The Road from Data Activation to Real Outcomes in the AI Era with Boomi

As we continue the Road to Boomi World 2026, one theme has consistently emerged from Boomi in this vlog series: enterprise AI has moved beyond experimentation and is now about execution~

Watch the full episode here.

Join us May 11–14 in Chicago. Register now at BoomiWorld.com.

In my earlier vlog conversations, Boomi leaders made that shift clear. Boomi World 2026 isn’t just another conference on the circuit. It’s where ideas turn into action. As we all know, AI is no longer in pilot mode and the future of the enterprise is rapidly becoming autonomous, powered by data in motion, intelligent orchestration, and AI agents.

But one critical question remained: How do you actually make that real?

In this episode, I sat down with Chris Hallenbeck, SVP and GM of AI & Platform at Boomi, to connect the dots, from data activation to measurable business impact.

Data Activation: The Foundation of the Execution Era

At the center of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: data activation. As Chris explained, data activation isn’t a buzzword, it’s a capability.

“How do I get the right data in the right format with the right quality at the right time, often in real time, and do it securely and with governance?” 

One thing’s for sure: organizations today don’t lack data. What they lack is the ability to move it, connect it, use it in real time, and extract business value from it. This is where many get stuck. Even now, critical data pipelines can be delayed by hours or even days, making it really tough to support AI agents or real-time decisioning. 

And that’s the unlock Chris shared in this vlog, as he said that without activated data:

• AI can’t deliver meaningful outcomes

• Agents lack the context to act

• Automation cannot scale

Data activation is what makes the execution era possible and Boomi is delivering!

From Tech to ROI: Where Business Impact Happens

Of course, execution only matters if it drives measurable business results. Chris was super clear that the real value of AI doesn’t come from isolated tools. It comes from accelerating end-to-end business processes.

“The huge business impact is going to come from accelerating business processes because that’s where the true ROI is being delivered.” 

This is a critical shift in mindset, so instead of focusing on Individual tools, experimental use cases, and disconnected AI initiatives, leading organizations (Boomi customers) are focusing on:

• Agentic workflows tied to business processes

• Real-time data flowing across systems

• End-to-end execution aligned to outcomes

And the results are measurable: faster time to value, increased operational efficiency, improved customer experiences, and stronger alignment between IT and business priorities. In fact, Chris pointed out a hard truth: a significant portion of what IT builds is never used, but the opportunity right now is to invert that model to ensure everything delivered is directly tied to business value. 

The Role of IT: From Operator to Orchestrator

Now, as Chris said, none of this happens without IT, but the role of IT is evolving, fast!

In a world of AI agents, IT is no longer just managing applications or integrations. They are orchestrating data flows, agentic workflows, deterministic systems and AI-driven processes, and governance, security, and observability across it all.

And importantly, it’s not just about agents. Chris emphasized that the future is a hybrid model inclusive of both deterministic systems (for reliability and control) and agentic systems (for adaptability and intelligence)

The challenge (and opportunity!) is bringing these together seamlessly, and that requires: real-time, high-quality data, strong governance and security frameworks, and full observability across systems and agents

At the same time, AI is also transforming IT itself, as agents can help diagnose and resolve issues faster, reduce manual effort, an improve system reliability.

Platforms like Boomi enable teams to work in the way that suits them best, from low-code interfaces to highly technical environments, while facilitation collaboration in a unified system.

The result is that IT shifts from a support function to a strategic driver of business value.

What to Expect at Boomi World 2026

So what does all of this mean for Boomi World? If there’s one takeaway from this conversation with Chris that this shift is no longer theoretical.

At Boomi World 2026, the focus will be on:

• Real customer stories

• Real architectures

• Real outcomes

Attendees will learn:

• How to activate data across the enterprise

• How to deploy and orchestrate AI agents

• How to govern and manage those agents at scale

And perhaps most importantly, how to move from idea to execution.

Chris hinted at what’s ahead:

The next evolution isn’t just faster development. It’s rethinking how software is built and delivered, enabling teams to go from problem to solution in hours, not weeks. 

And for organizations looking to turn AI ambition into real business outcomes, the path forward is becoming clear: Activate your data. Orchestrate intelligently. Execute with purpose!

Boomi World 2026 is where that future comes to life. We’ll see you in Chicago!

Key Takeaways

• Data activation is the foundation of AI executionIt’s not about having more data. It’s about getting the right data, in the right format, at the right time. Without real-time, high-quality data in motion, AI, agents, and automation can’t deliver value.

• Real ROI comes from accelerating business processes, not just deploying AI toolsThe biggest impact isn’t from standalone experiments. It’s from embedding AI and agentic workflows directly into core business processes to drive measurable outcomes like speed, efficiency, and revenue.

• IT’s role is evolving from system operator to orchestrator of autonomous enterprisesIT teams are now responsible for managing ecosystems of data, agents, and workflows. They have to balance speed with governance, all while using platforms like Boomi to deliver faster innovation and stronger business alignment.