Pioneering Study Reveals Path for AI Adoption at SHRM India’s Festival of Work

New Delhi, India — SHRM India has announced a significant collaboration with Google Cloud and Quantiphi, culminating in the release of a landmark research report titled: Driving Enterprise Productivity with Agentic AI. The findings were officially unveiled at the SHRM India Annual Conference and Expo 2025, The Festival of Work, a major event held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi.

Marking its two-decade anniversary, the influential conference served as the backdrop for the report’s debut, drawing over 4,500 HR professionals, 150 speakers, and featuring 70 sessions dedicated to the future of work, leadership, and workforce trends.

Key Insights: Urgency vs. Readiness Gap

The report, which integrates insights from 58 HR leaders across 14 industries and in-depth interviews with 11 CHROs from major organizations like Flipkart, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Larsen and Toubro, provides a practical roadmap for Indian enterprises planning to integrate agentic AI into their operations.

A critical finding of the study points to a noticeable readiness gap:

• 79% of CHROs view the adoption of agentic AI as an urgent priority.

• However, only half believe their organizations are currently ready for its implementation.

This disparity underscores the necessity for targeted strategies in upskilling, governance, and organizational alignment to successfully harness the power of AI.

Practical Steps for Bridging the AI Gap

To help organizations navigate this challenge, the research outlines several practical and actionable steps:

• Creating Pockets of Excellence: Starting with focused, successful AI pilot projects.

• Building a Strong Data Foundation: Ensuring clean, reliable, and accessible data is in place.

• Investing in AI Literacy: Broadening employee understanding and comfort with AI tools.

• Embedding Ethical Frameworks: Establishing robust governance and ethical standards for AI use.

Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM APAC and MENA, emphasized the report’s significance, stating, “The Festival of Work is a celebration of people, purpose, and possibilities. This research equips HR leaders with the insights and tools to harness AI responsibly and strategically, redefining the future of work in India and beyond.”

SHRM India: Advancing HR and Human Potential

As the India arm of the world’s largest HR association, SHRM India is committed to empowering organizations by advancing HR practices and maximizing human potential. The organization seamlessly integrates global standards with local market insights through its diverse offerings, including consulting, corporate training, professional certification, and major industry events like the SHRM India Annual Conference and Expo and the SHRM TECH Conference and Expo.

The new report is expected to become an essential guide for Indian businesses seeking to leverage agentic AI for productivity while managing the associated organizational and ethical complexities.

By: Sandhya Bharti