The Future of System Integrators Embracing AI and SaaS

Shifting gears now—AI is everywhere, and everyone’s talking about it. With that backdrop, how do you see the role of system integrators evolving, especially when coupled with the growth of SaaS? SaaS is mushrooming, solving highly niche problems, while generative AI is becoming integral to many solutions. But if we separate AI from SaaS for a moment, how do you think system integrators’ roles will change in this scenario, Jagdish?” “What we’re building and envisioning suggests that the role of system integrators will fundamentally transform in the future. Instead of simply implementing tools and solutions, SIs will need to focus on embedding technologies into core business processes in a way that drives agility and outcomes. There’s a growing momentum toward adopting SaaS, low-code, and no-code solutions—not as isolated opportunities but as integrated components of business transformation. The SI’s role will shift toward answering the core question of how to humanize technology. Whether through AI or other innovations, the focus will be on enabling businesses to adapt faster, go to market quicker, and transform operations with unprecedented speed. Speed will be the defining factor for the future, not just in delivery and service but in how technology assets and domain expertise replace the need for massive human resources. Scale in the future won’t mean the volume of people; it will mean the speed and efficiency of deploying units of software or transformation solutions that are plug-and-play. The services industry will move toward predictability—predictable deployment timelines, costs, and outcomes. This is what we’re building with the concept of services as software: packaging services into modular units that businesses can buy with clear deliverables and outcomes. The future will also see a shift toward commercial contracts that are value-driven rather than effort-based. These contracts will prioritize measurable business impact—whether on supply chains, enterprise operations, or other key areas. The focus will increasingly be on delivering tangible business outcomes, making system integrators not just enablers but accelerators of change.