Ema warns: 76% of firms unprepared for agentic AI transformation

A new sponsored report from Ema and HFS Research reveals a disconnect in enterprise AI adoption: while 85% of organizations aspire to become 'agentic' in three years, 76% say their current operations and infrastructure cannot support the shift. Prasun Shah, global CTO at PwC UK Consulting, warns that most firms are simply layering AI agents onto existing human-centric workflows—a 'sticky tape' approach that prevents unlocking agentic AI's full value. True value comes from agents that execute entire workflows independently, coordinating complex tasks and adapting in real time. Early deployments already show 30–50% acceleration in processes like customer service and HR, plus a 25–40% reduction in low-value work.

To bridge the gap, Ema coined the term 'agentic business transformation' (ABT), comprising three pillars: technology stack, workforce, and success metrics. The technology stack must shift from linear, application-centric design to a 'connective tissue' that lets AI agents move across systems and data sources at machine speed. This architectural change allows organizations to reconfigure workflows in days instead of months. Ema CEO Surojit Chatterjee argues that ABT is categorically different from prior digital or AI transformations—it integrates agents into the very fabric of the organization, enabling adaptive, competitive differentiation.