Enterprise architects are entering a transformative phase. As agentic AI becomes embedded in enterprise architecture (EA) tools, it’s not just automating tasks — it’s redefining the architect’s role. In our latest report, The Future Of The Enterprise Architect’s Job, we explore how agentic AI is reshaping EA and what architects must do to stay relevant in an AI-augmented enterprise.

Agentic AI Is Already Changing EA Tools

Agentic AI is now a core feature of every major EA tool, as shown in our Forrester Wave™ evaluation of EA management suites. These agents automate data validation, capability mapping, and artifact creation, freeing architects to focus on strategy and transformation. Tools like SAP Signavio, Celonis, and ServiceNow are integrating AI to support smarter decisions across business, data, application, and technology domains.

AI also improves data quality in EA repositories and enhances application portfolio management capacity. For example, process intelligence software now uses AI to mine inefficiencies and recommend improvements, while agentic AI enables real-time feedback loops that continuously update EA repositories.

Architects Must Embrace New Strategic Roles

In this AI-driven landscape, architects must evolve. The report outlines four emerging roles:

  • Customer-centric, employee-centric value mapper: Architects will map customer and employee experiences within value streams, building knowledge graphs that help connect architectural decisions to measurable business outcomes.
  • Digital twin strategist: They’ll simulate architecture options using AI-powered digital twins to rehearse strategic bets and expose trade-offs.
  • Enterprise knowledge curator: Architects will govern semantic layers and train data teams in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and GraphRAG to ensure AI outputs are grounded in trusted context.
  • Agentic governance champion: They’ll manage farms of AI agents, establishing guardrails and feedback loops to ensure accountability and alignment with business goals.

From Tech Custodian To Strategic Advisor

The enterprise architecture mandate is shifting from IT optimization to business value creation. As agentic AI reshapes the enterprise, architects are uniquely positioned to orchestrate intelligent ecosystems. They must lead with purpose, embedding AI into architectural practices while preserving human judgment and strategic foresight and:

  • Reframe their role to govern and guide AI usage.
  • Maintain control over AI intent and validate outputs.
  • Follow a structured AI learning path to design feedback-aware systems.
  • Build an end-to-end enterprise view across IT, data, and business processes.
  • Use AI-assisted capability mapping and impact analysis to simulate change.

Learn More

To explore how agentic AI is transforming EA, Forrester clietnst can read the full report: The Future Of The Enterprise Architect’s Job. To discuss further, they can submit a request or reach out to your account team.

 

For related research:

EA Management Suites Wave

Process Intelligence Software Wave