Business Software Survives the Agentic Era (inmydata.ai)

In early 2026, the enterprise software landscape underwent a seismic shift, marked by a dramatic $2 trillion loss in market capitalisation among established companies like Atlassian and Salesforce. This upheaval was triggered by the rise of agentic AI—autonomous software agents capable of performing tasks once reliant on millions of per-seat subscriptions. Notably, reports surfaced of a former Amazon executive creating a CRM system over a weekend, exemplifying the potential for custom solutions that sidestep traditional licensing models. As businesses begin to realize that AI can replace the user interface of many SaaS offerings, the industry is left questioning the true value of long-standing business logic embedded in enterprise systems. The implications for the AI/ML community are profound. Agentic AI is not just disrupting the user interface; it poses a challenge to the business logic layer as well. While some industry insiders argue that these established rules are essential for guiding AI functions, many incumbents are struggling to adapt their strategies. Companies like SAP and Salesforce are evolving to leverage their proprietary data and domain expertise, positioning themselves as platforms rather than products. This transformation emphasizes the need for enterprise software providers to open their data and pivot their pricing models away from per-seat licensing, as they need to prepare for a future where AI agents can perform their functionalities more efficiently. As the transition unfolds, those who seize the opportunity to redefine what "agent-ready" looks like will emerge as frontrunners in the next era of enterprise software.