Welcome to 2025—a year where AI agents are no longer a futuristic dream but a buzzing reality reshaping how businesses operate. With Deloitte predicting that more than half of enterprises will be heavily using Agents by 2027, the starting gun for the race has already been fired. From retail to finance, organisations everywhere are jumping in—but where exactly do they stand on this agentic adventure? More to the point: where are you at? Let’s dive in and find out—because you’re not out of the race, you may just be in time to lead it.
We recently sat down with some of Australia’s heavy hitters—including Qantas, Westpac, Woolworths, Mable, and Canva—for a roundtable chat about AI agents. The vibe? Every company’s journey is unique, and that’s brilliant news for many of us. You’re not late to the party; you’re right on cue to make your move. Imagine leaping ahead of competitors, nailing those crucial early testing periods, and turning AI Agents into your not-so-secret workforce weapon. Let’s unpack where things are at, why now’s the moment to jump in, and how you can get started
Where are organisations at when it comes to AI Agents?
Picture a marathon where some runners are sprinting, others are jogging, and a few are still tying their laces. That’s the state of AI agent adoption in 2025. PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer reveals that fewer than 25% of Australian CEOs have fully embraced generative AI, even though 60% believe it’ll transform value creation within three years. At our roundtable, we saw this play out live: Canva’s pushing AI to turbocharge design tools and refunds, while Woolworths is cautiously testing operational tweaks. Some are diving into internal efficiencies—like data crunching or CRM research—while others are eyeing customer-facing wins in the next few months.
The maturity curve’s all over the place, and that’s okay. McKinsey’s 2024 Global Survey on AI backs this up, noting that 71% of execs expect AI to overhaul workflows by year-end, yet adoption rates vary wildly. Wherever you’re at—whether you’re just curious or already experimenting—you’re not out of the game. The field’s wide open, and there’s room for everyone to find their stride.
Why you want to get ahead of the curve
Why leap into AI agents now? Because it’s your shot to zoom past your competitors—and the rewards are within reach. With estimates that AI could pump $4.4 trillion into global corporate productivity, with Australia poised to grab a hefty slice if we act fast, it’s a first come, first win approach. This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a chance to turbocharge your edge with smarter operations and standout customer experiences while rivals lag behind.
Companies harnessing AI agents now—like those slashing admin time or delighting customers with tailored service—are already outrunning the field. And the proof is there–businesses using AI tools like agents, have seen a 30% increase in time savings across initiatives, freeing them to focus on bigger projects and bigger wins. You’re not playing catch-up—you’re primed to dominate the leaderboard.
Tips on getting started
Ready to dip your toes in? You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight—small, smart steps will get you there. Here’s how to kick things off, based on the some lessons from our roundtable crew:
- Educate the team: Ensuring your wider team have a base level understanding on both AI and Ai Agents is crucial to being able to scale quickly. Check out resources you can share with your team here.
- Start small: Focus on low-risk, high-impact use cases first. AI agents can tackle CRM research, internal support, or data hygiene—like sorting loyalty insights or cleaning datasets. These wins build confidence without big budgets or public exposure.
- Run discovery sessions: You don’t have to go in alone. Pendula runs Agent Discovery Workshops to help you figure out what issue you’re trying to solve or what use case to start with.
- Test and tweak: Pick one customer journey slice—like basic FAQs or simple upsell opportunities—and trial an agent there. One roundtable voice said it best: “AI on a fuzzy problem is just a shot in the dark.” Test it, refine it, and grow.
- Set guardrails: Protect your brand and user experience with strict boundaries. Ensure the tools you choose include strict guardrail features like Pendula’s AI Agents. Test agents rigorously—think of it like training wheels. Internal use cases can even be your sandbox to getting it right.
- Hack the budget: No cash splash needed. Some businesses tap HR budgets, framing agents as “virtual hires” sans salaries. McKinsey notes over 50% of firms now allocate 5%+ of digital budgets to AI, up from 40% five years ago. Start lean, show results, and unlock more.
These steps keep it manageable and momentum-building. You’re not racing to the finish line—you’re laying a foundation to soar.
How Pendula can help
When you’re ready to turn curiosity into action, Pendula’s got your back. Our AI Agent offering delivers smart, adaptable agents that slot into your systems like they were made for them. Whether it’s suggesting next steps based on customer behaviour or streamlining internal workflows, our agents use machine learning and natural language processing to make life easier—and more effective.
But we don’t just toss you the keys and wave goodbye. Through our Agent Discovery Workshops, we team up with you to build your first agent from a real use case in your organisation. We’ll brainstorm the perfect agentic flow, design a tailored solution, and get it live—together. It’s hands-on, collaborative, and built to fit your goals. Whether you’re starting small or dreaming big, Pendula’s here to turn “barely behind” into “way ahead.” Let’s have a chat today.
The reality of AI agents in 2025 isn’t a scary deadline—it’s an open door. Organisations are at all stages, from cautious explorers to bold innovators, and there’s no shame in where you sit. But the chance to get ahead? It’s staring you in the face. With the right moves—starting small, testing smart, and scaling steadily—you can harness AI to boost efficiency, delight customers, and stay sharp in a fast-moving world. You’re not behind the curve; you’re right on time to lead it. Let’s get cracking!
