Where ISVs Are Actually Winning with AI in 2026

If you spend enough time talking to product leaders and CTOs in the Independent Software Vendors (ISV) space, a pattern starts to emerge. The conversation is no longer about whether to use AI or not but about how AI, via embedded software, can be leveraged to create tangible value for clients and drive business.

There’s also a quiet shift happening which people are noticing. ISVs that are seeing results aren’t the ones chasing flashy demos or generic chat interfaces (haven’t you gotten tired of those already?) but those applying AI to solve very specific, high-friction, problems for their customers.

From what I’ve seen, four use cases consistently stand out. Not because they’re trendy, but because they solve problems customers are willing to pay for.

1. Intelligent Document Processing: Turning Unstructured Data into Action

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it starts with ...