Agentic AI will scale only when enterprises redesign processes, say tech leaders

Leaders from Axis Max Life Insurance, BSE, Adani Group, and Thoughtworks stressed at the ETCIO Annual Conclave 2026 that enterprises must overhaul processes to transition from generative AI pilots to scalable agentic AI systems. Current AI deployments often treat automation as an add-on rather than a transformative tool, requiring redefined governance, observability, and accountability for autonomous decision-making. Viral Davda, CIO of BSE, highlighted that true agentic AI involves measurable outcomes and decision-making, citing BSE’s AI-driven listing compliance platform, which cut processing times for listing applications from 30–45 days to 1–3 days. He warned that AI deployments must start with clear KPIs and business goals before scaling. Himanshu Pant, CDO of Adani Group, argued that fragmented workflows and poor data quality will hinder agentic AI success, stating that AI will only amplify errors if foundational processes are flawed. He urged enterprises to establish strong data backbones before introducing autonomous systems. Bharani Subramaniam, CTO of Thoughtworks, clarified that many so-called agentic AI systems are still deterministic workflows rather than true autonomous agents solving uncertain problems. He stressed the need for observability, reversibility, and machine governance to detect and correct AI failures. The panel concluded that scaling agentic AI demands process redesign, measurable KPIs, high-quality data, and governance frameworks. Trust, accountability, and operational resilience are critical as AI agents take on decision-making roles within enterprises.