Pressure to “do something with AI” is loud, but the stakes are higher when patient data, regulators, and legacy systems meet non‑deterministic models. We sat down with the hosts of the Enterprise Architecture Experience podcast — Hassan Abba from AstraZeneca and Jon Hill from Alvotech — to compare how a global R&D giant and a thousand‑person biopharma scale-up are making AI useful without trading away trust. The conversation gets practical fast: where AI speeds discovery, where it should never touch regulated data, and how to draw clean lines that everyone can work with.

Welcome to Season Three of the Enterprise Alchemists podcasts!

We start the season with a special guest: Gene Linetsky, CTO of Embroker.

Gene talks to Guy and Dominic about his need to integrate bettter with existing systems and processes to avoid wasting the time of over-qualified human users. AgentCreator from SnapLogic solved the technical problem, thanks to what Gene describes as "semantic ETL", but that leads to more philosophical questions.

Over the course of the episode, Gene describes how agentic flows are ultimately a management question: humans will still be a lot better positioned to organize the work, whether that is carried out by humans or by AI agents. The goal is to facilitate the work solving business problems with code, not just solving coding problems.

Can outdated systems silently threaten the very core of your business? This episode, Guy and Dominic welcome the expert insights of Simona Todoroska from IWConnect to discuss the pressing issues surrounding legacy system integration and migration. Simona sheds light on how the historical reluctance to engage with legacy systems has created significant challenges for modern enterprises. We dive into the critical need for businesses to reevaluate their existing technologies to ensure they are future-ready, scalable, and secure. The conversation also delves into the risks of neglecting modernization, emphasizing how catastrophic failures in outdated systems could lead to dire consequences.

The discussion dives into the complexities of migrating from legacy systems to modern integration platforms, highlighting the challenges enterprises face when clinging to outdated technologies. Through real-world examples and a discussion on the importance of automation and AI in the migration process, we present practical strategies for successful transformation.

• Exploring the tension around updating legacy systems
• Understanding the risks of relying on outdated technology
• Discussing the role of automation in migrations
• Demonstrating the significance of the analysis phase
• Introducing AI agents Pete and Alex for improving documentation
• Highlighting the NL2SQL functionality for user empowerment
• Emphasising the importance of upfront analysis for success

Pete: https://iwconnect.com/virtual-assistant-pete/

Alex: https://iwconnect.com/alex-virtual-storytelling-agent/

NL to SQL: https://iwconnect.com/natural-language-to-sql-generator/

Matthew Holloway, Head of Global Design at SnapLogic, joins Guy and Dominic to unravel the complexities of designing user-centered enterprise integration platforms. Matthew shares strategies for presenting complex data to diverse user expertise levels, and some of what he has learned from how SnapLogic's groundbreaking tools, Iris and SnapGPT, are redefining data pipeline creation.

In design as in tech, it turns out to be critical to pinpoint the right problems before rushing to “solutioneering.” With the buzz around generative AI and its often-misaligned expectations, the discussion sheds light on managing these through the design hypercycle. Matthew emphasizes fostering collaboration through rapid prototyping, involving key stakeholders to ensure solutions are not only creative but also viable and aligned with organizational objectives.

Here are some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• User-centric information architecture and its complexities
• The challenge of designing for varied expertise levels among users
• SnapLogic’s proactive design approach and its unique tools
• Insights on co-innovation and collaborative problem-solving
• The journey through the generative AI hype cycle
• Transition from prototypes to fully realised products
• Emphasis on personalisation and user agency in design decisions
• Understanding the importance of making critical information accessible
• The future of design through generative AI personalization

Resources that were mentioned:

• Generative UX: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/generative-ux-matthew-holloway-2rvyc/
• Cognitive Architecture: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cognitive-architecture-matthew-holloway-zfple

Brian Green, software architect at SnapLogic, joins Dominic and Guy to explore the fascinating convergence of no-code, low-code, and traditional software development strategies. Discover why even the most user-friendly platforms require a solid grasp of software principles to truly excel, especially in large-scale operations. Brian sheds light on how traditional concepts like configuration management, environmental separation, and documentation are essential in optimizing no-code development environments. With a focus on the balance between ease-of-use and the rigor of traditional development practices, this episode promises to equip you with the insights needed to navigate the challenges of scaling in the digital age.

Join us as we uncover how traditional software techniques, such as linting, can revolutionize SnapLogic pipelines for enhanced robustness and efficiency. Learn about the seamless integration of these techniques with source control and how a center of excellence can bridge the gap between traditional and citizen developers. We delve into the potential of low-code/no-code platforms when the right levels of abstraction are understood. From generating test data with tools like SnapGPT to balancing standard engineering practices with unique platform benefits, this episode is packed with insights to elevate your enterprise strategies.

AWS re:Invent hardly needs much introduction from us. It has become *the* must-attend event for tech enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. However, Guy has never attended, and is a little sceptical. Listen in as Dominic tries to explain the value of attending one of the last remaining mega tech gatherings.

The event's theme of an "infinite toolbox" is a big clue, but you should also remember the hallway track, with opportunities to catch up with sixty thousand industry leaders and AWS community members.

We will be trying to capture the vibrant buzz from Las Vegas, with live-blogging of the keynotes on LinkedIn, as well as field podcast recordings if we can manage that.

Getting ready for AWS re:Invent 2024: https://www.snaplogic.com/blog/autonomous-ai-agents-aws-reinvent

The SnapLogic booth is #1951, in Hall B at the Venetian. Come and say hi!
Regina Goodman’s speech is on Monday at 17.30 in the theatre of the GenAI pavilion. Look for session "AIM386-S | Optimizing data workflows for AI with SnapLogic and AWS" in the session catalog: https://reinvent.awsevents.com/.

Last year's recap blog: https://www.snaplogic.com/blog/reinvention-bright-lights-future-aws-reinvent

Ever wondered how to bridge the gap between AI's potential and practical implementation? At SnapLogic's Integreat 2024 in London, Dominic had the pleasure of recording live with Maks Shah from Syngenta, who enlightened us with her perspective on the "agent-creator" concept. Maks shares how this intriguing idea, highlighted in presentations at Integreat from industry leaders including LEGO and Spotify, sparked her curiosity. Immersive experiences, like the GenAI Escape Room lab at Integreat, facilitate understanding by connecting theoretical concepts with hands-on application, resonating with a diverse audience eager to harness technology.

Join us as we explore the relationship between innovative AI technologies and the foundational data readiness crucial to their success. Maks emphasizes the importance of having data that is primed for AI applications and how this groundwork can set the stage for future breakthroughs. While the allure of AI's promise captivates many, the real challenge lies in ensuring data is fit for purpose—an area where Maks and her team are laser-focused.

Listen in to discover how these themes shaped conversations at the Integreat event and what they mean for your own AI and data integration journey.

Find more from Maks Shah here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiamosshah/

The event page for Integreat 2024 is here: https://www.snaplogic.com/integreat-tour/london Register to be notified when recordings will be available!

Join us as we explore a groundbreaking shift in enterprise technology with Jeremiah Stone, CTO at SnapLogic. Discover how SnapLogic's innovative AgentCreator revolutionizes the way businesses automate and streamline processes. We unravel the rise of agent-based AI systems, a trend embraced by tech giants like Salesforce, and dive into how this approach prioritizes business goals over traditional coding. Jeremiah shares insights into how agents represent a new domain in IT systems, and how SnapLogic is already delivering results in this transformative field.

We also investigate what is required for success with AI in business, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between business and technical experts through pair programming models. Jeremiah shared some real-world success stories of AI initiatives led by business leaders, showcasing AI as a powerful tool for tackling domain-specific challenges in areas like order reconciliation and contract management. Finally, we discussed the need for agile approaches that minimize risks, accelerate innovation, and drive significant business value across various functions.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• SnapLogic AgentCreator
• Podcast episode with Chris Ward on successful real-world deployment
• "The Root Causes of Failure for Artificial Intelligence Projects and How They Can Succeed"