BARC Topical Survey: Agentic AI in Corporate Planning: The Dawn of a New Era

AI is changing the future of corporate planning. But how close are organizations to realizing the promised benefits of agentic AI?

In this new BARC research study, business, finance, and technology leaders share where AI is already creating value in planning, which use cases are gaining traction, and what is still standing in the way.

Key findings

• 98% of organizations see potential for AI in corporate planning.
• 83% invest in AI to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Only 10% already see a significant impact on planning today.
• 55% consider improving their data foundation more urgent than adopting AI.
• 54% are comfortable using AI within defined boundaries and with a human in control.
• Anomaly and risk detection is the leading use case, followed by scenario analysis and insights from external data.
• Better integration with existing systems is identified as the most important external lever for value.

From autonomy to assistance

The research shows that organizations are not starting with fully autonomous planning. They are prioritizing practical, analytical use cases that help teams work faster and make better decisions.

The greatest opportunities are found in:

• Data preparation and aggregation
• Scenario simulation and what-if analysis
• Forecasting and re-forecasting
• Reporting and management commentary
• Anomaly and risk detection

The path to value starts with a strong data foundation, clear human oversight, focused pilots, and measurable outcomes.

For Board, the findings reinforce the role of integrated planning as the foundation for applying AI close to the data, context, permissions, and decisions that matter.

Download the full BARC study to understand how organizations can move from agentic AI ambition to practical value in corporate planning.