New IBM study
Companies Expand Use of AI Agents in Core Processes
A new IBM study shows that companies no longer see AI agents as an experiment but plan to use them on a large scale for core business operations.
According to the latest study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, executives worldwide expect AI-driven workflows to grow from the current 3% to 25% by the end of 2025. Seventy percent of respondents see agent-based AI systems as crucial for the future of their companies. More than two-thirds (69%) cite improved decision-making as the biggest benefit. Sixty-seven percent see automation as a way to reduce costs, while 47% expect competitive advantages.
Sixty-four percent of AI budgets are now allocated to core business areas. Companies are steadily increasing their investments in AI: spending is expected to reach about 12% of total IT budgets in 2024 and could rise to 20% by 2026. The share of companies still relying on an ad-hoc approach has dropped from 19% last year to 6% today. One in four surveyed companies already follows an “AI-first” approach. Among these firms, respondents attribute more than half of their recent revenue growth and operating margin improvements directly to AI initiatives. Around 83% of executives expect AI agents to significantly improve process efficiency by 2026, and 71% believe that agents will adapt independently to changing workflows.
“We see more and more clients viewing agent-based AI as the key to moving beyond incremental productivity gains and actually achieving business value from AI, especially when applied to core processes such as supply chain and HR,” said Francesco Brenna, VP & Senior Partner, AI Integration Services, IBM Consulting.
The study also highlights ongoing challenges: 49% of respondents cite concerns about data quality, 46% point to trust issues, and 42% mention the shortage of skilled workers as obstacles. For the study, 2,900 executives worldwide were surveyed. The full report is available at: IBM Institute for Business Value.
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