AI with Initiative: How Agentic AI is Changing Businesses

Julian Staub: Agentic AI represents a new generation of systems that don’t just understand instructions but can plan, make decisions, and act autonomously. Unlike traditional, rule-based automation tools that simply react to commands, agentic systems combine large language models with process automation. This enables them to access databases, make decisions within defined parameters, and execute workflows on their own—almost like a digital coworker.

A good example is an AI travel assistant. When a customer wants to reschedule a flight, the AI authenticates them via their booking code, retrieves the itinerary, checks available alternatives, and proposes new options. The entire process runs automatically—from the initial request to the new booking confirmation—without any human intervention.

Because it’s no longer experimental, it’s enterprise ready. The convergence of powerful language models, mature APIs, and increasing digital business processes makes agentic AI more relevant than ever. Companies that move early can automate complex tasks, reduce manual effort, and reallocate employees to higher-value work. In times of labor shortages, that’s a clear strategic advantage.

Agentic AI shows immediate impact wherever routine meets scale and speed. In customer service, it can handle bookings, cancellations, or inquiries autonomously. In HR, it can support onboarding and internal queries. Marketing teams benefit from automated CRM updates or lead qualifications, while IT departments can use it for code generation and bug fixing. Supply chain and logistics functions also gain efficiency through predictive planning and optimized dispatching. In short: agentic AI creates value wherever processes are standardized but still require smart decisions.

The push came from real operational challenges, especially in customer communication, inventory management, and real-time logistics. We wanted to speed up processes and shorten response times by automating routine tasks. Agentic AI is not just another tool for us; it’s a strategic pillar of our digital transformation—both internally and for our clients.

Yes. Together with partners like Cognigy, we’ve already deployed agentic systems in several domains, such as customer service chatbots, automated mail-to-booking processes, and supply chain reordering systems. The outcomes are clear: higher efficiency, faster turnaround times, and fewer manual interventions. Standardized tasks can now be handled far more intelligently.

It starts with knowledge and structure. Organizations should first educate their teams about the capabilities and limitations of generative and agentic AI, and ensure their processes are digital, transparent, and data-driven. Clear governance is equally essential—defining access rights, decision-making boundaries, and human oversight where necessary. From there, it’s best to begin with small, targeted pilot projects that deliver tangible value and can scale. The key is to start experimenting early and learn by doing.

Agentic AI will become a standard capability across enterprises, embedded in nearly every function. Human–AI collaboration will feel more natural, intuitive, and productive. A few years from now, we’ll look back and wonder why we spent so much time on manual workflows. Agentic AI won’t replace human relationships, but it will fundamentally change how people and machines work together.