Data Activation: The Real AI Challenge No One Saw Coming

The year 2026 shows us that the real stumbling block for enterprise AI isn't the algorithms themselves, but the data feeding them. The story looks different from Nairobi. It's not the technology that's the problem, but the fragmented and inconsistently labeled data spread across systems.

The Core Issue: Fragmented Data

Enterprise environments are swimming in data scattered over ERP systems, CRMs, and legacy applications. But without a common context, AI agents struggle to integrate this data effectively. Imagine an AI agent trying to merge customer records from a CRM with product pricing data from an ERP. Without standardized definitions, it's like trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

Boomi calls this the 'agentic AI data activation problem.' With 75,000 AI agents running in production across its customer base, Boomi's CEO, Steve Lucas, argues that AI's true value only surfaces once this data fragmentation is tackled. 'AI only delivers value when data is properly activated, trusted, and governed first,' Lucas stated in March. It's a bold claim, but one worth considering.

Boomi's Solution: Meta Hub

Boomi aims to address this with its Meta Hub, designed to create a single source of truth for business definitions. This initiative hopes to align AI agents with consistent business logic rather than disconnected interpretations. It isn't about replacing workers. It's about reach and reliability.

The recent introduction of real-time SAP data extraction highlights another common integration hurdle. AI workflows often stumble because SAP data, trapped in slow, manual export processes, remains inaccessible in real-time. By overcoming this barrier, Boomi hopes to ensure that AI agents operate with up-to-date information.

Why This Matters

Why should you care? Because the shift from pilot to full-scale AI deployment often grinds to a halt due to poor data management. Boomi’s approach isn’t just a band-aid. It’s a necessary foundation for AI to truly thrive in business processes.

What’s the takeaway? The enterprises reaping genuine rewards from AI are those that prioritize data activation first. The farmer I spoke with put it simply: 'Data is the seed. Without proper planting, no AI crop will grow.'

As AI continues to evolve, will 'data activation' become a norm or just another buzzword? The coming years will tell, but the early signs suggest those who ignore it might just miss the AI revolution.