PagerDuty Report: Over 50% of Companies Adopting AI Agents for Faster ROI and Greater Efficiency
In a groundbreaking shift toward advanced automation, PagerDuty, Inc. (NYSE: PD), a global leader in digital operations management, has released an international survey highlighting how organizations are moving beyond generative AI (GenAI) to embrace agentic AI for enhanced operational efficiency and business impact. The findings reveal that more than half (51%) of companies are already leveraging AI agents, with executives anticipating faster adoption rates and higher returns on investment (ROI) compared to GenAI.
This comprehensive survey, which gathered insights from 1,000 IT and business executives across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Japan, underscores the growing importance of agentic AI as a transformative force in reshaping industries. With businesses increasingly focused on automating complex workflows and driving efficiency, agentic AI is emerging as the next phase of AI-driven innovation—offering faster deployment, deeper operational impact, and tangible financial benefits.
Agentic AI Adoption Accelerates Across Industries
The rapid adoption of GenAI has been well-documented, with McKinsey & Company reporting usage in at least one business function rising from 33% in 2023 to 71% by July 2024. However, the PagerDuty survey reveals that agentic AI adoption is set to outpace GenAI, with 94% of companies expecting to integrate agentic AI more quickly. A significant 55% of respondents strongly agree that their organizations will adopt agentic AI at an accelerated pace, signaling a clear shift toward leveraging this technology for long-term transformation.
Executives are particularly optimistic about the ROI potential of agentic AI. According to the survey, 62% of companies expect an ROI above 100%, with an average anticipated return of 171%. This surpasses the already impressive 152% ROI reported for GenAI, demonstrating the immense value organizations foresee in deploying AI agents.
Key Insights from the Survey
Confidence in GenAI Integration
While GenAI adoption remains strong, regional disparities are evident. The majority of respondents (63%) have fully integrated GenAI into their operations, with the U.K. (73%) and Australia (69%) leading the charge. The U.S. follows closely at 64%, but Japan lags behind, with only 44% of companies having fully implemented GenAI. These findings highlight varying levels of AI maturity across regions, which could influence the pace of agentic AI adoption.
AI Maturity Drives Agentic AI Deployment
Organizations with mature GenAI implementations are far more likely to adopt agentic AI. The survey shows that 71% of companies that have fully integrated GenAI have already deployed agentic AI, compared to just 19% of those still working to implement GenAI. This correlation underscores the importance of building a strong AI foundation before advancing to more sophisticated technologies.
Automating Workflows at Scale
Agentic AI is expected to revolutionize workflow automation, with 52% of companies predicting it will automate or accelerate between 26% and 50% of their workloads. This level of automation promises significant operational efficiencies, enabling businesses to streamline processes and focus on strategic priorities.
Future Impact of AI Technologies
Leaders remain divided on whether agentic AI will surpass GenAI in terms of overall impact. While 44% believe agentic AI will have a greater transformative effect, 40% think GenAI will continue to dominate. This division reflects ongoing uncertainty about the extent of agentic AI’s industry-wide disruption.
Lessons Learned from GenAI Implementation
The survey also highlights key challenges faced during GenAI adoption, offering valuable lessons for agentic AI implementation. 44% of business leaders cite rushed adoption without proper planning as the biggest hurdle, followed by cost control (40%), improved employee training (37%), and stronger data infrastructure (37%). To address these issues, organizations are prioritizing structured training programs, mentorship initiatives, and external courses to ensure employees can effectively leverage AI agents.
Scaling AI Investments
As confidence in AI grows, so does investment. 75% of organizations are allocating $1 million or more to AI initiatives, reflecting a commitment to long-term transformation. This substantial funding underscores the strategic importance of AI in driving innovation and achieving competitive advantage.
Unlocking Value Through Agentic AI
“Leaders need to provide tangible, quantifiable benefits from their AI deployments if they want to justify the investment,” said Eric Johnson, Chief Information Officer at PagerDuty. “PagerDuty’s latest survey data illustrates how strongly organizations believe agentic AI will help unlock real value from AI and automation, as 62% of survey respondents anticipate triple-digit ROI. Companies that successfully integrate agentic AI into their operations can expect increased efficiency gains by automating complexity and accelerating decision-making.”
To support this transition, many organizations are investing heavily in employee training. 61% plan to host organization-wide seminars or structured initiatives, while 56% will offer external courses. Additionally, 52% intend to establish formal internal mentorship programs and office hours to ensure employees can seamlessly integrate AI agents into their workflows.
Paving the Way for AI-Driven Transformation
As businesses seek to harness the full potential of AI, agentic AI represents a critical step forward. By automating complex tasks, expediting decision-making, and delivering measurable ROI, agentic AI is poised to redefine how organizations operate. PagerDuty’s survey findings underscore the urgency and optimism surrounding this technology, positioning it as a cornerstone of future digital transformation efforts.
For organizations looking to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape, embracing agentic AI is no longer optional—it’s essential. To read the full report, including detailed survey findings and methodology, visit PagerDuty’s official website.
By combining advanced automation with strategic investments, businesses can unlock unprecedented efficiency and drive meaningful progress in the age of AI.
About PagerDuty, Inc.
PagerDuty, Inc. (NYSE:PD) is a global leader in digital operations management, enabling customers to achieve operational efficiency at scale with the PagerDuty Operations Cloud. The PagerDuty Operations Cloud combines AIOps, Automation, Customer Service Operations and Incident Management with a powerful generative AI assistant and AI agents to create a flexible, resilient and scalable platform to increase innovation velocity, grow revenue, reduce cost, and mitigate the risk of operational failure. Nearly half of the Fortune 500 and approximately two-thirds of the Fortune 100 rely on PagerDuty as essential infrastructure for the modern enterprise. To learn more and try PagerDuty for free, visit www.pagerduty.com.
The PagerDuty Operations Cloud
The PagerDuty Operations Cloud is the platform for mission-critical, time-critical operations work in the modern enterprise. Through the power of AI and automation, it detects and diagnoses disruptive events, mobilizes the right team members to respond, and streamlines infrastructure and workflows across your digital operations. The Operations Cloud is essential infrastructure for revolutionizing digital operations to compete and win as a modern digital business.
