# What's new? | UAT release | Production release | | -------------- | ------------------ | | March 30, 2026 | April 13, 2026 | Big update this month — we've made batch processing faster, given you more control over service versions and API call history, and shipped a handful of improvements across Spark Shell and the Coherent Assistant. We're also retiring a few older features as better alternatives take their place, and we're excited to share a new strategic partnership with Indico Data. Details on all of it below. ## What's New in Coherent ### 📑 Delete Service Versions * To facilitate management of Spark service versions, we’ve now included the ability to delete service versions through the user interface. This can help to clean up messy services while retaining the functionality of the "keeper" versions. * We are also working on the ability to edit service versions! Look out for this in a future release! ### 🔑 Deployment request access management * Spark provides an interface for users to submit a [deployment-request](https://docs.coherent.global/ci-cd/deployment-request "mention") to their internal systems from the [options](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/options "mention") page. By default, access is granted to all users who can login to Spark. * We have added a new configuration in the [#tenant-configuration](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/options#tenant-configuration "mention") section to manage which users are able to submit this request to improve controls around this process. ### 🚀 Batch execution unleashed * Spark's [batch-apis](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/batch-apis "mention") enable widescale processing of Spark services on large datasets. We have enhanced our implementation to significantly increase the default buffers that are used to manage the inflow and outflow of data. For large jobs, this makes it much easier to manage the flow of data in and out of Spark leading to faster completion times. * Learn more on how to [*Run High-Volume Models with Coherent's Batch APIs*](https://www.coherent.global/blog/run-high-volume-models-with-coherent-batch-apis). ### 🔍 API Call History search and download updates * There may be many instances when Spark is called repeatedly for one quotation due to evaluating different options and benefits. When downloading the [api-call-history](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/api-call-history "mention"), a lot of extra data may be included when only the latest quotation is relevant. * We have included a new filter for the [api-call-history](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/api-call-history "mention") which will keep the latest combination of `source_system`, `call_purpose`, `correlation_id`. This reduces the amount of data to be transferred and processed by the end user performing the analysis! * In addition to this for downloading a set of API calls to Excel, we have introduced a new *Fast beta* option which should offer improved download speeds.nd work ### 🗃️ Spark Shell browser * Spark [SHELL](https://app.gitbook.com/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/shell "mention") is a feature in the [Coherent Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/ "mention") that introduces control and management over Excel documents. * In this update, we have incorporated a Shell browser to view all of the created Shell documents. This greatly simplifies the process of distributing the latest Shell documents to users. Instead of using network storage, SharePoint, or even emails, simply click the Shell tile in the [Coherent Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/ "mention") to see all the Shells available. Upon selecting a Shell, the Excel file will be downloaded and ready to be used. * Read more about *When Your Excel Logic is Ready, But You Don't Have a Front-End* in [our blog post](https://www.coherent.global/blog/when-your-excel-logic-is-ready-but-you-dont-have-a-front-end) on Spark Shell benefits. ## Notable Enhancements * Our [analyze-service-with-ai](https://docs.coherent.global/build-spark-services/analyze-service-with-ai "mention") can work across multiple Spark service versions to enable comparison or change analysis. Open the Analyze Service functionality for any `2` Spark services (or versions) and start chatting! * Updates to Upload service journey to reduce the time taken to publish a service. * Improve the speed of uploads by skipping the step used to insert a cover sheet into the uploaded Excel document. This can be managed in the [#tenant-configuration](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/options#tenant-configuration "mention"). * Reconfiguration of service and version properties. * [Coherent Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/ "mention") has additional fixes for logout issues encountered by some users. * Update to the [jsontransforms](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/transforms-api/transform-types/jsontransforms "mention") to support longer request times. * Fix for `Xreport` formatting issues. * [Update](https://docs.coherent.global/build-spark-services/neuron/neuron-release-history) to [neuron](https://docs.coherent.global/build-spark-services/neuron "mention") Excel-to-code compiler for better formula compatibility. If you use [Data Tables](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/calculate-multiple-results-by-using-a-data-table-e95e2487-6ca6-4413-ad12-77542a5ea50b) that include dynamic headers, we recommend updating to the latest version of [neuron](https://docs.coherent.global/build-spark-services/neuron "mention"). * Security patch updates to addresses vulnerabilities, ensuring enhanced protection and stability of our systems. ## Feature Deprecation Notice We will be deprecating these features in the June release: #### Farewell to Spark Assistant Our older Excel add-in [Spark Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/sHe1aEJ7ZpkoUzJCCvME/ "mention") will be sunset. The new [Coherent Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/ "mention") has the same features plus many more capabilities. If you are using older Spark Assistant functions such as [call-spark-service-apis](https://docs.coherent.global/build-spark-services/call-spark-service-apis "mention"), those can be migrated or updated to the [Coherent Assistant](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MCpdAYpRhGV_YEr2rVw/s/QQAtOKkd2V4rbmsT77rn/ "mention") version through the add-in debugger or a simple find and replace. #### Service Chain Response Object From the Spark [execute-api-v3](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/execute-api/execute-api-v3 "mention"), the [#response\_data](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/execute-api/execute-api-v3#response_data "mention") currently includes an object called `service_chain`. We will be removing this object from future API responses. If your integrations to Spark contain explicit references to the `service_chain` object, we would suggest removing this reference in your application updates. #### Model Templates Within the [options](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/options "mention") menu of Spark is the ability to store template documents for Spark services. If you have important documents within Model Templates, they can be downloaded and uploaded into the Documents section within a Folder instead. #### Modeling Center Our beta Modeling Center Excel add-in will also be sunset. Modeling Center was used to facilitate large scale execution within Excel. If you are interested in using modeling Spark services, we have alternatives with the [testing-center](https://docs.coherent.global/navigation/testing-center "mention") and [batch-apis](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/batch-apis "mention") with the [Python SDK](https://github.com/Coherent-Partners/spark-python-sdk). ## New Strategic Partnership
Most carriers still process submissions and apply underwriting rules in two separate worlds. We've partnered with Indico Data so clean submission data flows into the underwriting logic your teams already trust — faster cycles, full auditability, zero rebuilds. {% embed url="" %} ## Any questions? Whether it's about an upcoming change, a new feature, or just getting the most out of Coherent, our Customer Success team is here to help. Reach out to our team anytime at . ## Version number `v8.50.1`