How Enterprise Leaders Can Build Foundations for an AI-Native Era

It’s tempting to rebuild or replatform legacy systems, but Gartner warns that without clear AI requirements and business goals, this can lead to wasted resources and delayed benefits. In fact, not all applications and platforms present barriers to harnessing AI. Use lightweight assessment tools to identify where targeted improvements will deliver the most value. Remember, 30% of organizations cite data quality as a top barrier to AI success — so prioritize making your data AI-ready, not just your applications.

The insights are clear: Organizations that provide AI training and support are twice as likely to weather the next wave of AI disruption. AI-native teams are smaller, but more highly skilled. Start by inventorying your teams’ skills and ambitions. Tailor AI literacy programs to fill specific gaps and support future use cases. Make upskilling visible — from onboarding to ongoing development — so your teams know that AI fluency is a priority, not an afterthought.

AI’s potential is unlocked by imagination, not just technology. But fear of failure and job loss can stall adoption. Leaders should model openness by sharing their own AI learning journeys, including mistakes. Encourage peer learning, provide sandboxes for safe experimentation, and recognize the value of learning from failures — not just successes. This approach helps teams embrace change and accelerates meaningful AI adoption.

Eighty-five percent of tech leaders say rigid governance can block AI outcomes. One-size-fits-all models no longer work. Instead, design adaptive governance that evolves with your AI portfolio and business needs. Segment applications by their pace of change and regularly review governance processes to ensure they enable — not hinder — innovation and compliance, as new risks and opportunities arise.

Gartner recommends classifying applications as innovative, differentiated or foundational. Innovative apps support rapid experimentation; differentiated ones give your business its unique edge; foundational apps must remain stable and compliant. This segmentation helps leaders allocate resources, manage risk and stay agile as AI transforms business needs, sometimes turning a foundational app into an innovative one overnight.

By 2028, a third of enterprise applications will feature agentic AI, up from less than 1% in 2024. The pace of change is accelerating, and only 25% of leaders feel ready for the next disruption. Proactively invest in ongoing training, adaptive strategies and a culture of learning to future-proof your teams. The most successful organizations will be those that view AI not just as a technology shift, but as a catalyst for continuous reinvention.