported triggers and actions are configured with appropriate data pill values.
    • Use standard flow design patterns.

    Supported LLMs

    You can use Azure OpenAI, Google Gemini, or Anthropic Claude on AWS as the AI model provider for Now Assist skills and AI agents. Use the Configuration Controls in AI Control Tower to define which options are available, then set the skill-level preferences in the Now Assist Admin console. For more information, see Large language models on the ServiceNow AI Platform®.

    Supported trigger types

    Flow generation supports a limited number of trigger types. You can use text directions to specify these trigger types.
    • Scheduled triggers
    • Record triggers
      • Created
      • Created or Updated
      • Updated
    • Service Level Agreements triggers
    • Inbound email triggers
    • Service Catalog triggers

    General guidelines

    Follow these general guidelines when generating a flow or subflow from an image by using Now Assist.

    Use clear images
    Use high resolution images with clear shapes, text, and arrows. Avoid using blurred screenshots and images of unclear whiteboard diagrams.
    Keep it simple
    Don't overload the diagram with excessive nodes. Break complex flows into smaller flows or subflows.
    Use standard symbols
    Stick to the common flow chart notions so that AI can interpret the structure accurately. For example, rectangle for steps and diamond for decisions.
    Use clear and consistent labeling
    Ensure that the step names, labels, and annotations are legible and consistent across the image.
    Start with triggers
    Clearly indicate the flow trigger first, followed by actions and flow logic in the same order that you want them to be in the flow. Clearly indicate the expected outcome to avoid ambiguity.
    Show decision points explicitly
    Use clearly marked yes/no decision branches.
    Use modular approach
    Instead of generating one large and complex flow, generate multiple subflows through separate images and use them together in Workflow Studio.