APAC IT leaders face data challenges in AI adoption drive

Research from MuleSoft indicates that nearly all enterprise IT leaders in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region have implemented or plan to implement AI agents within the next two years, but they face significant challenges with data integration.

The findings from MuleSoft's 10th annual Connectivity Benchmark report highlight that while 97% of APAC IT leaders are looking towards AI agents, 95% encounter struggles with integrating data across systems. Only 27% of organisational applications are interconnected, notably affecting the efficiency of these AI agents.

The report identified increasing network complexities as a significant barrier to the effective implementation of AI agents. With the rise in the number of applications and AI models, enterprises face data silos, limiting AI agents' operational capacity. In the survey, 93% of APAC IT leaders acknowledged that these silos present business challenges, a figure rising to 98% for organisations utilising AI agents compared to 89% of those who do not.

APIs play a pivotal role in driving AI agent success. When organisations align their integration and AI strategies, they can optimise data infrastructure and enable agents to function at peak efficiency through better access to critical business data. This integration allows agents to interact more seamlessly with existing systems and automation processes.

The survey found that APAC organisations utilising APIs reported advantages such as improved IT infrastructure (50%), enhanced data sharing across teams (48%), and the automation of workflows (46%). Approximately 48% of software assets within APAC companies are available for internal reuse, indicating a potential resource for businesses to leverage existing investments.

Andrew Comstock, Senior Vice President and General Manager at MuleSoft, stated, "AI agents are set to transform enterprises with limitless digital labour. We see forecasts of new levels of efficiency and productivity with the unified human and agent workforce. However, to unlock this new capacity, integration and APIs are critical to building an agent-ready foundation. Agents depend on unified data and enterprise actions, powered by integration and automation, to provide accurate, trusted responses and perform complex, multi-step tasks."

Similarly, the integration of AI agents is seen as a pathway to enhancing productivity. The report points out that APAC organisations using APIs experience increased productivity (52%), faster responses to business demands (49%), and improved capacity for IT teams to manage their tasks (46%). It was also noted that over a third of IT teams leverage APIs to boost application development efficiency. IT leaders estimated that roughly 38% of company revenue is linked to API and API-related implementations.

Beena Ammanath, Global Deloitte AI Institute Leader, commented, "In the agentic era, IT leaders are seeking ways to meet the increased demand for efficiency and productivity. This strain on their teams is growing as they navigate balancing current capabilities with business aspirations: steadily incorporating AI and autonomous agents across an ecosystem of hundreds of distinct applications while also maintaining those same systems. Leading organisations must establish a proactive integration strategy for unifying the entire IT estate, encompassing apps and systems, automation, and APIs, all of which are vital for driving revenue growth and reducing operational costs."

The challenges and opportunities highlighted in the report carry broad implications for APAC organisations, pointing towards the necessity of overcoming integration barriers for successful AI adoption. Maximilian Schroeck, Global Chief Commercial Officer for Salesforce at Deloitte Global, highlighted the significance of these findings: "This report provides invaluable guidance for businesses navigating the complexities of digital transformation and the underlying need for effective data integration. By leveraging these insights and unlocking the power of cutting-edge technology, we empower organisations to unlock the full potential of integration—connecting systems, data, and processes to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and achieve sustainable growth."

The report suggests that as organisations adopt AI agents, achieving full integration will be crucial in strengthening IT infrastructure and meeting the growing demand for enterprise-wide digital solutions.