Confluent Bridges Batch and Stream for Smarter Agentic AI and Analytics

Today, businesses must act faster than ever before. Decisions can no longer wait for data to catch up. Real-time insights are no longer optional—they are essential. That’s why Confluent new updates to its cloud platform are a game changer.

Confluent now makes it easier to blend historical and real-time data. This unification empowers AI agents and analytics to operate smarter, faster, and more securely. With new innovations in Confluent Cloud for Apache Flink®, organizations can drive better outcomes, reduce risks, and act with greater confidence.

Let’s explore how these new features redefine customer experiences and drive agentic AI success.

Why Unifying Data Streams Matters Now More Than Ever

Businesses face immense pressure to respond in real time. However, meaningful responses require context—both historical and present. Until now, organizations have struggled to combine the two efficiently.

Previously, teams had to use separate tools for batch and stream processing. This often led to silos, manual workarounds, and delays. Worse still, it introduced inconsistencies and potential security risks.

Now, with Confluent’s snapshot queries, that changes.

Snapshot Queries: Real-Time Meets Historical Data

Snapshot queries allow teams to access both live and past data using a single interface. This seamless integration enables richer insights and smarter AI outcomes.

For example, consider fraud detection. Banks can now instantly check if a transaction aligns with a customer’s history—without switching systems. Similarly, in healthcare, doctors can view a patient’s vital signs and medical history together. This improves treatment decisions and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

By removing the friction between batch and stream, Confluent empowers teams to deliver intelligent, consistent, and responsive experiences.

How It Works for CX Teams

From a CX perspective, these innovations enable deeper personalization and faster resolution. Teams can now:

• Quickly audit customer journeys for insights.
• Trigger AI responses based on complete historical and real-time context.
• Avoid data gaps that confuse agents and frustrate customers.

Moreover, snapshot queries reduce operational load. Teams no longer need to spin up new systems or duplicate data pipelines. Everything works from a unified, real-time platform.

A Smarter Path for Agentic AI

Agentic AI is more than a buzzword. It’s a new era of automation where AI agents act independently to drive outcomes.

But these agents can’t act wisely without data that tells the whole story. That includes what happened before—and what’s happening now. Confluent’s approach ensures AI is grounded in both.

As Shaun Clowes, Confluent’s Chief Product Officer, notes: “Even the most advanced systems need high-quality data to deliver real value.”

Snapshot queries make it possible for AI agents to understand context, test assumptions, and act intelligently. This results in faster decisions, improved customer outcomes, and higher trust.

Securing the Data That Powers AI

As the demand for AI grows, so does the need to secure the data that fuels it. Confluent addresses this with two powerful new features: CCN routing and IP filtering.

CCN Routing: Secure Flink Access Made Easy

Many enterprises already use Confluent Cloud Network (CCN) for Kafka. Now, they can extend the same private networking model to Flink. This allows secure connections between streaming pipelines and AI systems—without reconfiguring networks.

CCN routing is already available on AWS, ensuring broad coverage and easy deployment.

This consistency in networking means less setup time, fewer errors, and greater confidence in data security—especially critical when handling personal or financial information.

IP Filtering: Control Access, Reduce Risk

In hybrid environments, not all data should be public. That’s where IP filtering comes in.

Teams can now allow trusted IPs for Flink workloads. This reduces exposure, prevents unauthorized access, and improves visibility into potential threats.

Together, these features help organizations meet compliance goals and protect customer trust. They also make it easier to scale AI initiatives without compromising security.

Built for the Modern Enterprise

Stewart Bond, VP at IDC, notes that organizations must prepare now for agentic AI. A unified data platform is key to unlocking its potential. Confluent makes this transition not only possible but practical.

With Confluent Cloud, teams can:

• Streamline data access across environments.
• Empower AI with unified data pipelines.
• Protect sensitive information with enterprise-grade security.

These capabilities align perfectly with the needs of modern, data-driven businesses.

What This Means for Your Customer Experience

CX teams benefit immensely from these changes. By combining historical and real-time data, they can:

• Tailor experiences with deeper personalization.
• Respond to issues before they escalate.
• Analyze customer behavior with greater precision.

Moreover, with secure, scalable infrastructure, they can launch AI pilots faster—and scale successful ones with ease.

This improves not only internal efficiency but also customer satisfaction, loyalty, and revenue.

Getting Started with Confluent’s New Capabilities

If you’re ready to transform your data strategy, now’s the time to explore what Confluent Cloud offers. Snapshot queries are already in early access, and both CCN routing and IP filtering are generally available.

You can start by:

• Trying Confluent Cloud for free—no credit card required.
• Contacting Professional Services for expert guidance.
• Exploring the full Q2 2025 launch for more innovations.

Final Thoughts

The future of AI and analytics is real-time, secure, and unified. With Confluent’s latest features, enterprises no longer have to choose between speed, context, or control. They get it all—on one platform.

By bridging batch and stream, Confluent empowers businesses to create smarter agents, deliver faster insights, and elevate customer experiences like never before.

Don’t just react to change. Lead it—with Confluent Cloud.

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