AI agents explained · Updated
What is the difference between an AI agent and an automation workflow?
Short answer: An automation workflow follows the same fixed steps every time, such as "new form, add to CRM, send email". An AI agent decides its own steps based on the request. Workflows are cheaper, faster and easier to test; agents handle messy, varied requests. Many good systems are mostly workflows with an AI step only where judgement is needed.
A practical approach
Start with a workflow, add AI to read or write text, and only move to a full agent if fixed steps really cannot cover the job.
Go deeper: What is an AI internal tool? Plain examples for busy teams
Agencies that do this work
- Makeitfuture (Romania)
- Softweb Solutions (United States)
- Avalency Studio
- flowio (United Kingdom)
- Samcom Technologies (India)
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Questions
What is an AI agent, in simple terms?
An AI agent is software that reads a request, decides which steps to take, and then does them in your tools, for example looking up a customer, updating the CRM and drafting a reply. A normal automation follows fixed steps; an agent chooses its steps. That makes agents more flexible but also harder to control.
Can I get an AI chatbot that answers from my company documents?
Yes. These assistants search your documents for the relevant parts and use an AI model to write an answer, ideally with a link to the source page. This approach is called RAG (retrieval-augmented generation). They work best on well-organised, up-to-date documents, and need access rules so staff only see what they are allowed to.
Sources
Cost figures are rough guidance from how agencies describe their work, not quotes. Vendor prices change, so check the source. Editorial policy.