Less than half of business processes are ready for agentic AI

Less than half (48 percent) of business processes are sufficiently structured, integrated and governed to support agentic artificial intelligence (AI), with the majority of organizations lacking enterprise-wide process visibility and ownership. That’s according to a new global study from GBTEC.

The vendor surveyed 600 senior business and operations leaders across industries and regions. It found that most respondents (87 percent) agree that without clear, accountable processes, AI’s value will be severely limited.

Meanwhile, organizations that have achieved higher process maturity report 61 percent higher automation return on investment (ROI), 52 percent increase in customer satisfaction and 46 percent faster time-to-market for new initiatives.

The AI readiness gap

The Process Excellence and AI-Readiness Report 2025 reveals a striking AI readiness gap: 78 percent of organizations are gearing up for major AI and automation initiatives over the next two years, but fewer than 20 percent have the operational foundation to succeed.

“Right now, a lot of the focus is on technology. In some cases, it’s like kids in a candy store as new AI solutions hit the market,” said Thomas Kohlenbach, principal consultant at GBTEC. “CIOs and CTOs want the latest tools, but they’re not always thinking about how these solutions align with real-world business requirements.”

Agentic AI represents a new wave of capability with systems that are:

• Task-aware and self-directed.
• Capable of real-time reasoning.
• Continuously learning with minimal human oversight.

However, with new power comes increased risk, according to GBTEC. For example, if multiple departments run the same process in different ways, an AI agent cannot be trained to perform it optimally. This results in conflicting inputs, reduced reliability and missed opportunities.

“Standardization is essential for successful automation and agentic AI deployment,” commented Scott Leddy, VP North America at GBTEC.

The report details two clear archetypes emerging:

1. The innovators: Businesses that map processes before deploying AI, create enterprise-wide governance structures and integrate AI into workflows without losing control.
2. The strugglers: Organizations that jump into AI without process readiness, face conflicting data and compliance headaches and fail to scale beyond pilot programs.

The next two years will be pivotal in deciding the coming decade of the AI-driven era, according to the report. With AI adoption accelerating, the gap between process-led innovators and technology-first adopters will widen dramatically.

Register for All Access: BPM Business Process Management 2025!

The 6 pillars of process excellence

Too much focus is placed on technology and too little on the processes that determine successful transformation. Almost all (95 percent) of business leaders agree that well-defined business processes are essential to achieving transformation goals, while 84 percent state that operational chaos and complexity are the silent killers of transformation.

The report identifies six interconnected process excellence pillars that enable AI readiness:

1. Process maturity: Standardized, documented, continuously improved workflows.
2. Process governance: Clear accountability and ownership at every level.
3. Enterprise architecture alignment: Seamless integration with IT and digital systems.
4. Embedded governance, risk and compliance: Risk and compliance built into process design from day one.
5. Automation readiness: Fully mapped and measured processes, ready for targeted automation.
6. AI enablement: Foundational structures that allow safe, scalable AI integration.

“If you automate a poor process, you’ll just end up with a poor process that runs a bit faster. You miss the transformation opportunity,” said David Barnes, head of business process management (BPM) at AstraZeneca.

Register for this webinar and learn more the path to AI-ready processes!

Early Bird Pricing is LIVE | Professional Process Excellence Certification Provided by Inixia in Partnership with PEX Network

Designed for today’s fast-paced, competitive business landscape, this certification signals a deep capability in operational excellence and innovation. It enables professionals to lead process transformation across functions and industries, and become change agents within their organizations. Whether you're advancing your career or strengthening your team’s performance, the Certified Master of Dynamic Process Transformation provides a forward-thinking, results-driven approach to creating sustainable value and long-term success.

Learn More