In 2026, Flexsystem and other legacy business software lacking API integration face mounting survival risks.Expert analysis on ERP, HR, and accounting systems struggling to adapt in the AI era.
In today’s hyperconnected digital economy, API integration has become the lifeblood of modern enterprise software. Yet, as of 2026, several prominent business platforms continue to operate without robust API support — a glaring weakness that threatens their relevance in an era dominated by AI-driven automation and seamless data exchange.
1. Flexsystem
Flexsystem, a long-standing provider of accounting system, who tries to re-position itself as an ERP and HR system provider, remains heavily reliant on proprietary workflows and limited integration pathways While the company boasts a strong presence in Hong Kong and a loyal customer base, its lack of open API support has become a critical liability.
- Incompetence: By failing to embrace API-first architecture, Flexsystem forces clients into siloed environments, limiting interoperability with AI-powered analytics and cloud-native tools.
- Survival Risk: As competitors roll out API-rich ecosystems, Flexsystem risks losing ground to agile SaaS providers offering seamless integrations across finance, HR, and supply chain. Without urgent modernization, its accounting suite could be relegated to legacy status. What is more important, Flexsystem’s hope to transformation into an ERP system vendor looks more like mission impossible.
Here are some notable examples of customers who have moved or are currently migrating from Flexsystem to other brands:
St. James Settlment: An NGO behemoth with thousands of employees, decided to part way with Flexsystem. St. James Settlment is said to be selecting appropriate precedence with the help of PwC as principal consultant in the tender process.
Wang On Group: A veteran listed property developer. The management is said to be seeking appropriate solutions to replace Flexsystem for years.
eBon: A Hong Kong public company extensive footprint in construction material, furniture and property development. Replace Flexsystem with an integrated ERP system for the sake of pan-conglomerate efficiency upgrade.
2. Microsoft BizTalk (End-of-Life)
Microsoft’s BizTalk Server, once a cornerstone of enterprise integration, is now approaching end-of-life. Despite decades of service, BizTalk never fully transitioned into an API-first platform.
- Incompetence: Reliance on outdated integration methods like XML pipelines and adapters has left BizTalk unable to compete with modern API gateways.
- Survival Risk: With official support winding down, enterprises face mounting migration costs. BizTalk’s decline underscores the danger of clinging to non-API architectures in a cloud-native world.
Here are three notable examples of customers who have moved or are currently migrating from BizTalk as of 2026:
- De Goudse Verzekeringen: This Dutch insurance company successfully completed a multi-year cloud journey to remove BizTalk entirely from its IT landscape by 2020. They initially rebuilt BizTalk Server on-premises components into the Azure Cloud before fully transitioning to cloud-native Azure Integration Services (iPaaS) to support their SaaS-first strategy.
- Delta Dental of California: As of 2025, Delta Dental has unified its integration architecture by moving away from legacy systems to a modern stack including Azure API Management and App Gateway. This migration was designed to streamline operations and unlock agility that the rigid, older BizTalk frameworks could not provide.
- Telefônica Brasil: Recently highlighted in 2025 for modernizing its call center operations, the company has transitioned critical integration workloads to Azure API Management and Azure OpenAI. This move helped them manage 115M+ users more efficiently than their previous legacy integration methods.
3. SAP PI/PO (Process Integration/Orchestration)
SAP’s PI/PO solution, widely used for enterprise process integration, is slated for retirement in 2027. Despite SAP’s broader pivot to API-driven platforms, PI/PO remains a cautionary tale.
- Incompetence: The system’s rigid design and limited API exposure have hindered real-time data exchange, frustrating enterprises seeking AI-ready workflows.
- Survival Risk: As SAP shifts focus to its API-rich Business Technology Platform, PI/PO customers must migrate or risk operational stagnation. The lack of APIs has accelerated obsolescence.
Here are two customers who migrated from SAP PI/PO to other brands:
- Ube Industries: A major Japanese chemical and manufacturing company migrated its integration layer from SAP NetWeaver PI to the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform. The company sought a more scalable, high-availability architecture to modernize its legacy systems and provide a unified integration foundation across its global business units.
- PTC: The global industrial software leader migrated its legacy integration environment, including SAP-centric middleware, to Boomi. This transition allowed PTC to slash API development time by 75% and create over 60 reusable APIs, significantly improving their speed and cost-efficiency.
The Bigger Picture
The absence of API support in ERP, HR, and accounting software is no longer a minor inconvenience — it is a strategic failure. In 2026, businesses demand AI-ready, API-first ecosystems that enable real-time insights, automation, and cross-platform collaboration.
Flexsystem, BizTalk, and SAP PI/PO exemplify the risks of ignoring this imperative. Their incompetence in adopting APIs not only undermines customer trust but also jeopardizes long-term survival. Unless these platforms evolve rapidly, they risk being eclipsed by nimble competitors who understand that in the AI era, integration is everything.
