In today’s digital era, businesses face the daunting challenge of managing an ever-growing array of applications, databases and application programming interfaces. This complexity has spurred the need for a streamlined approach to enterprise software solutions, focusing on integration and automation to simplify information technology infrastructure.

As organizations grapple with disparate systems, the demand for a unified platform that can efficiently connect and manage these elements is becoming increasingly critical. This platform approach not only addresses integration challenges, but also paves the way for leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence and data management to enhance business operations and drive innovation, according to Steve Lucas (pictured), chief executive officer of Boomi LP.

Boomi CEO Steve Lucas on the company’s vision to simplify IT infrastructure with advanced AI and APIs.

“It’s really quite simple. Customers have tons of applications, databases, APIs. That’s an integration challenge,” Lucas said. “Why would you solve that integration challenge with a dozen integration products? It doesn’t make any sense. For us, it’s a single solution for integration and automation.”

Lucas spoke with theCUBE Research executive analyst John Furrier at Boomi World, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed Boomi’s strategic expansion into a comprehensive enterprise platform that integrates and automates business operations, emphasizing enhancements in API and data management, and the transformative potential of AI in the industry. (* Disclosure below.)

Strategic expansion and technological advancements

Boomi recently announced a significant strategic expansion into data management and AI, coupled with the acquisition of two API management companies. This move is aimed at bolstering its capabilities and addressing the vacuum in the market created by competitors’ shifts in strategy, according to Lucas.

“Boomi’s gone from integration automation to plus API Management,” he said. “We’re building out plus data management as well. We think we can be that one platform for the enterprise.”

This strategy signifies a leap toward becoming a more comprehensive solution that goes beyond traditional integration. Also critical for the company is the strategic role of APIs in its platform, including the new capability to integrate seamlessly with both cloud and on-premises solutions.

“For me it was how do we apply to our application database and API management solutions that we have, this open API or infrastructure where you can write anything on top of it,” Lucas said. “That’s what we’re doing. That’s what opens up a lot.”

This flexibility is part of what makes the platform robust and capable of handling diverse enterprise needs, ensuring seamless connectivity regardless of whether systems are cloud-based or on-premises.

Market positioning and future vision: Boomi’s aim to simplify IT infrastructure

Discussing the company’s market positioning, Furrier likens Boomi’s approach to being an “independent third party in Switzerland,” suggesting a neutral stance in a market dominated by giants such as Salesforce Inc. and Oracle Corp. This independence is crucial as it allows Boomi to serve a wide range of customers without bias toward any particular technology stack.

Looking to the future, Lucas is enthusiastic about the role of AI in revolutionizing the industry. AI’s potential is underhyped and will be a disruptive force across all applications, for both simple tasks and complex decision-making processes.

“This new world of AI that we’re in, it’s not the same. This is not an apple/giraffe image recognition thing,” Lucas said. “This is the ability to reason. It really is powerful.”

With AI integration, Boomi’s platform not only simplifies existing processes, but also opens doors to new capabilities, potentially reducing the barrier to entry for new innovations in the enterprise space, Lucas added.

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of Boomi World:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Boomi World. Neither Boomi LP, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE