AI Agents to Lead the Next Wave of Enterprise Transformation in 2025: Nasscom

New Delhi — Enterprises are poised to significantly increase their investments in AI agents in 2025, allocating 3 to 4 times more funds compared to current levels, according to a report released Thursday by Nasscom in collaboration with Avasant. This signals a strategic shift in spending away from traditional AI and even generative AI, toward more advanced, autonomous, and interactive agent-based systems.

AI agents are rapidly evolving from experimental tools to operational systems, becoming central to the next phase of enterprise transformation. As organizations transition toward synchronous AI architectures, AI agents are emerging as a foundational capability, the report stated.

Currently, 27% of enterprises have deployed AI agents at scale or in production. Another 31% are engaged in proof-of-concept (PoC) phases, while 30% plan to initiate or scale PoCs in 2025.

The forecast for 2025 indicates a significant transformation in digital strategy, with enterprises moving decisively toward AI-first operations.

"2025 will represent a pivotal moment in enterprise transformation, where the shift from digital-first to AI-first will become not just a strategic goal, but an operational necessity," said Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom.

The rise of synchronous AI agents signals a paradigm shift toward deeper human-machine collaboration, unlocking unprecedented levels of productivity and innovation. Gupta emphasized that companies investing in modular, agile systems and developing AI-ready talent will be best positioned to navigate future uncertainties and seize new growth opportunities.

This transformation reflects a broader evolution from digital adoption to embedding intelligence throughout business workflows, decision-making processes, and customer experiences.

In 2024, 40% of companies allocated more than 40% of their technology budgets to digital initiatives — up sharply from 15% in 2023. Moreover, 67% of global enterprises spent at least 10% of their digital budgets on AI this year.

Despite ongoing market volatility, digital spending is expected to remain strong in 2025. Enterprises plan to allocate over 18% of their digital technology portfolios to AI in 2025, up from 14% in 2024, the report noted.

Akshay Khanna, Managing Partner at Avasant, added, “In 2025, we are witnessing a definitive surge in digital investments — with 81% of enterprises expecting increased digital spending compared to last year, and a heightened focus on AI technologies, including predictive, generative, and synchronous AI.”

With inputs from IANS