ServiceNow may buy Boomi as Forrester sees AI-driven iPaaS shift in India
ServiceNow’s rumored move to acquire Boomi has put a spotlight on how integration tools are reshaping Indian IT strategies. Forrester’s 2026 outlook flags a cascade of trends—AI governance, mounting technical debt, and growing concerns over cloud sovereignty—that together pressure enterprises to rethink their middleware stacks. While the chatter often centers on headline‑grabbing deals, the underlying data points to a quieter, more structural shift: companies are juggling multiple iPaaS and workflow solutions, each promising to streamline AI‑driven processes.
In a market where the control plane for AI orchestration is still being defined, the cost of overlapping platforms can quickly become a hidden liability. That tension, Forrester notes, is especially acute for firms operating at scale in India. The firm stated,
The firm stated, "As integration platforms become the control plane for AI orchestration, Indian enterprises will need to rationalise overlapping iPaaS and workflow tools." Other 2026 Predictions: AI Governance, Technical Debt, Cloud Sovereignty Another major prediction was that a chief information officer of a Global 1000 company would declare "technical debt bankruptcy," highlighting that legacy estates consume nearly 60-80% of IT budgets. For Indian enterprises with ageing ERP systems, Forrester expects more outsourcing of legacy operations and increased investment in cloud-native platforms. Another prediction stated that "20% of Indian brands will miss cost targets or lose trust in vendors after overpromising on AI." This was attributed to the customer service leaders failing to realise the expected cost savings from AI.
Leaders will face pressure to 'renegotiate contracts and reimagine stagnant service categories to restore trust and efficiency.' On a similar note of the misrepresentation of generative AI's capabilities, Forrester stated in another prediction that it will lead to one Fortune 500 company suing a B2B provider. "As Indian enterprises scale AI-driven marketing and sales, governance lapses will result in misinformation and legal disputes." Other predictions include Indian CIOs being drawn in to fix AI deployments launched without adequate governance.
Will the predicted deal reshape India’s integration market? Forrester’s December 5 event in Bengaluru laid out eight forecasts, one of which spots ServiceNow moving to acquire Boomi, the iPaaS specialist. As integration platforms become the control plane for AI orchestration, Indian enterprises will need to rationalise overlapping iPaaS and workflow tools, the firm warned.
Meanwhile, tighter AI governance, a focus on technical debt and growing concerns over cloud sovereignty round out the outlook. The prediction hints at a shift back toward core technology fundamentals, yet it offers no detail on timing or regulatory hurdles. A chief information officer’s role was also flagged, though the exact implications remain unclear.
If the acquisition proceeds, it could consolidate workflow automation and integration under a single roof, but whether that will deliver the efficiencies Forrester suggests is still uncertain. The forecasts underscore a cautious stance, emphasizing oversight and alignment over unchecked expansion.
Further Reading
- ServiceNow and Boomi announce strategic commitment to elevate AI‑powered workflows and integration - ServiceNow
- Boomi’s AI-driven iPaaS strategy: Integration, automation and agents for the enterprise - TechCrunch
- Forrester: AI-led iPaaS reshapes integration in India by 2026 - Forrester
- How AI-first integration platforms are changing India’s IT operating model - The Hindu BusinessLine
- The next wave of iPaaS: AI governance, data fabric and consolidation in enterprise integration - InformationWeek
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Common Questions Answered
What potential acquisition is highlighted in the article and how might it impact the Indian iPaaS market?
The article discusses ServiceNow's rumored move to acquire Boomi, an iPaaS specialist. If completed, the deal could consolidate integration platforms in India, prompting enterprises to rationalise overlapping iPaaS and workflow tools as integration becomes the control plane for AI orchestration.
Which three major trends does Forrester's 2026 outlook identify as pressures on Indian enterprises?
Forrester's 2026 outlook flags AI governance, mounting technical debt, and growing concerns over cloud sovereignty as key pressures. These trends collectively force Indian companies to rethink middleware stacks and prioritize more streamlined, compliant integration solutions.
How does the article describe the relationship between legacy estates and IT budgets for large organisations?
The article cites a prediction that a CIO of a Global 1000 company may declare "technical debt bankruptcy," noting that legacy estates consume nearly 60‑80% of IT budgets. This highlights the financial strain of maintaining outdated systems, which drives the push toward modern iPaaS platforms.
What role does AI orchestration play in the future of integration platforms according to the article?
According to the article, integration platforms are evolving into the control plane for AI orchestration, meaning they will manage and coordinate AI-driven processes across the enterprise. This shift increases the importance of rationalising overlapping iPaaS tools to ensure efficient and governed AI deployments.