In our organisation, digital transformation started with a goal of automating what slows people down. Over the years, we achieved that through ERP modernization, RPA, and workflow orchestration. But efficiency alone eventually delivered its full value. We could automate tasks, while decisions continued to rely on human judgment. That is where my focus on AI began: shifting from execution to judgment. Today, we are entering the age of Agentic AI; systems that donʼt just provide answers, but carry out actions based on clear business intent. It is the difference between asking a question and assigning a responsibility.

In this evolution, the actual challenge is how the business operates. To prepare for autonomous systems, we are redesigning core elements of the organization

1. Operating Model Built on Outcomes: Instead of step-by-step handoffs, processes are re-shaped into goals that agents can pursue end-to-end, from validating data to triggering downstream actions.

2. Security as Architecture, Not Afterthought: Agents interface with multiple platforms, so guardrails must be embedded: identity governance, monitored delegation, and a clear boundary between what agents can do and what remains human oversight.

3. Clear Ownership of Decision Rights: Delegation is not abdication. For every autonomous function, the accountable human remains known and is fully auditable.

Workforces are evolving, too. The skill isnʼt to replace people. Its̓ʼ to raise them. Teams learn how to collaborate with AI: checking assumptions, guiding objectives, and focusing on negotiation, creativity, and strategic problem-solving, the work humans do best.

Scaling this vision requires discipline: embed AI into systems people already use, link every initiative directly to business value, and secure active CXO sponsorship. Proof-of-concepts donʼt transform companies. Ownership does. Agentic AI isnʼt a trend we're chasing. Its̓ʼ the operating reality we are building toward, where systems solve problems, leaders set direction, and organizations become more adaptive than ever before. The future of work is not automation but autonomy with accountability.

"Technology should take work away from people, so people can make decisions that move businesses forward."

The Joruney Into Industry

Shashwat Singh is the CIO at boAt, where he is building the company’s technology backbone from the ground up, shaping digital strategy, strengthening core systems, and leading the teams that deliver them. With 18+ years of experience at organizations such as Hindustan Unilever and Asian Paints, he has driven transformation across fast-moving, dynamic businesses. Recognised as one of Asia’s 100 Power Leaders in Technology and a Young Alumni Achiever of IIT Kharagpur, Shashwat focuses on using technology that improves execution, sharpens decisions, and supports long-term growth.