The Agent-Centric Enterprise: Why 2–10x Productivity Gains Demand Radical Workflow Redesign

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Authors: Ulla Kruhse-Lehtonen, Dirk Hofmann
Cited by: 2

Abstract

Autonomous AI agents are set to radically transform how organizations operate, but most companies today capture only marginal benefits by layering AI onto current, human-centric workflows. Drawing on firsthand transformation cases and benchmark data, we introduce the Agent OS framework and the A.G.E.N.T. playbook as practical tools for building agent-centric enterprises. Through real-world examples – including a global industrial firm that cut audit reporting time by 92%, and a B2B sales team that scaled strategic insight generation – we show how reengineering workflows around autonomous agents can unlock significant productivity gains. We provide a phased roadmap for implementation and highlight the strategic, human, and organizational implications of this shift. The article concludes with concrete steps for leaders ready to build agent-powered organizations. These practitioner-reported outcomes illustrate the potential of agent-centric redesign, while acknowledging the need for systematic replication studies.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Innovation Sustainability Human-Machine Systems Artificial Intelligence Applications Economic and Technological Innovation

Publication details

Journal / source
Harvard Data Science Review
Publisher
MIT Press
Volume
8
Issue
1
Publication date
6 January 2026
Language
EN