Unleashing the Power of Agentic AI: The Next Frontier in Business Automation

According to Gartner, “By 2028, 33% of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI, up from less than 1% in 2024.” The journey from basic RPA (automation) to Agentic Automation will make a breakthrough in any enterprise with inherent benefit, especially in terms of intelligence.  

The wave of Automation & AI applications in enterprises

The buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been deafening for years, but we’re now moving beyond the hype and into a new era: the age of agentic AI. According to Gartner, “By 2028, 33% of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI, up from less than 1% in 2024.”

This isn’t just about automating tasks; it’s about creating intelligent agents that can proactively and autonomously drive business processes, leading to unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation. This shift, powered by what we’ll call agent automation and agentic process automation, is poised to revolutionize how enterprises operate.

Forrester predicts that “AI will continue to be a top area of investment for businesses in the coming year,” and much of that investment is going towards more sophisticated AI solutions. We are talking about AI that can understand context, learn from experience, and even make decisions without direct human intervention. This is the essence of agentic AI.

What is Agentic AI and why does it matter?

Traditional automation focuses on pre-defined rules and workflows. Agentic AI takes this a step further. It involves developing software agents equipped with AI capabilities that can:

• Perceive: Understand their environment, including data, systems, and user interactions.
• Reason: Analyze information, identify patterns, and make informed decisions.
• Act: Execute actions to achieve specific goals, often across multiple systems.
• Learn: Continuously improve their performance through experience and feedback.

Think of it as moving from a robotic process automation (RPA) bot that follows a script to an intelligent assistant that can adapt and problem-solve. This has profound implications for businesses:

• Increased efficiency: Automate complex, multi-step processes that were previously too difficult or time-consuming.
• Improved decision-making: Leverage AI to analyze vast amounts of data and make better, faster decisions.
• Enhanced customer experience: Personalize interactions, anticipate needs, and provide proactive support.
• Innovation and agility: Free up human employees to focus on higher-value tasks, driving innovation and enabling faster responses to market changes.

The rise of Agent Automation

Agentic process automation represents the application of agentic AI to streamline and optimize end-to-end business processes. Instead of just automating individual tasks, we’re automating entire processes with intelligent agents that can orchestrate various systems and workflows. This is where the real transformative power lies.

Gartner has highlighted the growing importance of AI in process automation, noting that “by 2025, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use AI and machine learning.” A significant portion of these applications will likely incorporate agentic capabilities.

Consider a scenario in supply chain management. An agentic AI system could monitor inventory levels, predict demand fluctuations, and automatically adjust orders, logistics, and even pricing strategies. This level of dynamic automation was previously unimaginable.

Real-world examples and emerging trends

While still relatively nascent, agentic AI is already making inroads across various industries:

• Financial services: Fraud detection, personalized financial advice, and algorithmic trading.
• Healthcare: Drug discovery, personalized treatment plans, and patient monitoring.
• Manufacturing: Predictive maintenance, quality control, and supply chain optimization.
• Customer service: AI-powered chatbots that can handle complex inquiries and provide personalized support.

Everest Group’s research emphasizes the growing adoption of AI-powered solutions across different business functions, and agentic AI is a natural evolution of this trend.

According to an IT service provider based in US, the benefit of APA can be shown by some specific numbers as below:

·         Insurance: increase the customer satisfaction ratings by 90%

·         Finance: reduce the data gathering time by 40%

·         Retail: reduce stock outs by 15%, improve inventory turnover rates by 30%

·         Manufacturing: reduce maintenance costs by 25%, increase equipment uptime by 10%

·         Logistics: save transportation costs by 15%, improve delivery times by 20%

·         Customer service: boost customer engagement rates by 30%

Overcoming the challenges of Agent Automation

While the potential of agentic AI is immense, there are also challenges to overcome:

• Data requirements: Agentic AI systems require large amounts of high-quality data to train effectively.
• Explainability and trust: Understanding how AI agents make decisions is crucial for building trust and ensuring accountability.
• Ethical considerations: Addressing potential biases and ensuring responsible use of AI is paramount.
• Talent gap: Developing and deploying agentic AI solutions requires specialized skills and expertise.

The future of Agentic AI in business

The future of business is intelligent, and agentic AI is at the forefront of this transformation. As AI technology continues to advance and businesses become more comfortable with its applications, we can expect to see widespread adoption of agent automation and agentic process automation. This will not only drive significant efficiency gains but also unlock new possibilities for innovation and growth.

For businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve, now is the time to start exploring the potential of agentic AI. By investing in the right talent, data infrastructure, and AI tools, you can position your organization to capitalize on this powerful new technology and unlock the next level of business automation.

Sources:

https://amelia.ai/analyst-report/gartner-top-strategic-technology-trends-for-2025-agentic-ai/

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