Stop Shipping Blind Agents: Build On Your System of Record First

Author(s): Vivek Acharya

Originally published on Towards AI.

Stop Shipping Blind Agents: Build On Your System of Record First

Imagine a self-driving car whose cameras are smeared with mud and its maps are months out of date. The software can still turn the wheel, but you probably wouldn’t let it merge onto a busy highway. Would you trust it to navigate safely? Probably not. Yet deploying AI agents without deeply integrating them into a system of record (your CRM, ERP, HCM, etc.) is much the same — the agent is essentially driving blind. In the rush to add AI “copilots” and chatbots to enterprise software, savvy CTOs and architects are realizing that native agentic SaaS platforms — where AI agents are embedded inside enterprise workflows — can only succeed if they are grounded in the digital spine of the business: its systems of record.

This article discusses the transition from traditional systems of record to advanced systems of agency within enterprise software, emphasizing the necessity for AI agents to be integrated deeply with underlying core systems. It explains three evolutionary phases: from capturing data to providing insights, and finally to autonomous actions taken by AI agents. The author illustrates the importance of ensuring AI-powered systems rely on real-time data and structured workflows, highlighting real-world examples and advocating that enterprises must embrace this foundational shift for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

Read the full blog for free on Medium.

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Published via Towards AI