A closer look at the AI-powered voice tool bringing speed, equity, and real-world usability to the enterprise.
Accessibility in enterprise software has often been treated as a back-end requirement, added late in development and rarely optimized for real-world use. But this year, that narrative is shifting. ServiceNow’s Voice Input for Now Assist, winner of Best Use of AI for Accessibility at the Netty Awards, illustrates how inclusive design can transform the way organizations build, deploy, and benefit from AI-driven tools at scale.
Turning Accessible Design Into Product Innovation
Voice Input for Now Assist allows users to complete complex tasks through natural voice commands powered by generative AI. What sets it apart is not only the technology itself, but the way it was created. ServiceNow invested over 100 hours in co-creation with employees with disabilities through its TruAbility Network and Accessibility Product Advisory Council. This hands-on collaboration helped the team identify real friction points and design around actual workplace scenarios. Instead of checking compliance boxes, ServiceNow focused on speed, accuracy, and seamless day-to-day usability. In an industry where many voice features remain slow or inconsistent, this approach stands out.
The Numbers That Made This Feature Stand Out
The performance gains behind Voice Input for Now Assist are significant. In controlled testing, participants with disabilities completed tasks 41 percent faster using the feature and rated usability 47 percent higher. These improvements translate into more efficient workflows, reduced friction, and clearer paths to productivity. Importantly, the benefits reach far beyond disability communities. Mobile workers, multitaskers, and users dealing with temporary limitations have reported immediate time savings, including one employee who gained up to 45 minutes each morning by relying on voice workflows to review tasks. As organizations evaluate digital tools, these types of measurable gains are becoming essential in platform decision-making.
An Inclusive Development Model That Sets a New Bar
ServiceNow built Voice Input for Now Assist using its Inclusive by Design approach, a framework that embeds accessibility into every phase of product development. The process starts with listening to internal disability communities before design work begins, ensuring that real problems shape early decisions. Teams use pre-tested, accessibility ready components, and specialized review groups validate key design elements before a single line of code is written. Continuous feedback loops with the Product Advisory Council ensure that the feature evolves based on real experience, not assumptions. The result is technology shaped around lived experience, enhancing usability for both users with accessibility needs and the broader workforce.
Why This Innovation Matters for the Future of Enterprise Software
Voice Input for Now Assist represents a meaningful shift in how accessibility and innovation intersect inside large organizations. At its core, the feature gives employees greater flexibility, whether they depend on assistive technologies, are navigating temporary limitations, or simply prefer hands-free interaction. By increasing speed, reducing friction, and supporting a wider range of working styles, ServiceNow is helping redefine what modern enterprise software should enable.
The influence reaches beyond individual users. As companies adapt to hybrid work, evolving employee expectations, and rising demands for digital efficiency, tools like Voice Input for Now Assist point clearly to where the market is heading. Organizations are seeking technology that works for every employee from day one, not only those who fit an assumed standard. ServiceNow’s approach shows that inclusive design is not an optional layer. It is a practical blueprint for creating tools that are faster, more intuitive, and more resilient across complex enterprise environments.
By embedding accessibility into its development culture, ServiceNow is laying the groundwork for the next generation of enterprise innovation. Voice Input for Now Assist is not just a breakthrough in accessible AI. It is a model for how thoughtful, user-centered design can expand capability, enhance performance, and reshape what enterprise software delivers for the modern workforce.
