As AI becomes more capable, there’s an increasing assumption that it will reduce the importance of enterprise software systems and gradually replace them. It’s an interesting idea – and in some generic parts of the market, there is truth in it.
What we are seeing in practice, however, is more nuanced. In specialist, mission critical systems of record – particularly in regulated public sector environments – AI is not reducing the importance of the core system. Instead it is reinforcing it, by allowing organisations to extract more value, more quickly, from trusted platforms that already sit at the heart of their operations.
We are seeing that play out directly in customer decisions. New organisations such as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service have recently chosen Integra, following 3 NHS Trusts in Wigan, Stockport and Tameside. At the same time, existing customers are extending contracts, upgrading to our latest release, and adopting new AI enabled capabilities.
Part of that momentum comes from a clear focus on where AI genuinely adds value in a public sector context. For finance and back office systems, the goal is not novelty. It is removing friction, automating the repetitive, and making insight easier to access.
Our recent investments reflect that thinking. We have introduced a new productivity pack, AI enabled intelligent bank reconciliation, and next generation automation that goes beyond traditional rule based bots. We have also enabled natural language querying across our data, allowing users to ‘Ask AI’ (sometimes complex) questions in plain English and receive immediate, reliable answers from their system of record. Taken together, these capabilities are delivering measurable productivity gains while preserving the integrity and auditability of the data that public sector organisations require.
Crucially, this is not AI bolted on as a separate layer. It is embedded directly into the workflow of the solution, supported by a growing library of automated, AI driven processes that customers can adopt and extend.
There is an important distinction here. In some sectors, AI does reduce the value of traditional software by replacing parts of it altogether. In specialist, regulated domains like public sector finance, however, AI is doing the opposite: making the system of record more central, more useful, and more strategic. Customers are not replacing core platforms; they are extracting more value from them.
Another factor in IBSS’s renewed momentum has been the energy injected since joining the ADVT Group headed by Vin Murria OBE. This has enabled us to broaden what we can offer without losing focus on our core market. For example, we have created a new Supplier Portal by utilising capability from GOSS within the group and integrated the intelligent document processing from Celaton and their InStream system. These are practical, deployable capabilities now integrated with the Integra solution that customers are using today.
Internally, we are also using AI to improve how we build, test, and release our own software, increasing release quality and cadence while reducing overhead. That matters because customers feel the benefits directly: more frequent improvements, faster response to change, and a clearer upgrade path.
All of this is happening at a time when public sector organisations are under sustained pressure to be more productive. The combination of trusted systems of record with embedded AI and automation offers a realistic, low risk contribution to that productivity without compromising governance or control.
The last year has marked a turning point for Integra. We are seeing renewed energy in the business, tangible success in the market, and growing confidence from customers old and new. More importantly, we believe the direction of travel is clear: AI, when applied thoughtfully, does not undermine specialist public sector platforms. It makes them stronger.
For Integra, that belief is no longer theoretical. It is already playing out in customer wins, product adoption, and a business that is moving forward with purpose.
