As enterprises look ahead to 2026, senior technology leaders are converging on a clear message: artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to execution. Ann Maya, chief technology officer for EMEA at Boomi, and Steve Lucas, Boomi's chair and CEO, argue that the coming year will mark a decisive shift in how organizations design software, govern data and operationalize AI. From the rise of Software 3.0 and agent-driven automation to growing regulatory demands for explainability and trust, both say enterprises that embed AI into core systems and workflows, rather than treating it as a standalone tool, will be the ones that gain the advantage.
Ann Maya, Boomi CTO for the EMEA region
Prediction 1 - Software 3.0 Moves From Concept to Reality in the Enterprise
In 2026 we will see the first major shift into an era defined by Software 3.0, where the new coding norm is English and backend capabilities are powered by AI agents. As protocols like MCP, A2A, ACP and ACN gain prominence, enterprises will begin combining software components with far greater ease. This increased simplicity will make secure, robust and adaptable composability a critical architectural priority. For large organisations, AI-driven low-code integration will become the essential foundation that holds these new systems together.
Over the coming year, real ROI will come from businesses that actively redesign their processes, so AI can support the stages where it adds the most value, rather than applying AI reactively or experimentally. Low-code integration platforms will allow organisations to orchestrate governed APIs, trusted business data and rule-based workflows alongside AI agents. This will create a new operational model where AI handles labour-intensive or complex tasks with clear guardrails, while deterministic workflows provide the visibility and control required for enterprise reliability.
As a result, 2026 will be the year enterprises shift from experimenting with AI features to building AI-empowered processes. Organisations that embrace this model will become more adaptive, more efficient and better positioned to innovate as Software 3.0 becomes the norm.
Prediction 2 - 2026: The Year AI Must Become Explainable
In 2026 major AI regulatory frameworks will move from theory to practice, particularly the EU AI Act and the UK's Data Use and Access Act. At the same time, many organisations across EMEA will attempt to shift generative AI pilot projects into production. This convergence will lead to a growing focus on risk assessment, traceability, data quality and the ability to observe how AI operates inside the business.
As expectations rise, organisations will move away from rigid legacy tooling and toward a more dynamic, data-driven approach to governance. This includes live observability across data and APIs, policy enforcement applied at runtime as conditions change, and federated governance that ensures business rules and compliance requirements are consistently applied across different domains. These capabilities create the trusted data foundation that AI agents need to carry out tasks.
Steve Lucas, Chair and CEO, Boomi, Board Member
In 2026, the Winners Will Be the Ones Who Activate AI, Not Just Invest in It
It should be crystal clear by now that the world has changed. Three years after the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI ignited a global shift. AI is no longer just a headline, it's a boardroom imperative. Investor confidence remains high with global AI spend projected to surpass $500 billion by 2027, according to IDC. But optimism alone doesn't deliver outcomes. The real challenge in 2026 will be converting the experiments and pilots that businesses have been conducting in 2025 into operational value.
To activate AI, enterprises must go beyond standalone models and embed AI into their core systems, trusted data, and real-world workflows. That's where agentic automation comes in. It's not about deploying AI for novelty's sake. It's about enabling intelligent agents to collaborate, reason, and act with context and control.
In 2026, the companies that pull ahead will be those that shift focus from proof-of-concept to platform strategy, delivering orchestrated, secure, and scalable AI that's built into the fabric of how businesses operate. Those are the businesses that will be embracing – and leading – our new world.
Agentic Automation Will Define the Next Era of Business in 2026
In 2026, competitive advantage won't come from simply automating faster. It will come from orchestrating intelligently. We're entering the era of agentic automation, where AI agents no longer just execute instructions. They collaborate, reason, and adapt in real time to accelerate decision-making and outcomes. According to IDC, 85% of enterprises will have deployed AI agents by the end of 2025, and those that activate them effectively will lead the way in agility, resilience, and innovation. But unlocking this potential requires more than AI alone. It demands a unified foundation where data, applications, and agents work seamlessly and securely together. That's how you turn AI from a tactical tool into a strategic advantage.
