ServiceNow Versions Deep Dive: Key Insights, Benefits, and Challenges You Need to Know

With ServiceNow, managing workflows and operations has never been easier for organizations. This cloud-based platform offers IT Service Management (ITSM), Customer Service Management (CSM), Human Resource Service Delivery (HRSD), and other modules continuously evolving through regular version updates. Understanding each ServiceNow release version will help your organization in the digital transformation journey by avoiding costly mistakes.

In this blog, we will explore the evolution of ServiceNow, its benefits, challenges, and everything in between.

What Are ServiceNow Versions?

ServiceNow releases platform updates in the form of versions. Every year, it releases two major updates named after world cities such as New York, London, Washington DC, Yokohama, Utah. Typically, the first update comes in Q1 (around March) and the second one in Q3 (around September). Each version includes a range of new features, enhancements, bug fixes, security updates, and more insights for ServiceNow users.

Organizations upgrading to new releases can use the latest features, functionalities, innovations, and support more effectively than others for a better experience overall.

Fact: ServiceNow releases at least one major version every year, sometimes two, ensuring regular platform improvements and security enhancements.

What is the Latest ServiceNow Release?

As of mid-2025, Yokohama is the latest ServiceNow release. It was launched in early Q1 2025 for general use, and the full rollout was completed by March 2025. Currently, this is the most advanced version available to users. This version is packed with AI and automation enhancements and loaded with some incredibly new features. The key highlights of this version include enhanced Query Builder, Data Management Console, AI Guardian for Governance, AI Agent Studio and Orchestrator, and Workflow Data Fabric.

ServiceNow Yokohama strengthens intelligent workflows across the enterprise and offers the most powerful tools for digital transformation in several domains like IT, HR, and service.

For more details, read our blog on the ServiceNow Yokohama Release.

Which is the Next ServiceNow Release?

According to ServiceNow’s roadmap, the next expected release is Zurich, which will be launched in Q3 2025. Industry experts are predicting that the Zurich release focuses on expanding AI-driven decision intelligence, advanced cross-platform orchestration, enhancing personalized experiences for service delivery, and other solutions.

So, what’s the next step for organizations? They should closely monitor updates on the Zurich release and prepare their test environments in advance. This will allow them to take full advantage of the upcoming features, functionalities, and innovations of the upcoming release as soon as they become available.

Major ServiceNow Versions Timeline

City names follow an alphabetical order, and in each release, you get to see innovative features. For more details, check out the ServiceNow release timeline from 2011 to 2025.

Benefits of Staying Updated with ServiceNow Versions

A new version of ServiceNow acts like a strategic upgrade, preparing your organization for future-ready operations. Let us understand the benefits now.

• Faster Issue Resolution: Organizations that upgrade to the latest ServiceNow versions report faster IT incident resolution, thanks to smart automation!
• Lower Costs: Organizations using the latest version of ServiceNow release can see a significant reduction in IT operational expenses due to improved workflows, automation, and better resource utilization.
• Better Productivity: Automation and AI will free up your valuable resources from repetitive, time-consuming tasks, thus boosting productivity.
• Happier Customers: Organizations using ServiceNow will experience an increase in customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores, which boosts loyalty, showing a direct impact on the company’s profitability.
• Continuous Innovation: With new releases, you get new security updates and innovative tools. This helps businesses to innovate and compete in this fast-paced world.

Key Insights and Adoption Statistics

Still wondering why you need to upgrade to the latest versions of ServiceNow? Here are some statistics to highlight why it matters:

• Growth: Over 8,400 customers use ServiceNow as of 2024, including 85% of the Fortune 500 companies.
• Financial Strength: In Q2 2025, ServiceNow’s subscription revenue hit $3.1 billion, displaying a strong year-over-year growth of 22.5%.
• Market Size: The ServiceNow business market is projected to reach $52.86 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 14.26% from $46.40 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach USD 103.27 billion by 2030, according to 360iResearch.
• High-Value Deals: The number of customers with more than $20 million in annual contracts grew by over 30% year-over-year.

Mistakes to Avoid Before Upgrading ServiceNow Versions

Here are five common challenges or mistakes that organizations experience while upgrading to the latest ServiceNow versions:

• Lack of Pre-Upgrade Testing: Usually, testing teams skip through the testing in the sub-production environment. This careless behavior can break functionalities once the upgrade is finished. So, it is mandatory to test workflows and verify performance before going live.
• Overlooking Custom Code Conflicts: Organizations heavily customize their ServiceNow instances. If they are not reviewed, the custom scripts don’t behave as intended, resulting in major disruptions.
• Skipping Change Management and Training: One small upgrade can affect the entire organization. Communicate with the team and give proper training about the latest upgrade so that they don’t struggle when using the latest features. Effective user training also increases the adoption levels.
• No Backup or Rollback Plan: This is a critical concern for your teams. For example, if an upgrade fails, you should be able to get back to the same old version easily to escape business downtime.
• Misalignment with Business Needs: Leave features that don’t meet your business needs. They just waste your time and resources.

5 Best Practices for ServiceNow Upgrades

To maximize benefits and eliminate errors, always follow the best practices.

• Read Release Notes: Go through the official documentation released by ServiceNow to better understand the features, deprecations, and critical updates.
• Develop a Detailed Plan: Plan and identify the instances that need an upgrade. Also, besides creating a comprehensive project plan, identify the required stakeholders beforehand.
• Conduct Impact Analysis: Before proceeding, do an impact analysis, as it helps evaluate how the changes will affect your business processes.
• Test Before Deploying: Test upgrades in non-production environments. Build test cases to check every function, feature, and your custom apps.
• Document Everything: Record the lessons learned, challenges encountered, and configurations upgraded for your future needs.

Conclusion

To experience enhanced productivity, faster and efficient workflows, and enjoy the latest technology, upgrading to the newest ServiceNow version is crucial. You may get overwhelmed with the process as the upgrade is not just a technical decision but a strategic one. If you need expert assistance, V-Soft Consulting is always ready to help you embrace innovation.

FAQs

1. 1. How do patches and hotfixes differ from major ServiceNow releases?

   Patches and hotfixes are smaller updates released between major ServiceNow release versions. They only focus on fixing bugs and strengthening security, while major releases deliver new modules, UX enhancements, core features, and functionalities.

2. 2. How is ServiceNow different from other workflow automation platforms?

   ServiceNow has in-depth integration capabilities that help companies connect several departments and systems on a single platform. Its strong automation capabilities, incredible security, regular updates, and a high renewal rate make it stand out from its competitors.

3. 3. Who should lead and manage a ServiceNow upgrade project?

   A successful upgrade needs an experienced project manager or a ServiceNow-certified consultant.

4. 4. Can too many customizations slow down ServiceNow upgrades?

   Yes, heavy customizations can make the process complex. Sometimes, custom code or integrations might break during upgrades. To fix these issues again, organizations must spend more time and resources.

5. 5. What kind of ongoing support will ServiceNow provide after an upgrade?

   ServiceNow offers extensive documentation, community forums, and direct help lines. For critical issues or major upgrades, there are expert consultants or ServiceNow partners to assist and help gain value from the platform.

6. 6. Where can I find ServiceNow release notes?

   You can find official release notes on the ServiceNow Product Documentation website by simply searching for your version’s name.

7. 7. How do I know what my current ServiceNow release is?

   Log in to your ServiceNow instance as administrator and go to “System Diagnostics” to see your current release name and version number.

8. 8. How do I upgrade my current version to the new ServiceNow release?

   If you log in as an admin, visit the ServiceNow Upgrade Center, which is under System Diagnostics > Upgrade Center. Just review the upgrade readiness reports, test in a sub-production environment, and schedule the upgrade. Make sure you follow the best practices, like backing up your data and notifying the required users for a smooth transition.