As businesses in Asia Pacific (APAC) accelerate their adoption of AI Agents, experts warn that data quality—not just technology—will define long-term success. According to Microsoft, over half of APAC business leaders already use AI Agents to automate processes, outpacing global averages. With IDC forecasting that 70% of APAC organizations expect Agentic AI to disrupt their business models within 18 months, the region is emerging as a global leader in agent-driven automation.
AI Agents offer unique advantages: they operate autonomously, make decisions in real time, and streamline complex workflows without human prompts. From telecom to finance, these systems promise to address workforce shortages, eliminate service bottlenecks, and increase operational scalability.
However, Informatica’s latest CDO Insights study reveals that persistent data challenges are holding back progress. Many data leaders report difficulty in proving the ROI of Generative AI due to fragmented data environments, privacy concerns, and lack of governance frameworks. Richard Scott, Informatica’s Senior VP for APAC and Japan, emphasized that “even the most advanced agent can misfire” without clean, connected, and governed data.
Key takeaways:
- Agentic AI success depends more on real-time, quality data than on model sophistication.
- Organisations must shift from a tech-first to a data-first strategy, dismantling siloes and implementing robust governance.
- Data democratization—empowering users with conversational AI interfaces—will accelerate adoption and effectiveness.
- Collaboration across IT leaders, data stewards, and AI vendors is crucial to unlock value at scale.
Ultimately, APAC’s competitive edge in Agentic AI will not be decided by who adopts AI tools first—but by who prepares their data infrastructure best. With the right foundation, AI Agents can deliver the autonomous, intelligent decision-making enterprises now demand.
Source:
https://www.itnews.asia/news/good-data-will-ultimately-define-agentic-ais-success-618545
