AI agents crucial to app development in APAC, says report

Salesforce has released its latest State of IT report, highlighting the growing importance of AI agents in application development across the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

The research involved surveying over 2,000 software development leaders, with 587 participants from APAC. The findings indicate that more than four in five of these leaders believe AI agents will become as crucial to app development as traditional software tools. It also reveals that 70% of developers in APAC think AI agents would enhance the speed of application development, thereby boosting efficiency and productivity.

The report outlines the increasing use of low-code/no-code tools among developers in the region. It identifies that 86% of developers using AI agents currently leverage these tools. Additionally, 79% of developers recognise the capacity of low-code/no-code tools to democratise AI development, and 85% believe these tools can assist in scaling AI development.

The demand for updated resources to support AI agents is another focus of the report. A significant number of developers, at 85%, report that updated infrastructure is needed to facilitate building and deploying AI agents. Furthermore, 45% of developers feel their testing processes are not adequately equipped for AI agent deployment.

In terms of skills and knowledge, although more than eight in ten developers anticipate AI knowledge will become a standard skill for their profession, 51% feel inadequately prepared for the transition to agentic AI.

Gavin Barfield, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Solutions, ASEAN at Salesforce, commented: "AI agents are redefining software development. Low-code/no-code tools allow developers of all skill levels to build and deploy agents, lowering barriers to entry and scaling AI development for the better. What's more, AI agents also enable developers to shift their focus from manual coding and repetitive tasks to high-value problem-solving, architecture and strategic decision-making."

Barfield continued, "This transition from output to business impact is being powered by solutions like Agentforce that make writing, reviewing and optimising code faster, easier and more efficient than ever before. The impact of AI agents on the industry is undeniable, and the best time for organisations to invest in empowering developers with the right skills, resources and infrastructure is right now."

Further insights from the APAC region include a recognition among 46% of developers that their current data quality and accuracy are insufficient for effective AI development and implementation. Additionally, the report notes that more than half of developers in Singapore feel they lack the requisite skills for the agentic era.

This report by Salesforce not only highlights the pivot towards AI in app development within APAC but also underscores the ongoing need for infrastructure enhancements, improved testing capabilities, and an investment in developing technical AI skills to fully capitalise on the potential of AI agents.