The three forces reshaping the future of enterprise SaaS

image via TechRadar

August 31, 2026, 10:19 AM

• •The piece says AI agents can handle support, record updates and routine transactions without human users opening SaaS applications.
• •It argues that AI is lowering the cost and time required to build bespoke software, reviving build-versus-buy decisions for enterprises.
• •The author says mature SaaS platforms still retain advantages in governance, resilience, compliance and integrations.
• •The article predicts value will move away from user interfaces toward agents, orchestration layers and systems of record.
• •It advises enterprise customers to experiment with agents, custom builds and hybrid approaches rather than wait for perfect conditions.

The article argues that enterprise SaaS vendors face three structural pressures as agentic AI changes how software is used and bought. First, AI agents can complete tasks inside or outside SaaS products, reducing the number of human users who need paid seats. Second, AI-assisted development makes custom software more feasible, giving buyers a stronger alternative to purchasing specialized SaaS platforms. Third, vendors may have to abandon traditional seat-based pricing in favor of consumption models as software shifts from being operated by people to working on their behalf.

Read original article