--- sourceDocument: Yokohama Build workflows sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/build-workflows Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama Build workflows ft:clusterId : - crworkflow bundleId : - crworkflow workflow : - Creator --- # Explore # Exploring Now Assist for Playbooks {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Yokohama Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 Exploring Now Assist for Playbooks Now Assist for Playbooks, part of the ServiceNow Otto for Creator application, enables users to generate detailed playbooks from text directions or images using generative AI. This capability helps playbook authors quickly create structured workflows for various business processes, such as customer support, employee onboarding, and inventory management. The skill is installed via the ServiceNow Otto for Creator (snnowcreator) application, available on the ServiceNow Store, and accessed within Workflow Studio when creating playbooks. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Playbook Generation with AI:** Users input descriptive, precise prompts to generate playbook outlines that include stages and activities arranged in order or concurrent flows. * **Prompt Management:** Users are encouraged to save and refine prompts for better results and version comparisons. Prompts related to saved playbooks are stored in the playbook's Properties. * **Review and Configuration:** Generated playbook outlines should be reviewed for accuracy and efficiency. Placeholder activities must be configured prior to activating the playbook, with recommendations provided to select appropriate activity definitions. * **Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Support:** The system integrates current active actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions refreshed hourly, allowing references by name within playbook inputs for more relevant generation. * **Example Prompts Provided:** Sample prompts cover common scenarios such as employee onboarding, customer support, travel reimbursement, control document management, supplier evaluation, and hardware inventory management, guiding users on how to structure their inputs effectively. ## Practical Usage and Considerations * Access the playbook generation skill within Workflow Studio to streamline playbook creation. * Provide detailed, descriptive prompts to improve the quality and relevance of generated playbooks. * Review generated outputs carefully and configure placeholders before activation to ensure the playbook aligns with business processes. * Leverage RAG capabilities to incorporate up-to-date instance-specific components for accuracy. * Monitor Now Assist usage, as generating or regenerating playbook previews consumes usage credits (10 assists per preview). Use Now Assist to generate playbooks from text directions or images. For example, you can enter directions to generate a playbook outline for managing customer support cases. Playbook Assist is part of the ServiceNow Otto for Creator application. ServiceNow Otto for Creator activates the playbook generation skill. Playbook generation gives generative AI capabilities to playbook authors. ## Activation {#playbook-assist__section_wpx_pnd_r1c} Playbook generation is a skill that is installed with the ServiceNow Otto for Creator (sn_now_creator) application. You can install this application from the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) website. ## Supported user interfaces {#playbook-assist__section_jhw_hr1_qyb} Access the playbook generation skill when you're creating a playbook in Workflow Studio. ## Writing prompts and reviewing playbook outlines {#playbook-assist__writing-playbook-prompts} Follow these guidelines when creating playbooks with playbook generation skills. Write prompts: Provide a meaningful name for the playbook : The more descriptive the playbook name is, the better the playbook that Now Assist can create. Be precise and descriptive in the directions : * Describe each stage and activity in as much detail as you can. * Specify the order that stages and activities run in. * Specify if any stages or activities run at the same time. {#playbook-assist__ul_ekd_45d_r1c} Experiment with prompts : Save your prompts somewhere, including any modified versions. Saving your prompts enables easy comparison of results. Note: Prompts used only to generate a preview aren't saved, but prompts used for a saved playbook outline are in the playbook's Properties setting. Review playbook outlines: Check for accuracy : Review each stage and activity in a generated playbook to determine accuracy, efficiency, and how well it outlines your business process. Configure placeholder activities : Configure placeholder activities before you activate your playbook. Use playbook recommendations to help choose activity definitions.Figure 1. Configure the activity definition in the activity side panel ![Choose an activity definition for the placeholder activity.]() ## Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) support {#playbook-assist__section_qsv_qdn_rdc} Playbook generation uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to include the names of active actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions available on your instance. Workflow Studio updates the list of active actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions every hour to make them available to playbook generation. You can refer to active actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions by name in your playbook generation inputs. ## Example prompts {#playbook-assist__section_py4_1vd_r1c} The following examples can help you to generate playbook outlines: Example playbook prompt 1: Employee onboarding : You can use this prompt to create a playbook for the onboarding process of new hires. Create an employee onboarding playbook that integrates new hires into the organization. HR initiates it upon job offer acceptance, gathering documents, assigning mentors, providing orientation, setting up IT access, ensuring compliance, and job-specific training. The playbook ends with feedback from the employee and HR, resulting in an onboarding checklist. Example playbook prompt 2: Customer support : You can use this prompt to create a playbook with the steps that an agent takes for customer support cases. Create a customer support playbook which is the primary point of contact for handling customer inquiries, problems, and requests. It starts by receiving and categorizing customer inquiries based on urgency and complexity. Support tickets are then assigned to agents who troubleshoot and resolve them, with the option to escalate to higher support tiers if needed. After resolution, follow-up with the customer is crucial. A satisfaction survey gathers feedback for improvement, and all interactions are documented, updating the knowledge base for future reference. Example playbook prompt 3: Travel reimbursement : You can use this prompt to create a playbook to manage employee travel expenses. Create a travel expense reimbursement playbook for managing employee travel expenses efficiently. Employees submit expense reports with valid receipts. Finance verifies expenses against policies, ensuring budget compliance. Managers approve expenses, initiating payment processing. Example playbook prompt 4: Control document : You can use this prompt to create a playbook to manage a control document. Create a playbook for generating, reviewing, and approving a control document. Suppliers and Quality managers collaborate to upload documents and conduct appropriate refinement before a final document is approved. Example playbook prompt 5: Supplier evaluation : You can use this prompt to create a playbook to evaluate whether potential suppliers meet qualification standards. Create a playbook for qualifying a new supplier. Suppliers request qualification. Quality managers review and approve qualification requests, plan qualification deliverables, execute qualification activities, and summarize qualification findings in a report. The playbook concludes by determining if the supplier has achieved the requested qualification. Example playbook prompt 6: Hardware inventory : You can use this prompt to create a playbook to manage hardware inventory. Create a playbook that manages hardware inventory. This playbook should efficiently track stock levels, update in real-time, and generate alerts for low inventory. It must support categorization, bar codes, and seamless integration with sales and procurement systems. Note: Generating or regenerating a playbook preview counts as 10 assists. To track your Now Assist usage, see [Monitoring Now Assist usage in Subscription Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=monitoring-now-assist-usage&version=yokohama&pubname=yokohama-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US).