At CASA25, Boris Maric, Commercial Excellence Officer at Infobip, took the stage with a bold statement: “Conversations are becoming the operating system of customer experience.”

Not the interface. Not the channel. The operating system.

It’s a radical reframing—but one that cuts straight to the heart of what Intelligent Engagement really means in this next era.

And Infobip isn’t just theorizing. They’re building. Testing. Scaling. Pivoting. Because for Boris and the team, it’s clear: if we don’t evolve from messaging to orchestration, someone else will.

From Channels to Conversations to Orchestration

Infobip’s journey is grounded in a simple but powerful insight: conversations are now the homepage of CX.

What used to be done across websites, apps, and disconnected touchpoints is now collapsing into a single thread—literally. One WhatsApp conversation. One RCS flow. One smart agent that knows what you need before you ask.

It’s the convergence of three forces:

• Conversational Messaging Boom – Already embedded in our daily lives.
• Messaging Channels Becoming Super Apps – Seamless, in-channel discovery, action, and support.
• The Rise of Agentic AI – Moving from assistive to autonomous engagement.

This shift means the interface shrinks and the backend complexity explodes. If you’re doing it right, the customer sees a single, simple thread. Behind it: orchestration, personalization, security, failover, and real-time data—powered by a blend of CPaaS infrastructure and generative AI.

Trust. Guide. Act.

Boris introduced a simple but compelling model: Trust, Guide, Act.

It’s not about “blasting messages.” It’s about embedding value inside a conversation.

• Trust is the entry point—built through verification, branding, and secure network APIs.
• Guidance comes through rich UI elements: suggested replies, contextual content, personalized flows.
• Action is the goal: a purchase, a booking, a service interaction, all within one seamless journey.

And when all three align? “The interface shrinks.” One thread. One customer. One intelligent engagement.

From Use Cases to Agentic Workflows

Infobip’s current focus includes:

• Smart chatbots and AI assistants
• AI-supported call center flows
• Fraud detection and prevention (leveraging network APIs)
• End-to-end campaign orchestration

But Boris emphasized a critical next step: evolving from isolated use cases to agentic workflows.

This means AI doesn’t just support the flow—it becomes the flow. Taking action, triggering transactions, orchestrating across systems.

In a world where AI eats SaaS, that shift becomes existential.

The Hard Truth: CPaaS Must Change

Boris didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room. Growth is slowing. Margins are under pressure. AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a disruptor.

AI is disintermediating SaaS, allowing enterprises to build more in-house.

Ecosystems are gaining power, simplifying procurement and increasing stickiness.

Messaging is commoditizing, and unless CPaaS evolves, it risks being relegated to the plumbing.

To lead in this new landscape, CPaaS providers must:

• Control the omnichannel orchestration layer
• Extract and leverage the value of first-party and contextual data
• Accelerate Network API adoption with telcos
• Build AI-native, agentic solutions that drive outcomes

In Boris’s words: “We need to take the orchestration part and lead the entire industry.”

Redefining CPaaS: Three Layers of Intelligent Engagement

Infobip’s framework to navigate this shift breaks CPaaS into three interconnected layers:

• Trust Layer – Network APIs and telco-grade infrastructure
• Omnichannel Layer – Preferred channels, failover scenarios, and real-time adaptability
• Action Layer – AI and agentic systems that execute, decide, and perform tasks autonomously

The future? Not just richer conversations, but conversational operating systems—fully integrated, intelligent, and outcome-driven.

What’s Holding Us Back?

Despite the vision, there are friction points. Boris didn’t sugarcoat them:

• Slower telco alignment on Network APIs
• Regional fragmentation in operator models
• Lack of orchestration maturity across the stack
• CPaaS industry inertia: stuck in “messaging” while others build full-stack solutions

But there’s a path forward.

Start with use cases that work.

Build them with startups and risk-takers, not just enterprises.

Orchestrate across channels, data, and AI—and make it seamless.

Final Word: This Is the AI Opportunity

Infobip sees two key accelerants ahead:

Agentic AI – to drive real-time, autonomous action CPaaS as the orchestrator – leading enterprise and telco transformation

And Boris left us with this clear call to action:

“We sit on a ton of data. We already have the infrastructure. The next battle is orchestration. If we win that, we win the future.”

Watch this space. The future of customer experience is being rebuilt—one intelligent conversation at a time.

The energy around CASA25 keeps building—and we’re excited to share that Vonage has just signed on as a sponsor! A true heavyweight in the communications space, Vonage brings the power of Ericsson and a sharp focus on Network APIs, AI, and enterprise enablement.

Their support signals something bigger: CASA25 is becoming the go-to gathering for those shaping the future of programmable communications.

And they’re in good company.

🌟 CASA25 Sponsors (to date)

• Vonage – One of the industry’s most recognized names, with deep expertise in CPaaS and network APIs.
• Gamma – A European leader in UCaaS and cloud communications, focused on next-gen collaboration.
• Crexendo – North American UCaaS/CCaaS innovator with enterprise-ready solutions.
• McKinsey & Company – Strategic powerhouse helping define the telecom and AI landscape.
• Infobip – Global platform helping enterprises and telcos drive customer engagement.
• Radisys – Pioneering open telecom solutions and programmable infrastructure.
• GSMA – Industry-wide champion of Open Gateway and network API adoption.
• Sinch – Cloud communications leader enabling personalized customer experiences.
• 2600Hz (an Ooma company) – Empowering service providers with open, modular voice platforms.
• KPN – Dutch telco leaning into network innovation and open collaboration.
• CM.com – Messaging and payments platform bridging customer experience and communication.

🔥 Why It Matters

These sponsors represent the full ecosystem—from infrastructure and platforms to consulting and customer experience. Together, they’re not just supporting an event—they’re committing to a new phase of collaboration, innovation, and real-world execution in CPaaS, AI, and telecom.

🧭 What to Expect at CASA25

Visionary Keynotes – Hear from the leaders defining what’s next in communications, APIs, and AI. Workshops That Build – Leave the slide decks behind—these are hands-on sessions for co-creation and strategy. Real Conversations – No sales fluff, just direct, practical dialogue between insiders.

CASA25 is where the future of communications takes shape—and with partners like Vonage joining, the momentum is undeniable.

Let’s build what’s next. Together.

The full program is now online at casa24.amsterdam/casa24-schedule – I encourage you to check it out and see all the incredible sessions we have lined up!

In this blog, I’ll be focusing on Day One, which is packed with transformative insights specifically for operators, telcos, and MNOs – plus everybody looking to do business with them.

Morning Session: Telco Transformation – The Big Picture

We kick off CASA24 on Monday morning with an in-depth look at how telcos are transforming. Industry leaders from McKinsey, Infobip, GSMA, Radisys, S&P Global, STL Partners and more, as well as top-tier operators like e& enterprise, BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, Telin and KPN will share insights on what’s driving this change and why programmable telecoms are essential to their future.

This morning track will cover not just broad trends but also specific strategies telcos are adopting to stay competitive in an ever-evolving market. From the latest in digital transformation to the impact of emerging technologies, this discussion will set the stage for the rest of the day.

Whether you’re an operator adapting to new market demands or a business looking to partner with telcos, this is where you need to be.

Afternoon Tracks: Network APIs and Security & Trust

After lunch, the day splits into two parallel tracks, each addressing critical aspects of the future of telco in more detail.

1. Network APIs: The New Frontier
   The possibilities within network APIs, as standardized in Project CAMARA and brought to marketing through GSMA’s Open Gateway Initiative (OGI) are endless, and this track dives deep into how operators are harnessing this technology. Expect to hear the latest Network API research results from S&P Global, and energetic panels about cutting-edge use cases where APIs are driving innovation in areas like CX and 5G. There will also be practical discussions on API integration and how this is becoming a new revenue stream for operators. Learn from the innovators who are pushing the boundaries and discover how you can leverage these APIs to create new opportunities.
2. Security & Trust: Building Resilient Networks
   In an era where cybersecurity is paramount, this track focuses on the strategies and technologies that ensure secure and trustworthy networks and communications. Topics will include vCon (virtualized conversations), data privacy, and how operators are working to build trust with consumers. Hear from experts who are tackling these challenges head-on, and understand how your business can benefit from their insights.

Why You Can’t Miss Day One at CASA24

If you’re a strategist or technical or business lead in the telco space—or looking to enter it as a technology provider—Day One at CASA24 is unmissable. This is your chance to engage directly with the minds shaping the future of the industry, from strategic thinkers to technical innovators. The networking opportunities alone could be the key to your next big partnership or business breakthrough.