Generative AI (GenAI) was everywhere last year. ChatGPT, Midjourney and DALL-E made daily headlines. They showed us that AI can create texts, images and ideas at a pace that until recently seemed impossible. Companies jumped on the train en masse and experimented with automatic email generation, marketing campaigns and creative concepts.
But anyone looking at Gartner’ s latest Hype Cycle for Artificial Intelligence will see that the market is maturing. Gartner predicts that the next big step in AI is not about even more generation, but about AI agents and data-driven applications. This is good news for companies that want not just inspiration, but more importantly concrete results.
From making to doing
The big difference between GenAI and AI agents is in what they deliver. Generative AI creates content. AI agents perform tasks, make decisions and take action independently. For example, where a GenAI model can write a persuasive e-mail, an AI agent will not only compose that same e-mail, but also send it immediately to the right recipients, schedule follow-up and analyse the response.
The applications are endless. Think of a digital assistant that automatically answers customer questions, passes on complex files to the right employee and in the meantime updates the status in your CRM. Or a marketing tool that plans, tests and optimises your social media campaigns without you having to look into it. In a Flemish SME, such an agent can make the difference between an overloaded to-do list and a working day in which you really work on your business.
Why Gartner sees AI agents as new trend
Gartner sees that companies are less and less impressed by AI that can only create something fancy. Demand is shifting towards solutions that run reliably in production, handle data securely and deliver directly measurable value. In the Hype Cycle, AI agents are therefore rapidly shifting towards the point of widespread adoption.
For SMEs, this means that the days of experimenting with separate AI tools are over. The next step is integration into existing processes so that the technology runs with the day-to-day operations of your business.
Data as a foundation
An AI agent is as smart as the data it operates on. Without up-to-date, structured and secure data, the technology cannot make reliable decisions. Gartner stresses that data quality is at least as important as the AI model itself.
At Ittes, we therefore always build from the existing working environment. We link AI directly to systems such as Salesforce, monday.com and SharePoint. This way, our solutions work with the right context, are better able to make relevant decisions and control over your data stays with you.
Agentforce: an AI agent in action
A good example of such a data-driven AI agent is Agentforce, the AI solution within Salesforce. In our blog series Meet Agentforce, we show how this technology supports customer teams. Agentforce can listen in live during conversations, instantly summarise them, suggest answers and even recognise customer emotion. So your team not only responds faster, but also with the right tone-of-voice.
At Ittes, we ensure that Agentforce is seamlessly integrated into your Salesforce environment. We set it up correctly, train your employees and continue to optimise its use. That way, you have an AI agent that effectively adds value from day one.
AI already working today
Agentforce is just one example of what AI agents can do today. Even outside Salesforce, there are already applications that ease daily work in Flemish SMEs. Through our IttesAI platform, companies can start using them right away.
For example, Postmaster takes over all social media management, from scheduling posts to optimising content based on performance. NoteAssist turns long meetings into compact, structured reports you can share immediately. And with DataLink, you get insights directly from your internal SharePoint documents, without having to search manually.
The effect is the same every time: less repetitive work, fewer errors and more space for strategic tasks.
Why start now
The hype around GenAI has opened the door, but the real efficiency gains come from AI working with your business processes. AI agents are the logical next step: they run with your existing systems, act autonomously and deliver immediate results.
Moreover, for Flemish entrepreneurs, this is the ideal time to step in. Via the KMO-portefeuille, you can get up to 45% subsidy on advice and training trajectories around AI, as long as they fall within the themes of digitalisation or cybersecurity. Think, for example, of a consultancy trajectory in which we analyse your processes together and draw up an AI implementation plan, or a training course in which your team learns to work with tools such as Agentforce, Postmaster or NoteAssist. This will not only reduce your investment, but also ensure that your AI project is supported by knowledge and a clear strategy right from the start.
Conclusion
The shift from GenAI to AI agents shows that AI is coming of age. The technology is becoming more autonomous, reliable and valuable. With solutions like Agentforce and our own IttesAI tools, you can make AI do what it promises today. And this securely, integrated and fully aligned with your way of working.
👉 Find out what AI agents can do for your business. Schedule a free demo with our team and see how together we make AI work to your advantage.
