White Papers
Abstract
AskTZ is TechZone’s AI assistant that provides a single, conversational entry point for creating, managing, and troubleshooting environment requests while also supporting platform questions and support inquiries. This document outlines what’s new in AskTZ, including major capability upgrades, limitations tied to the new content model, and what users can expect as content migration continues. If you interact with TechZone in any way, AskTZ is designed to make your experience faster, easier, and more intuitive via self-service capabilities.
Content
What is AskTZ?
AskTZ is TechZone’s AI‑powered assistant and the single, unified entry point for creating and managing environment requests — as well as answering platform questions and handling Level‑1 (L1) support needs.
Using simple natural‑language prompts, users can interact with AskTZ to complete tasks that would otherwise require navigating multiple UI pages, menus, or documentation sources. Acting as both an action engine and a knowledge hub, AskTZ automates common provisioning steps, guides users through multi‑step workflows, validates inputs in real time, and integrates directly with TechZone systems.
Where the TechZone UI requires users to understand where and how to take action, AskTZ enables users to create, manage, and get support conversationally, reducing friction, minimizing errors, and significantly accelerating time to outcome.
In short: AskTZ is the fastest way to get things done in TechZone. Just ask.
What's New in AskTZ V3 (Beta)
As part of the AskTZ V3 beta, we're validating new user experiences, request management capabilities, support workflows, and enhancements.
Experience Improvements
Context-Aware Assistance
- Launch AskTZ directly from TechZone requests
- Request details are automatically included in the conversation
- Personalized support based on request context
Dedicated AskTZ Experience
- New centralized AskTZ page that can be found in the top L0 navigation bar: https://techzone.ibm.com/asktz
- Single destination for support, guidance, and self-service
- Easier access from anywhere in TechZone
Smarter Responses
- Enhanced AI model
- More accurate answers
- Improved understanding of user requests
- Better guidance and support recommendations
Who Can Access AskTZ?
AskTZ is available to anyone with an IBMid who can access TechZone today, making it broadly usable across IBM teams, partners, and clients.
Specifically, AskTZ can be used by:
- IBM Go‑to‑Market teams supporting client engagements, including: Technical Sales, Client Engineering, Customer Success, Technology Enablement, and Expert Labs.
- IBM Business Partners registered through Partner Plus
- IBM Champions: Clients and partners that are in the IBM Champions Program.
- IBM clients, enabled through their IBMid access to TechZone
This broad access ensures AskTZ serves as a consistent, unified experience across internal teams, partners, and clients — simplifying how everyone engages with TechZone to get support and for basic request management activities.
Getting Started
Step 1: Open AskTZ
Launch AskTZ from anywhere in TechZone by selecting AskTZ in the top navigation bar or the AI chat widget in the bottom-right corner.
Step 2: Ask a Question or Select a Prompt
Simply describe what you'd like to do in the chat, or select one of the suggested prompts in the AskTZ interface to quickly start a conversation and explore available capabilities.
Examples:
- "Create an OpenShift cluster"
- "Extend my environment"
- "Share my request"
- "Resend an IBM Cloud invite"
- "How long can I reserve an environment?"
Step 3: Follow the Prompts
AskTZ will guide you through any required information and validate inputs along the way.
Key Capabilities
AskTZ enables users to perform the most common TechZone request, management, and support actions through a single conversational interface — combining what the TechZone UI offers today with additional automation, integrations, and assistance that extend beyond the UI experience.
Instead of navigating multiple pages, menus, and documentation, users can rely on AskTZ to take action, receive guidance, and resolve issues in‑context, with step‑by‑step support and built‑in validation.
Note: Some request management actions are not yet supported directly within AskTZ. For those scenarios, users can continue to use the TechZone UI. Refer to the Requesting and Managing Requests in IBM Technology Zone for detailed, step‑by‑step instructions.
Create new environment requests from certified base images
Users can request net‑new environments starting from TechZone‑certified base images, ensuring a trusted, compliant starting point.
AskTZ will:
- Walk users through the full request flow conversationally
- Help select the appropriate certified base environment
- Check reservation duration policies and request additional inputs as needed based on purpose
- Guide users through required inputs and available customization options
- Validate request details in real time before submission
This allows users to quickly provision environments while ensuring alignment with TechZone standards and policies.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“Create an OpenShift cluster”
or
“Create a certified VM environment”
Re‑deploy existing requests
AskTZ allows users to re‑deploy an environment based on a previously failed deployment request, without going through the request form flow again to request another instance.
With this option, users can:
- Re-deploy the recently failed to provision environment
- Reuse configuration details from earlier deployments
- Avoid re‑entering information or navigating the full request form again
Each re‑deployment provisions as a retry on the existing request, reducing manual effort to submit a new request.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“Re‑deploy a request”
Start from a base environment and layer additional services
AskTZ enables users to start with a base OpenShift or base VM environment and add services on top.
Examples include:
- Adding Cloud Pak for Data to a base OpenShift environment
- Layering additional software or platform services onto a base VM
AskTZ guides users through:
- Selecting the appropriate base environment
- Choosing compatible add‑on services
- Validating that the combined configuration meets TechZone requirements and is deployable
This approach provides flexibility for users who need more than a standard base image, without requiring deep platform knowledge.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“Create an OpenShift cluster with Cloud Pak for Data”
or
“Add additional services to my environment request”
Extend Environment Reservations (Standard and Emergency)
AskTZ enables users to extend existing environment reservations without navigating the TechZone UI, supporting both standard extensions and emergency extensions based on policy and timing.
Standard extensions allow users to extend an environment that is still within the duration and extension limits defined by its reservation policies. Refer to the TechZone Request Duration Policies knowledge article for more information on standard extensions and policies in place today.
With AskTZ, users can:
- Request standard extensions within defined policy limits
- View extension eligibility and remaining duration conversationally
- Receive guidance aligned with TechZone reservation duration policies
Emergency extensions are intended for exceptional, time‑sensitive situations when a request has exhausted all standard extensions but is nearing expiration and requires a one‑time, short‑term continuity.
Emergency extensions:
- Become available only after standard extension limits are fully exhausted
- Provide a one‑time extension of up to three days (3 days)
- Are designed to prevent unexpected disruption (for example, when a request expires over a weekend)
- Allow users time to engage their market leader, escalation path, or the TechZone support team to review longer‑term extension needs
With AskTZ, users can:
- Submit emergency extension requests through natural‑language prompts
- Receive clear, policy‑aligned guidance on eligibility and next steps
- Address time‑sensitive situations without searching documentation or filing immediate support tickets
“Extend my environment”
or
“Request an emergency extension”
Share Environments and Manage IBM Cloud Access
AskTZ streamlines collaboration by managing both environment sharing and the IBM Cloud access required to use shared environments, all through a single conversational experience.
When users share an environment, AskTZ handles the access workflow from start to finish — ensuring collaborators can successfully use the environment with minimal friction.
With AskTZ, users can:
- Share environment access with teammates, partners, or clients
- Ensure collaborators can view and use shared environments quickly
- Reduce manual onboarding effort when working across teams or organizations
For environments hosted on IBM Cloud, AskTZ also manages the post‑share access process:
- Trigger and resend IBM Cloud invitations as needed
- Restore cloud access for users who missed or have expired invitations
- Resolve common access blockers without navigating external systems
- Handle access issues as part of Level‑1 support workflows
By managing both the sharing action and the IBM Cloud invitation follow‑through, AskTZ removes one of the most common collaboration pain points — ensuring shared access actually works.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“Share my request”
or
“Resend an IBM Cloud invite”
Opportunity and Validation Guidance
AskTZ helps users submit compliant, accurate requests by validating inputs and providing clear, in‑context guidance on policies and requirements.
With AskTZ, users can:
Validate opportunity information
- Confirm ISC opportunity codes and Gainsight Relationship IDs, among others
- Receive clear explanations when inputs are flagged as rejected or simply invalid
By validating information as requests are created, AskTZ reduces errors, prevents delays, and helps ensure requests meet TechZone requirements the first time.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“Validate this opportunity code”
or
Simply make a request and AskTZ will validate it on the spot and let you know if it comes across any issues
Help, Guidance, and Platform Support
In addition to executing actions, AskTZ provides in‑context help and guidance across the TechZone platform — making it easier for users to find answers, learn how things work, and resolve common issues without searching multiple documentation sites.
With AskTZ, users can:
- Ask questions about TechZone features, offerings, and workflows
- Understand how platform capabilities work through guided explanations
- Receive step‑by‑step guidance for common tasks and scenarios
AskTZ draws from trusted TechZone sources, including:
- The TechZone support knowledge base for platform and L1 support guidance
- IBM TechZone Content Engineering documentation for content owners and contributors (IBMer only accessible, partners can access information through AskTZ directly with their questions)
By delivering consistent, authoritative answers in one place, AskTZ serves as a single destination for everyday help, learning, and support across TechZone.
Get started using AskTZ with a generic prompt:
“What is IBM Technology Zone?”
or
“How long can I request an environment for?”
Continuous Improvement and Feedback
AskTZ is continuously evolving, and user feedback plays a critical role in making it better.
Throughout the experience, users may be asked to share feedback on responses and interactions. This feedback helps us:
- Improve the accuracy and usefulness of answers
- Refine guidance and workflows over time
- Identify gaps and opportunities to enhance the overall experience
Every interaction helps train and improve AskTZ — ensuring it becomes more helpful, intuitive, and reliable for everyone who uses it.
If something works well or could be improved, sharing feedback directly in AskTZ helps shape the future of the AI assistant.
Notifications and Integrations
AskTZ integrates with Slack to keep users informed of request progress without requiring them to manually check TechZone.
When a request is created through AskTZ, users can enable Slack notifications by providing their Slack details during the request flow. Once enabled, AskTZ delivers key status updates automatically.
With AskTZ, users can:
- Receive a Slack notification when provisioning begins
- Get notified when the environment is ready for use
- Stay informed directly within their daily workflow, without logging into TechZone
Notifications are triggered only at critical points in the request lifecycle, ensuring users receive timely updates without unnecessary noise.
Quick Setup Guide: Enable AskTZ Notifications
To receive Slack notifications for AskTZ requests and stay informed about important updates, enable notifications in your profile.
Steps to enable notifications:
- Navigate to your profile icon in the top‑right corner of TechZone
- Select My Profile
- Choose the Opt‑ins menu option
- Enable Participate in Notifications
What enabling notifications does:
- Sends you Slack notifications when:
- Request provisioning starts
- Your environment is ready to use
- Include you in upcoming newsletters, event communications, and TechZone platform updates
AskTZ Content Migration Limitation
AskTZ operates on a new content framework that enables its automation, reliability, and request‑management capabilities. As a result, AskTZ can only take action on environments that have been migrated to this new model.
If an environment has not yet been migrated:
- AskTZ will be unable to perform actions on that environment
- The environment can still be used and managed through the TechZone UI
- This limitation is temporary and will be removed as migration progresses
As more content is migrated, AskTZ will automatically support those environments — no action is required from users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s new with AskTZ in the 26.1 major release?
The 26.1 release introduces a re‑architected AskTZ backend that delivers the same familiar experience users had before — now powered by a new AI model and improved underlying architecture that enables faster responses, greater reliability, and expanded capabilities.
In addition to the architectural improvements, this release adds several new features and enhancements, including:
- Create new environment requests directly through AskTZ
- Add additional services on top of base environments
- Re‑deploy existing requests without restarting the full request flow
- Slack integration for provisioning and ready‑state notifications
- Expanded knowledge base coverage for general and content owner support
Together, these updates modernize the foundation of AskTZ while expanding what users can do — making it easier to request, manage, and get help with TechZone environments from a single conversational entry point.
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Document Information
Modified date:
11 August 2026
UID
ibm17263026