How AI, Automation, and Multi-Instance Management Will Redefine Enterprise IT

2025 will mark a turning point for enterprise IT as organizations look to address experimenting with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to fully integrate them across their business functions. Throughout the year we'll see a focus on scalable use cases and operational efficiency that will actually begin to address the growing complexity of IT ecosystems. Along the way, we'll see platforms like ServiceNow play a growing and critical role in this transformation, providing a constant foundation for innovation and control.

However, even for the top IT leaders, this won't be an easy feat: As they turn the corner to integrate AI, they will have to navigate budget constraints, development backlogs, and the increasing need for security and compliance. Here are the six key changes we'll see across AI and automation in 2025, along with the key addition of multi-instance management as a supporting technology.

1. Process Debt Will Threaten AI Projects

This will be the year organizations face an unavoidable reckoning with "process debt" — the accumulated inefficiencies in development and operations that can interfere with or even prevent business transformation. These inefficiencies will almost always stall AI adoption, even as low-code platforms like ServiceNow introduce new AI modules.

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The reality is that companies will have to make tough decisions if they want to remove the barriers preventing them from jumping on the AI bandwagon: They'll have to either clear their backlogs to prioritize AI initiatives or de-prioritize projects due to operational bottlenecks. Ultimately, businesses that fail to address process debt will struggle to unlock the potential of AI.

2. Multi-Instance Management: The Key to Enterprise Efficiency

By the end of 2025, multi-instance management will be a cornerstone strategy for enterprises managing multiple ServiceNow instances.

Instance management is a critical practice for organizations leveraging ServiceNow. At its core, instance management refers to overseeing, coordinating, and optimizing the operation of multiple platform instances — encompassing development, test, and production environments.

It's a practice that not only ensures seamless updates, features, and applications flow across environments but also empowers organizations to roll out large-scale ServiceNow initiatives (such as SecOps, ITOM, or any other large-scale ServiceNow initiative) in record time — even when executed in parallel with other platform capabilities. By providing robust governance and cross-instance visibility and applying automation and compliance oversight, instance management minimizes risks, ensures consistency, and accelerates time-to-value for complex deployments.

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3. Generative AI Will Redefine App Development

Generative AI will transform app development by reducing the need for traditional coding. It already makes intelligent code suggestions and will improve in automating repetitive coding tasks, flagging bugs early in the development process, and even improve architecture work. By the end of 2025, low-code, no-code platforms will likely allow businesses to build applications using natural language inputs, empowering both technical and non-technical teams. This will accelerate innovation, reduce development backlogs, and democratize app creation.

4. AI Maturity Will Drive Operational Efficiency

With economic pressures mounting, enterprises will increasingly rely on AI to automate workflows and reduce manual effort. Platforms will integrate AI to streamline decision-making and enhance process efficiency. However, scaling AI-driven automation will introduce complexities. Enterprises will need to prioritize governance and oversight to ensure responsible AI use and avoid costly errors.

5. Platform-Based Development Will Improve Agility

As budgets tighten and workforces shrink, platform-based development will become an essential strategy for maintaining business agility. In 2025, platforms will offer comprehensive ecosystems that combine pre-built applications with powerful customization tools. It's a shift that will allow enterprises to deliver tailored solutions faster while managing operational complexity, helping them to compete effectively in challenging markets.

6. AI-Powered Compliance and Security

Enterprises will continue to face growing scrutiny around compliance and security, especially as IT ecosystems expand. Multi-instance management, powered by AI-driven governance tools, will become critical for tracking, approving, and documenting system changes in real time. These tools will allow businesses to innovate quickly while maintaining robust audit trails, regulatory compliance, and security controls — critical for scaling operations responsibly.

Preparing for the Intelligent Enterprise

These indicate a transformative shift in how enterprises develop, manage, and secure IT infrastructure. Companies must manage AI and automation strategically to scale operations with speed and security. For IT leaders, the challenge lies in not adopting every innovation but aligning technology with organizational goals to drive efficiency and agility.

In this landscape, multi-instance management will emerge as a foundational strategy, ensuring enterprises can govern, optimize, and innovate across complex ecosystems, at higher and higher paces. The future belongs to those who can match speed with control, unlocking the full potential of intelligent enterprise IT.

About the author:

Ron Gidron is CEO of xtype.