Will software companies still exist in 5 years?

By Roel Kuik, 09-03-2026

Recently, Dominik Pinter, CEO of Kentico, asked his team a question that every software company should probably be asking:

"Will we even exist in 5 years?"

At first glance, it may sound like a dramatic question. In reality, it's a responsible one. The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, driven largely by the acceleration of AI. Expectations around software, digital experiences, and delivery speed are changing faster than many organisations anticipated.

Dominik's full post is well worth reading, but as a Kentico partner operating in this exact ecosystem, a few things stood out immediately.

At Blastic, we regularly ask ourselves similar questions.

Not because we are pessimistic about the future of digital platforms or agencies. Quite the opposite. We ask them because our clients trust us to guide them in making technology decisions that will make sense 3, 5 or even 10 years from now.

That responsibility matters.

In an industry that is often driven by hype cycles, it is easy to get distracted by the newest tools or trends. But long-term digital strategy requires discipline. It requires looking beyond what is popular today and focusing on what will remain valuable tomorrow.

One of Dominik's core arguments resonates strongly with how we think about digital platforms at Blastic:

"AI doesn't eliminate the need for governance, structure, and trust; it amplifies it."

When AI agents start answering questions on behalf of your brand, the quality of the underlying information becomes critical. Those systems rely on structured, reliable content to function correctly.

In other words: if your source of truth is inconsistent, outdated, or poorly governed, AI will only amplify those weaknesses.

That is exactly why we work with Kentico.

Not because it is the newest or most fashionable platform, but because it solves the difficult, often invisible problems that organisations face when managing complex digital ecosystems:

• workflows and approvals

• permissions and governance

• compliance and regulatory requirements

• structured content management

• multi-channel orchestration

These challenges do not disappear when AI enters the picture. If anything, they become even more important.

Dominik also touched on something we see very clearly in the market today: the role of agencies is evolving.

The traditional model, winning projects based purely on implementation capacity and billable hours, is under pressure. AI tools are reducing manual effort and accelerating delivery. At the same time, clients expect more strategic value and clearer business outcomes.

As a result, agency value is moving upstream.

At Blastic, we have been learning into this shift for some time. Increasingly, our work focusses on helping clients navigate complexity rather than simply delivering technical builds. That includes:

• defining digital strategy

• guiding responsible AI adoption

• optimising customer journeys

• advising on platform and architecture decisions

• translating fast-moving technology into practical business value

The agencies that thrive in the coming years will not be the ones that build the most websites. They will be the ones that ask the best questions.

If you are investing in a digital experience platform today, you are not simply buying a website builder. You are investing in a control layer.

As AI accelerates everything around us, that control layer becomes increasingly valuable. Organisations need systems that allow them to manage, structure, and govern their digital content and custom experiences.

Future-proof digital strategies will focus on 3 key principles:

• own your content

• own your data

• own your customer journey

When those foundations are in place, organisations remain adaptable regardless of how the next wave of technology evolves.

The software market is maturing. AI is accelerating change. And the digital ecosystem, from platforms to agencies, is evolving alongside it.

But that doesn't mean software companies disappear. It means the industry becomes more disciplined. More focused on long-term value. And more centred on trust, governance, and real customer outcomes.

At Blastic, we are confident about where Kentico is heading, and about the role partners like us play in helping clients turn that technology into meaningful digital experiences.

If you want to explore how your organisation can build a digital foundation that remains resilient in an AI-driven future, we would be happy to start that conversation.

You can read Dominik Pinter's, full post here.