Servicenow’s Q1 Results: Signal Not Shift
Platforms Need Champions
Servicenow’s Q1 2025 financial results are undeniably strong: 20% year-on-year subscription revenue growth, a 98% renewal rate, and a quadrupling of AI (Pro Plus) deals. The company beat guidance across every metric that matters. On the surface, it’s a clear win.
But beneath the numbers lies a more important story. One not of a platform fully realised, but of a market just beginning to believe.
The surge in AI uptake may look like broad platform adoption. In truth, I think much of it still reflects commercial momentum through things like bundling, upselling, and targeted vertical wins.
Kudos to the sales teams. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it validates the potential of the platform. But it also highlights just how early we are in the journey from AI tool consumption to platform-led transformation.
This is where the real work begins. To realise that potential, the enterprise world must undergo a fundamental re-education. I talk about this ad nauseum because it is so critical.
For 20+ years, we’ve bought systems in silos: HR buys HCM, Finance buys ERP, IT buys ITSM. Each with its own budget, project team, and architecture. To maximise Servicenow’s platform logic, which is centered on flow, integration, orchestration, and AI-first work design, requires unlearning that model.
That doesn’t happen because a vendor ships new features. It happens when CIOs reclaim the architectural narrative, when consultants stop selling modules and start solving cross-functional flow, and when industry leaders stop asking “what do we need to replace?” and start asking “how do we want to work?”
Servicenow’s results show that belief is growing. The buying is real. But belief is not yet reflected in sales behaviour. Platform adoption remains low and slow. Not for lack of potential, but for lack of shared architectural literacy.
And here’s where marketing and strategy collide.
Servicenow has brought Idris Elba onto the global stage. It may seem cosmetic, but it’s actually symbolic. Because platforms need champions. And sometimes a strong brand isn’t just about attention. It’s about anchoring a new narrative.
So yes, they’ve brought in the champion. Now bring on the platform. They will be massive. It is great tech. We’ll see more quarters like this. But realising their full potential depends on whether the market embraces platform thinking, not just product adoption.