Agentic AI ROI: IBM's Guide for Tech Leaders

Many executives are developing autonomous agents, but only a quarter of AI initiatives are currently delivering expected returns. This is a pressing challenge for tech leaders. An IBM report identifies three critical barriers: unstructured data, poor governance, and mistaking task automation for true workflow transformation. For CIOs, the solution involves four key areas: boosting productivity, increasing revenue, cutting costs, and improving satisfaction for both employees and customers. Robust governance is crucial, as 56% of CEOs are delaying investment without clear guidelines. A strategic layer is also needed to unify different AI tools across departments. IBM offers internal examples, like AskHR, which saw a 75% reduction in support tickets and 40% cost savings. Dun & Bradstreet also saved 26,000 work hours each year. The guide emphasizes that leaders must define clear goals tied to business results, improve data quality, and involve employees to overcome doubts. Agentic AI is seen as an enterprise-wide transformation, not just a tech project. This means it requires organized, governed, and people-focused execution to succeed.