Master ServiceNow Flow Diagramming : Revolutionize Flow with ServiceNow's Flow Diagramming Feature

Revolutionizing Workflow Visualization with ServiceNow's Latest Feature: Flow Diagramming

The San Diego release marks a significant milestone with the debut of Flow Diagramming, a feature set to transform the way organizations design, comprehend, and manage their workflows through intuitive visual representations. This cutting-edge functionality promises to simplify the navigation of complex processes, thereby enhancing operational optimization.

Introducing Flow Diagramming
Flow Diagramming, unveiled in the San Diego update of ServiceNow, provides users with a graphical depiction of their workflows. This visualization allows for an easy understanding of the various paths a workflow might take, along with how different elements interconnect. It represents a substantial advancement in workflow management, offering a visual complement to the traditional textual approach, thus improving clarity and facilitating modifications.

The Rationale Behind Flow Diagramming
Traditionally, managing workflows in ServiceNow involved navigating through textual descriptions and lists. While effective for simpler processes, this approach could become challenging with more intricate workflows that feature numerous paths and conditions. Flow Diagramming directly addresses these challenges by offering a visual roadmap, thereby streamlining the creation, analysis, and refinement of workflows.

Activating Flow Diagramming
To take advantage of this innovative feature, it's important to note that Flow Diagramming does not come activated by default in instances upgraded to the San Diego patch 0 or in new instances. Activating it involves a straightforward yet essential step.

Exploring System Properties: Initially, one might look for an activation option within System Properties. Indeed, a new System Property, sn_flow_diagram.flow_diagramming_enabled, is introduced but is set to false by default and is marked as private within the "Flow Diagramming" scope.

Enabling the Plugin: The secret to accessing Flow Diagramming lies in the Plugins section. Searching for the Flow Diagramming plugin and updating or activating the latest version, 21.1.1 S, enables this feature on your instance.

Expectations and Insights
With the Flow Diagramming plugin activated, a new switch appears in the Flow Designer interface, allowing users to toggle between the traditional and diagram views. This enhancement not only elevates the user experience but also offers a more intuitive method for designing and managing workflows.

00:00 Introduction
01:55 Building a Flow
03:20 Adding Logic
04:48 Completing the Flow
07:58 Testing the Flow
12:30 Configuring Stages
15:01 Ordering Item
18:04 Debugging Issues
21:30 Final Thoughts

Introduction
Overview of ServiceNow Flow Diagramming for visual workflows
Example workflow for wireless keyboard/mouse catalog item

Building a Flow
Adding a service catalog trigger
Retrieving catalog variables
Requesting approvals

Adding Logic
Checking for approval using if/else logic
True path if approved, false path if not

Completing the Flow
On approval: create catalog task, wait, close complete
Without approval: close incomplete

Testing the Flow
Ordering keyboard/mouse item
Verifying approval request and catalog task

Configuring Stages
Customizing service portal stages
Mapping stages to flow actions

Ordering Item
Walkthrough of end-to-end flow
Runs successfully after configuration fix

Debugging Issues
Troubleshooting why flow didn't trigger at first
Needed to map item to flow diagram

Final Thoughts
Benefits over traditional flow designer
Downloadable PDF workflow diagram