If you thought Generative AI has been transformational, you’re going to realise pretty fast in 2025 that it was just the support act.
Why? Let me explain through an analogy, because I absolutely love them.
Imagine the data in your organisation as a sprawling metropolis. Each dataset is a building, each department a neighbourhood, and every workflow a bustling street. Navigating this city can be a nightmare without a reliable map. Enter ServiceNow’s Workflow Data Fabric and Knowledge Graph—the dynamic duo you’re about to hear a whole lot more about, not just in the realm of ServiceNow.
The Data Fabric: Your City’s Infrastructure
Think of the Data Fabric as the city’s infrastructure—the roads, bridges, and tunnels connecting every corner. It’s the underlying framework that ensures data flows seamlessly across departments, systems, and applications. In ServiceNow’s vision, the Data Fabric unifies business and technology data, powering workflows and AI agents with real-time, secure access to information from any source. It’s like having an intelligent traffic system that not only directs vehicles but also anticipates congestion and optimises routes in real-time.
The Knowledge Graph: Your Intelligent GPS
Now, infrastructure alone doesn’t guarantee efficient navigation. You need an intelligent GPS that understands the city’s layout, traffic patterns, and your personal preferences. This is where the Knowledge Graph comes into play. It transforms raw data into contextual insights by connecting people, processes, operations, and systems. Imagine a GPS that not only guides you to your destination but also suggests the best coffee shops along the way, based on your past preferences. That’s the Knowledge Graph—providing AI agents with the context they need to work more effectively and autonomously.
RaptorDB: The High-Speed Rail
But what about speed? In a city, high-speed rails ensure you get to your destination swiftly (maybe not in London). In the realm of data, RaptorDB serves this purpose. It’s ServiceNow’s high-performance database designed for speed and scale, optimising workflow performance on the ServiceNow platform. RaptorDB analyses complex data queries up to 27 times faster and scales workflow transactions threefold, ensuring that your data-driven decisions are not just accurate but also fast, really fast.
Is Traditional IT Becoming Obsolete?
Here’s where it gets interesting—and likely a significant topic for debate throughout next year. With the advent of such integrated systems, you might argue that traditional IT roles are becoming obsolete. After all, if the Data Fabric and Knowledge Graph can autonomously manage, integrate, and contextualise data, then AI Agents act on it, what’s left for the IT department? Or any service-based department for that matter? It’s worth noting I’m not by any means campaigning for job displacement or job losses. This perspective is simply designed to challenge organisations to rethink and upskill their workforce, focusing on what they can do with the capacity this will generate. Rethink it now, I promise you won’t regret it.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we approach 2025, the integration of ServiceNow’s Workflow Data Fabric, Knowledge Graph, and RaptorDB is set to propel us into the era of full-scale Intelligent Automation. In this new landscape, AI agents will not only execute tasks but also make informed decisions, predict trends, and proactively address issues before they escalate. Going back to my analogy, it’s a city that maintains itself—where potholes are fixed before they cause traffic jams, and energy is distributed based on real-time consumption patterns.
The Call to Action: Embrace the Future
So, what does this mean for you and your organisation? It’s time to embrace these innovations, not as mere tools but as strategic partners in your digital transformation journey. Invest in understanding how ServiceNow’s offerings, and the AI offerings of other technologies, can be tailored to your unique needs. Encourage your teams to explore and experiment with these technologies. Contrary to recent AI-related clickbait, AI isn’t slowing down, it’s only just kicking into gear.
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