Durable AI Agents: The Future of Work

Ever wondered what happens when AI doesn't just answer questions but actually gets work done for you? That's where durable agentic workflows come in.

In simple terms, these are AI systems that can think through complex tasks, adapt when things change, and keep running reliably for long periods. Unlike chatbots that just respond to your questions, these AI agents can plan, work together, and take action on their own.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Companies everywhere are starting to use these AI agents to get more done with less hassle. ServiceNow recently mentioned in their Yokohama Release that some businesses see this as a game-changer for handling tasks automatically.

But here's the real question: how can your team put these powerful tools to work without getting overwhelmed or losing control?

What Makes These AI Workflows Different?

Think about traditional automation like a train on tracks – it follows a set path and stops if something blocks the way. Durable agentic workflows are more like smart drivers that can find new routes when there's traffic.

Here's what makes them special:

• They adapt on the fly: If something unexpected happens, these AI agents don't just shut down – they figure out a new approach.
• They work as a team: Different AI agents can collaborate, like having a research assistant gather information, then pass it to a writer who crafts it into a report.
• They keep going: If your system needs to pause overnight or goes down temporarily, these workflows pick up right where they left off when things restart.
• They bounce back from problems: When an API changes or data looks different than expected, these systems can often recover without human help.

Real-World Examples That Make Sense

Let's look at how businesses are actually using these tools:

A customer support team might use AI agents to sort incoming tickets, automatically answer common questions, and only bring in human agents for the tricky stuff. This frees up your support staff to handle the issues that really need their expertise.

In healthcare, AI agents could handle the tedious insurance paperwork, schedule follow-ups, and flag unusual test results for doctors to review. Patients get faster responses, and medical staff focus more on care than admin work.

For retail and logistics, imagine AI that watches your inventory levels and shipping options in real-time. When a popular product starts running low at one warehouse, the system automatically routes new orders to another location to avoid delays.

The Building Blocks You Need

To make these systems work reliably, you need:

• A way to save progress (so nothing gets lost if systems restart)
• Good coordination between different parts of the workflow
• Smart agents that can understand what's happening and make decisions
• Options for humans to step in when needed
• Clear visibility into what the AI is doing and why

Starting Small But Thinking Big

You don't need to rebuild your entire business around AI overnight. Many teams start with a single process that causes headaches - maybe document processing that takes days, or scheduling that requires lots of back-and-forth.

Tools like Scout offer ways to build these workflows without needing to write tons of code. Their platform lets you connect your existing data, design workflows visually, and keep everything under control as you scale up.

The Good and the Challenging

What you'll love:

• Less busy work for your team
• Systems that keep running even when things go wrong
• Easy scaling as your needs grow
• Consistent results you can count on

What to watch out for:

• Getting started can feel complex (though platforms help)
• You need good guardrails so AI stays within bounds
• AI can sometimes inherit biases from training data
• Proper monitoring is essential

Taking Your First Step

The best approach is starting with a specific problem your team faces regularly. Maybe it's processing customer requests that span multiple days, or coordinating complex schedules across departments.

Instead of building everything from scratch, consider platforms that already handle the technical heavy lifting. This lets you move quickly from idea to working solution while maintaining proper oversight.

What's Next for Your Business?

By giving AI the ability to handle extended processes, you're freeing up your team to focus on creative and strategic work. The technology might sound fancy, but today's tools make it more accessible than ever.

If you're curious about building your first agentic workflow without major IT investments, check out platforms like Scout that offer visual builders and pre-built connections. Start with a small pilot project, see the results, and expand from there.

Taking that first step could make your business more agile and efficient – ready for whatever comes next in the rapidly evolving world of AI.

Want to learn more? Set up a trial with Scout or check out their guides on multi-agent processes to see how these workflows could transform your operations.