The fastest way to shortlist AI agent use cases: target the gaps between systems
kashifmanzoor · x · 2026-09-04
The author proposes one screening question for AI agent use cases: is the data structured and sitting in one system?
- If yes: your ERP, CRM, or workflow tool has handled it for 15 years — you just need to turn on a feature, not build an agent. And every software vendor is already shipping those agentic features, so don't compete there.
- The real opportunities are messy, scattered data requiring reading rather than matching: a PDF remittance nobody can parse, a promo deal buried in an email thread, a damage claim invisible to ERP/finance.
Bottom line: the gaps between systems are where agents pay for themselves — start there.
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