After attending a series of tech events this spring, including Salesforce TDX, Work^AI, and Boomi World, one thing became clear: the concept of integration platform as a service (iPaaS) is rapidly evolving—and may soon outgrow its name. While the term “iPaaS” traditionally points to systems that link applications and data, what these platforms are now enabling goes far beyond basic integration.

At these events, the spotlight wasn’t just on connecting systems, but on creating intelligent, agent-driven workflows powered by AI. These developments suggest a major shift from traditional integration toward dynamic process orchestration—where AI agents not only connect systems but make real-time decisions and adapt autonomously.

Several key announcements underscored this transformation. One platform introduced a tool that lets developers convert APIs into AI-ready actions and topics, which agents can interact with. Another revealed a no-code agent builder alongside task-specific agents—such as those for IT support or employee onboarding. Yet another debuted an agent design studio, built specifically to manage, monitor, and govern AI agents without writing code.

Across the board, these platforms are moving toward building and supporting “agentic” systems—intelligent entities that act independently to manage business processes. The goal is no longer just linking software A to software B. It’s enabling workflows where AI agents interpret, decide, and act across a distributed ecosystem.

This pivot raises a compelling question: is it still accurate to call these platforms “integration” tools? While integration remains foundational, the focus has shifted toward intelligent automation, proactive orchestration, and even autonomous decision-making. These are no longer simply glue between systems—they’re becoming engines of business logic.

Looking ahead, the shift becomes even more dramatic. As AI continues to mature, many user interfaces may be replaced by agent-powered interactions. In this model, AI agents serve as the front end—engaging directly with users—while applications retreat into the back end, supplying data and functionality for agents to orchestrate. What was once iPaaS might soon be powering the primary interface of enterprise software, while traditional application providers transition into backend services.

In this future, calling these platforms “iPaaS” might miss the mark. The term no longer captures the breadth of functionality or strategic role these tools are starting to play. They are evolving into intelligent orchestration platforms—bridging data, AI, and user experience in ways that fundamentally reshape how businesses operate.

So is iPaaS still iPaaS? For now, yes. But with AI agents taking center stage, it’s only a matter of time before the name—and the industry—outgrows its original definition.

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