The Best of ServiceNow World Forum 2022

The convention halls were hopping in both Chicago and Toronto, as over 1,600 attendees descended upon World Forum for a full dose of platform inspiration. Surprising to no one, ServiceNow delivered a high-energy agenda heavy on anecdotal-focused sessions with customers as the primary storytellers. It didn’t matter if you were in Chicago or Toronto - from the moment the keynotes kicked off to the time the expo doors closed, the overarching message was clear: a fully digital business is possible with ServiceNow.

TeamEra had a blast at ServiceNow World Forum 2022 in Chicago!

As a Gold-level sponsor in both Chicago and Toronto, Thirdera had a front-row seat as the action unfolded. Here are a few of the standout things we saw and heard:

The old way doesn’t work anymore

It’s all about the employee experience these days. Companies are feeling the pinch from inflation, supply chain disruptions, talent shortages, and compliance requirements; all whilst there’s been a continual uptick in the demand for a consumer-grade work experience. Companies have no choice but to invest in innovation. Basic maintenance is not a sustainable option, especially during a post-pandemic, recessionary period. With that in mind, ServiceNow is enhancing the platform to bring the full function of the enterprise to employees. ServiceNow isn’t exaggerating when it says that the platform works with all systems. Combine that with new features like Manager Hub and Experience Portal, it’s no wonder ServiceNow is being called the platform of platforms.

ServiceNow Vault and RiseUp with ServiceNow

ServiceNow dropped two new features/programs aimed at mitigating security challenges and talent shortages:

• ServiceNow Vault – basically beefed-up security and privacy controls that use encryption and data anonymization to help customers stay compliant and impervious to security threats. If you’re a CISO, ServiceNow Vault is your metaphorical cape.
• RiseUp with ServiceNow – with 450,000 active community members already, this global program offers new learning and placement services to enhance the ServiceNow talent pool and boost career opportunities. Our “Hexperts” at Thirdera University approve!

Customer pearls of wisdom

There must have been truth serum in the coffee because customers were candidly sharing what they’ve learned during their ServiceNow journey. Whether it was Morningstar, Northwestern Mutual, Mars, or even ServiceNow, the advice was refreshingly honest; and, generally the same (interestingly enough) even though there were marked contrasts in company size, process maturity, business services, and industry. The most memorable hot takes:

1. Be prepared for the data that will become exposed post-implementation
2. Have a dedicated architecture team in place to handle the influx of use cases
3. The technology will work out – your focus should be on platform adoption and Organizational Change Management (OCM)
4. The right implementation partner is key
5. Avoid hard-coded customizations – save yourself from downstream headaches

How ServiceNow makes the world (and Thirdera) work

Thirdera broke the ice in the Partner Lounge, delivering the first partner presentation to an eager crowd. In a snappy 15 minutes, attendees learned how we’re building a world-class services organization with ServiceNow at the heart of our technology strategy. It was the perfect segue to a day full of similar sound bites and successes – i.e. ServiceNow can unify multiple business services into one digital front. Watch the session on-demand.

TeamEra in Toronto for ServiceNow World Forum 2022!

In conclusion, World Forum lived up to the hype. The conversations were stimulating, the breakouts were informative, and the enthusiasm was through the roof. It was a great cap to 2022 and the perfect push into 2023. Just as the customer presenters shared – the right implementation partner is key. Our customers agree! Let us know when you’re ready to catch the digitization wave!