SHRM India has unveiled a new research report titled “Driving Enterprise Productivity with Agentic AI”, developed in collaboration with Google Cloud and Quantiphi. The announcement was made at the SHRM India Annual Conference and Expo 2025 – The Festival of Work, held at the Taj Palace, marking the organisation’s 20-year milestone in India.
Industry-Wide Insights from CHROs and HR Leaders
The report draws on inputs from 58 HR leaders across 14 industries, supported by interviews with CHROs from 11 leading organisations, including Flipkart, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Larsen & Toubro. The study examines how Indian enterprises can effectively prepare for and adopt agentic AI autonomous, goal-driven AI systems capable of executing complex workflows.
Urgency vs. Readiness: The AI Adoption Gap
A key finding reveals that 79% of CHROs view agentic AI adoption as an urgent priority, yet only 50% believe their organisations are ready. This gap points to the need for structured investments in upskilling, data strategy, governance, and organisational alignment. The report recommends a phased approach: creating organisational “pockets of excellence,” strengthening data foundations, improving AI literacy, and embedding ethical frameworks across HR and enterprise functions.
Building Responsible, Future-Ready Workforces
Commenting on the report, Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM APAC & MENA, said the Festival of Work celebrates “people, purpose, and possibilities,” adding that the research provides HR leaders with actionable insights to adopt AI responsibly and strategically. The findings aim to guide enterprises transitioning toward AI-empowered workforce models while protecting cultural alignment and employee trust.
SHRM India’s Broader Mission
As the India arm of the world’s largest HR association, SHRM India continues to advance organisational capability through certification, consulting, corporate training, and flagship events like the SHRM India Annual Conference and SHRM TECH Conference.
Final Take
As Indian enterprises embrace agentic AI, SHRM’s research underscores an essential truth: competitive advantage will belong to organisations that pair technology ambition with people-centric readiness.
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