The enterprise software landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the emergence of AI agents as operational execution engines. This shift is accelerating across industries, including banking, healthcare, and retail, with 40% of enterprise applications expected to include autonomous agents by 2026, according to Gartner. As AI agents take center stage, traditional application backends are retreating to governance and permission management roles.
At the heart of this transformation is the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which provides agents with structured access to databases, APIs, and runtime environments. Rafael Torres, Senior Software Development Architect at Expedia Group, notes that MCP enables agents to “act on intent, rather than just generating it.” This means that AI agents can now directly invoke services and orchestrate workflows, rather than relying on backends to execute actions.
The implications of this shift are far-reaching. As AI agents become the primary drivers of enterprise applications, organizations must reevaluate their software architecture and design patterns. A recent article on Agentic AI Architecture Framework for Enterprises emphasizes the need for a three-tier framework, comprising the Foundation Tier, Workflow Tier, and Autonomous Tier. This framework prioritizes simplicity, composability, and transparency, enabling organizations to build trust and effectively manage complexity.
Real-world deployments demonstrate the potential of AI agents in enterprise applications. For instance, a South American bank has deployed agents that process PIX payments through WhatsApp, while JPMorgan Chase has implemented an Intelligent Q&A system that reduces handling times and enables proactive client outreach. Similarly, Mass General Brigham has deployed ambient documentation agents that autonomously draft clinical notes from patient conversations, resulting in increased productivity and improved patient engagement.
As the adoption of AI agents continues to accelerate, enterprise architects must confront new design challenges and prioritize simplicity, security, and cost discipline. By doing so, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI agents and drive significant economic value. According to Futurum Research, agent-based AI is expected to drive up to $6 trillion in economic value by 2028.
Source: https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/10/ai-agent-orchestration