AI Sales Agents Race: Software Leads, Others Trail Behind

AI-powered sales agents are being rolled out at lightning speed, but not every industry is keeping pace. Data from ZoomInfo shows that software companies are launching these tools four times faster than any other sector. Over the past year, from mid-2025 to mid-2026, software firms dominated the market with roughly 66% of all AI agent product launches. Business services came in second at about 16%, followed by finance at 10%, and manufacturing trailing at 8%. The rest of the industries barely register on the list.

This huge gap isn't random. One major reason is data readiness. Software companies tend to have cleaner, more accessible data compared to industries like insurance and telecommunications. Those sectors are weighed down by outdated systems and massive technical debt. Deloitte estimates that insurers spend over $30 billion annually just maintaining legacy infrastructure, eating up 70% of their IT budgets. Meanwhile, EY found that 98% of telecom operators say they need to overhaul their core platforms. These outdated systems make it harder to build and deploy AI tools effectively.

Deal complexity also plays a big role. In heavily regulated industries like finance and insurance, purchases often require approval from seven to 12 stakeholders. That's more than the average across all sectors. No single person can sign off alone, which slows everything down. On top of that, sales reps are stretched thin. Research from McKinsey shows that reps managing fewer than 30 accounts hit 118% of their quota, while those juggling 50 or more struggle to reach even 70%. AI tools are designed to help close that gap, but only if the groundwork is ready.

For companies in the leading industries, the time for testing is over. Software, business services, and finance should now focus on fine-tuning their existing AI agents and measuring real returns. But for those lagging behind, there's a chance to catch up fast. Instead of rushing to adopt new tools, they should clean up their data, map out their workflows, and prepare their teams for change. Building a solid foundation now means they can deploy AI agents later without starting from scratch.

The key takeaway? Speed matters, but readiness matters more. Industries that move fast without cleaning up their systems end up falling behind. Those that take time to prepare are better positioned to scale when the moment comes.