Enterprises are shifting from batch‑oriented pipelines to real‑time data processing to enable AI agents that act on events as they occur, according to Information Services Group’s (ISG) 2026 Buyers Guides for Real‑Time Data. The research ranks 58 software providers and projects that more than one‑third of firms will combine streaming data with AI and generative‑AI inference by 2028. This transition reflects a broader move away from traditional, scheduled data loads toward continuous, event‑driven architectures that can feed AI‑powered decision engines with the freshest information possible. By treating each change of state—whether a sensor reading, a user interaction, or a system alert—as a data point to be processed instantly, organizations can support autonomous business processes, reduce latency, and unlock new use cases that were impossible with batch‑only approaches.
ISG Highlights Growing Adoption of Real‑Time Data for AI Agents
ISG’s latest Buyers Guides show real‑time data processing moving from a niche capability to a foundational element of enterprise operations. The firm notes that “for enterprises to stay competitive, the technology they deploy must operate at the speed of business, understanding and acting on events as they occur,” quoting Kathy Rudy, ISG partner and head of the Data, Analytics & Technology Office. Rudy emphasizes that real‑time data is essential for generating maximum value from AI agents, which need the latest business events to make autonomous decisions.
The guides document a transition across industries: while financial services and telecommunications have long used real‑time systems, mainstream sectors are now adopting them to ingest, filter, aggregate, and transform high‑volume event streams. ISG points out that this shift is not limited to high‑performance environments; even traditionally batch‑oriented domains are embracing streaming to support AI‑driven automation.
Matt Aslett, ISG director of research, analytics and data, adds that “by 2028, we expect more than three‑quarters of enterprises to adopt standard information architectures that include streaming data and event processing.” He underscores that the convergence of AI, streaming platforms, and event‑driven architectures is positioned as a catalyst for more responsive operations and intelligent applications. The research further explains that AI agents require integration with data streaming and event processing to act autonomously, and that the combination of AI with real‑time data processing is only beginning.
Provider Rankings and Emerging Leaders
The 2026 Buyers Guides evaluated 58 vendors across five categories: Real‑Time Data, Real‑Time Data Emerging Providers, Application Integration, Streaming Analytics, and Streaming Data. Rankings are based on Overall, Product Experience, Capability, Platform, and Customer Experience scores, with top performers labeled “Leaders.”
- Real‑Time Data – AWS leads as Overall Leader, followed by Microsoft and Oracle. Exemplary ratings also go to Cloudera, Databricks, Google Cloud, Huawei Cloud, IBM, and Salesforce; Alibaba Cloud, Cloud Software Group, and Confluent are rated Innovative.
- Real‑Time Data Emerging Providers – Redpanda tops the list, with Striim and StreamNative second and third. Hazelcast, InfluxData, Materialize, Qubole, and Redpanda receive Exemplary status; GridGain, Kinetica, and StreamNative are Innovative.
- Application Integration – Boomi is the Overall Leader, with Oracle and AWS trailing. AWS, Boomi, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce (Informatica), Salesforce (MuleSoft), SAP, ServiceNow, and Solace earn Exemplary ratings; Axway and SnapLogic are Innovative.
- Streaming Analytics – Databricks and AWS share the top two Overall Leader spots, followed by Oracle. Exemplary providers include AWS, Alibaba Cloud, Confluent, Databricks, Google Cloud, Huawei Cloud, Microsoft, and Oracle; ClickHouse, Cloud Software Group, and Palantir are Innovative.
- Streaming Data – AWS again leads, with Microsoft and MongoDB close behind. Exemplary designations cover AWS, Cloudera, Confluent, Databricks, Google Cloud, Huawei Cloud, IBM, Microsoft, and MongoDB; Alibaba Cloud, Cloud Software Group, Palantir, and Redis are Innovative.
ISG emphasizes that the research is independent and not sponsored by any vendor.
Implications for Enterprise Buyers
The guides suggest that organizations planning AI‑driven automation should evaluate platforms that support both data‑in‑motion and data‑at‑rest management. Vendors that score highly across multiple categories—particularly AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and the emerging leaders Redpanda and Striim—offer broader roadmaps for integrating streaming analytics with AI workloads.
For buyers, the shift toward real‑time architectures means procurement teams must consider:
- API‑centric integration – Application integration is increasingly API‑driven, requiring platforms that facilitate agent‑based automation.
- Hybrid data handling – Solutions need to manage streams alongside traditional warehouse data to meet “holistic” data management goals.
- Future‑proofing – With ISG projecting that over 75 % of enterprises will embed streaming in their standard architectures by 2028, selecting providers with strong roadmaps for event processing and generative‑AI inference is prudent.
The providers rated Exemplary or Innovative may offer differentiated capabilities for enterprises at different stages of real‑time adoption.
Key Takeaways
- ISG expects more than one‑third of enterprises to combine data streaming with AI and generative‑AI inferencing by 2028.
- AWS is the Overall Leader in the Real‑Time Data, Streaming Analytics, and Streaming Data Guides; Boomi leads Application Integration.
- Redpanda tops the Emerging Providers category, while over three‑quarters of enterprises are projected to adopt standard architectures that include streaming data by 2028.
TechInsyte's Take
Real‑time data processing is moving from a specialized function to a baseline requirement for AI‑enabled automation, making vendor selection a strategic priority for CIOs and CTOs. While ISG’s forecasts provide a clear direction, the pace of integration will depend on each organization’s existing data stack and readiness to adopt event‑driven architectures. Buyers should monitor vendor roadmaps for streaming‑AI convergence and prioritize platforms that demonstrate both current excellence and a credible path toward the 2028 adoption horizon.
Source: Businesswire
