Introduction
In a recent video, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella predicted that business applications and SaaS (Software as a Service) will be replaced by autonomous agents1. This vision suggests a future where AI-driven agents—capable of working towards goals and taking actions without specific programming—will take centre stage in enterprise operations.
What’s more remarkable is that this vision comes from Microsoft’s CEO—a company that has reinvented itself in the last two years from a software company to an AI company. With its influence deeply embedded in governments and businesses, Microsoft’s actions and statements carry significant weight.
But what does this mean for Enterprise strategy?
Strategies should span at least 5-10 years, and in today’s world, can any strategy succeed without being fundamentally digital at its core? How should organisations prepare for a world where traditional software is no longer the backbone of business, but agents are? Are CIOs and CTOs ready? Many honed their skills in a different era. In my experience, often they are no longer hands-on (e.g., not building solutions or coding) and certainly haven’t developed AI-powered agentic solutions or multi-agent systems. There will be confusion—and even more resistance—as world views are challenged.
In this blog, we’ll explore Nadella’s hypothesis, its implications, and how enterprises can rethink their strategies to thrive in an agentic future. And here’s the punchline: data is the fuel for your agents.

1. The Shift from Software to Agents
Today’s business applications and SaaS platforms are largely static, requiring human input for decision-making and execution. In contrast, agents are dynamic, autonomous systems that can:
Reason over data and context.
Learn from interactions and feedback.
Act independently to achieve goals.
I am being slightly facetious here—we’re anthropomorphising agents. While the labels we use (e.g., ‘reason,’ ‘learn’) don’t fully capture what’s happening, they help readers grasp the concept more easily.
For example:
Instead of using a CRM tool to track customer interactions, an agent could proactively engage customers, predict their needs, and recommend next steps.
Instead of relying on project management software, an agent could monitor progress, identify risks, and reallocate resources autonomously.
This shift to agents represents a fundamental change in how businesses operate—and I don’t think many, even in the AI community, have fully grasped the magnitude of this change.
2. Implications for Enterprise Strategy
If Nadella’s hypothesis is true, it has profound implications for enterprise strategy. Here’s how organisations need to adapt:
a. From Software-Centric to Agent-Centric Ecosystems
Today: Enterprises rely on a patchwork of SaaS tools, each serving a specific function (e.g., CRM, ERP, HRMS).
Future: Agents will integrate and orchestrate these functions, creating a unified, intelligent ecosystem.
Strategic Shift: Invest in agent frameworks and ecosystems rather than individual software tools. Focus on interoperability and coordination between agents.
b. Redefining Value Creation
Today: Value is created through human-driven processes supported by software.
Future: Value will be created through autonomous agents that optimise processes, predict outcomes, and drive innovation.
Strategic Shift: Shift from process optimisation to outcome-driven strategies. Define success in terms of business outcomes (e.g., customer satisfaction, risk reduction) rather than process efficiency.
c. New Competitive Dynamics
Today: Competitive advantage comes from adopting the best SaaS tools and optimising their use.
Future: Advantage will come from deploying the most effective agents and leveraging their learning capabilities.
Strategic Shift: Compete on AI maturity—how well your agents learn, adapt, and collaborate with humans.
d. Rethinking Organisational Structures
Today: Teams are organised around functions (e.g., sales, marketing, operations) supported by software.
Future: Teams will be organised around agent-human collaboration, with agents handling execution and humans focusing on strategy and creativity.
Strategic Shift: Redesign organisational structures to enable seamless collaboration between humans and agents. Invest in upskilling employees to work alongside AI.
e. Data as the New Oil (at last!!!)
Today: Despite the rhetoric, data is a byproduct of software usage and is poorly used.
Future: Data will be the lifeblood of agents, enabling them to 'reason, learn, and act'. You’ll need a robust data and AI strategy.
Strategic Shift: Treat data as a strategic asset. Invest in data infrastructure, governance, skills, and capabilities. Data will fuel your agents.
3. Strategic Pillars for an Agentic Future
To prepare for this shift, enterprises should focus on the following strategic pillars:
a. Build a Data Foundation
Ensure seamless integration of data across systems.
Invest in data lakes, knowledge graphs, and real-time processing capabilities.
b. Develop Agentic Capabilities
Start with pilot projects to deploy agents in specific functions (e.g., risk management, customer service).
Gradually expand agent capabilities across the organisation.
c. Foster a Culture of Collaboration
Train employees to work alongside agents, emphasising co-creation, trust and the need for human oversight.
Address fears of job displacement by highlighting the complementary nature of human-AI collaboration.
d. Prioritise Explainability and Ethics
Ensure agents’ decisions are transparent and explainable. This will be technically difficult so I don't say this lightly.
Establish ethical guidelines for agent behaviour and accountability.
e. Embrace Continuous Learning
Implement feedback loops to enable agents to learn and improve over time.
Stay agile and adapt to new developments in AI and agent technologies.
The Road Ahead
Nadella’s vision of an agentic future is not just a prediction—it’s a call to action. Enterprises that embrace this shift will be better positioned to navigate complexity, drive innovation, and create value. But success requires more than technology; it demands a strategic rethink, a cultural shift, and a commitment to continuous learning. Some of the old guard may opt to leave, it may be a change too far.
As you prepare for this future, ask yourself:
How can agents transform your business processes?
What strategic investments are needed to build an agentic ecosystem?
How can you foster a culture of collaboration between humans and agents?
Author: Christopher Foster-McBride, CEO, Digital Human Assistants
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