Agentic Foundations: AI Economics, Governance, and Change Management

In Session 2 of our Agentic Foundations webinar series, we move beyond the initial setup of agentic systems to tackle the critical next steps: making them work at scale. 

This session digs into the practical challenges of scaling agentic AI, focusing on the essential pillars of AI economics, operating models, and change management.

Ashling and SS&C Blue Prism continued the Agentic Foundations series with an in-depth exploration of AI economics, operating models, and change management, focusing on how organizations can scale value effectively with agentic solutions.

• Tackling Governance Challenges: Ashling’s Don Sweeney and SS&C Blue Prism’s Brad Hairston emphasized the importance of governance as a foundation for agentic AI success. Hairston noted, “Some companies will say, 'We've got a great governance board, we've got airtight compliance.' Make sure it accommodates this new world of AI, because it has added new things, new dimensions that some companies have neglected to address.” They discussed how clear accountability, real-time monitoring, and robust frameworks mitigate risks and ensure AI agents operate securely and effectively.

• AI Economics Unpacked: The session also highlighted the hidden costs of scaling AI, from API calls to cloud computing, and the importance of tracking these in real time. Hairston explained, “Don’t just run a project for two months and then go back and look at the cost. You have to do it in real time so that you can assess the real cost that you're taking in, and then you can adjust your expectations based on that.” The speakers also stressed the need to choose the right tools for the job, balancing agentic AI with other technologies to optimize costs and outcomes.

• Change Management in Focus: Attendees learned how to prepare their organizations for AI adoption by fostering transparency, trust, and engagement. Sweeney and Hairston underscored the need for process redesign and continuous communication to align teams with new operating models and ensure long-term success.
  
  

Successfully scaling agentic AI requires a strategic foundation built on robust governance, clear economic understanding, and proactive change management. Isolated experiments may generate excitement, but true enterprise value comes from integrating these solutions into a cohesive, well-managed operational framework.

This means your AI strategy must be grounded in airtight governance from day one. Frameworks like BOAT are essential for orchestrating humans, bots, and AI agents, ensuring every action is secure, auditable, and aligned with your business goals.

Examining AI economics is also critical. To scale beyond pilots, you need to track real-time costs, understand the total expense of agentic solutions, and select the right tools to maximize ROI.

Finally, effective change management prepares your organization for this new reality. By communicating transparently, redesigning processes collaboratively, and focusing on upskilling your teams, you ensure that agentic AI empowers your people and accelerates growth.

Don’t miss the next session, “Evolving the CoE: Should AI & IA Programs Merge?” where Ashling’s Marshall Sied and Don Sweeney will explore the pros and cons of merging IA Centers of Excellence with those for AI, helping you decide on the right governance structure for your organization.

Explore the on-demand recording for even deeper insight, or connect with us for tailored guidance on your automation journey. Ashling is here to help unlock enterprise agility and move your organization forward.