Can agentic AI improve workflows and margins in medtech?

By Sheryl Jacobson, Deloitte US Consulting Medtech leader, and Mukund Lal, senior manager, Deloitte Consulting, LLP

Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to transform the medtech industry by enabling more accurate diagnostics and personalized treatments. Here, in part 1 of this two-part series, we look at how medtech companies could use agentic AI to streamline business functions and improve margins. In part 2, we look at how agentic AI could help patients with chronic conditions understand and comply with prescribed treatments.

Part 1: Reimagining medtech workflows

While many medtech companies are using generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) in their medical devices and software,¹ some executives are beginning to see the potential of agentic AI for reimagining business functions such as human resources, revenue-cycle management, research & development, and supply chain. Just 15% of recently surveyed medtech executives said their organizations are currently operating AI at scale across their organizations, according to the results of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions’ 2026 Life Sciences Outlook Survey. For 2026, however, 53% of respondents said their organizations would invest in AI-enabled platforms, while 47% intend to deploy AI tools to improve operational efficiencies. This seems to indicate they are moving from use cases to areas where they expect to see a measurable impact.

In product design, agentic AI could be used to design a new device, conduct stress tests, analyze performance data, and fine-tune designs until target specifications are met. When applied to workflows, agentic AI has the potential to improve efficiencies, unlock cost savings, boost margins, and enhance productivity. Agentic AI could be viewed as a digital team member rather than just another tool. These AI agents can reduce the amount of time human employees spend on routine tasks, reducing costs, and indirectly improving margins. Consider the following examples:

• Medtronic is deploying more than 200 agentic AI agents across its global human resources (HR) function. The initiative is designed to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and enhance margins by automating tasks such as resume’ screening, candidate follow-up, and employee communications. Over the next two years, AI agents are expected to take on many of these manual responsibilities, allowing human workers to focus on more strategic activities. The goal is to have 80% of HR processes AI-enabled within the next three years. Similarly, several diagnostic companies we have interacted with are using AI to reimagine their end-to-end revenue cycle, medical legal regulatory (MLR) approval processes, and order-to-cash processes. (See Scaling your human edge).
• Siemens recently developed an AI-powered digital-asset management repository that allows its employees to search for, use, and reuse digital assets—such as stock imagery—for marketing. This initiative saved the company an estimated $4 million by reducing the need to purchase new digital assets.²

The rise of agentic AI in medtech

Gen AI is being used by some medtech companies to quickly summarize scientific literature and draft clinical-trial documents.³ Agentic AI can orchestrate end-to-end processes such as supply chain management, regulatory compliance, and R&D operations. It can identify bottlenecks, re-route tasks, and proactively adjust priorities to maintain efficiency amid shifting conditions, whether it’s responding to geopolitical disruptions or regulatory changes. In the area of quality assurance, agentic AI agents can monitor production lines, flag anomalies, initiate corrective actions, and autonomously update compliance documentation. This has the potential to drive immediate cost savings and create the operational agility needed to sustain margin improvements.

Agentic AI agents could also be used to segment customers and propose customized pricing or contract structures based on real-time utilization data, outcomes, or cost pressure. It could automate negotiation workflows (e.g., propose alternative contracting models, alert sales teams to deviation or margin erosion). AI agents could also be used to monitor medical devices that are in use, collect performance data, trigger service or maintenance, and proactively engage with customers to ensure that service contracts are renewed/upgraded on time. Agents can help tailor digital health (remote monitoring, outcome tracking) at scale, reducing costs related to human intervention.

Because agentic AI can act (rather than just suggest) it offers greater speed, consistency, and scale in commercial decisions. While the full workforce implications of these strategies remain unproven, early indications suggest potential cost savings from productivity gains across business functions.

Enlisting a digital workforce

Using AI agents in isolation is unlikely to drive transformative benefits. Instead, medtech company leaders should consider creating a workforce of AI agents. Here are a few tasks that could be assigned to a digital workforce:

• Shared services and back-office functions: Agentic AI could automate routine administrative and manual tasks throughout the enterprise. For example, it can predict and respond to routine maintenance and incident-management needs. It could also proactively monitor regulatory changes and internal policies to help ensure business workflows are up to date.
• Research and development: The technology can be used to synthesize clinical study data and author complex R&D documents, accelerating time to market. It can also be used to connect and personalize multi-device treatment pathways. In the case of cardiovascular disease, for example, AI could coordinate electrocardiogram, ablation solutions, heart pumps, and atrial shunts.
• Commercial content: Agentic AI could tap into existing marketing content to create hyper-personalized marketing at scale. It could also be used to support sales representatives and create a personalized concierge-like experience for end users.
• Supply chain and manufacturing: Supply chains could be made more resilient, even self-healing, when challenges arise. Agentic AI could also respond automatically to regulatory audits and quality issues in the field—actively tracing back the product evolution from its original design.

Adoption of AI appears to be gaining momentum

Medtech companies tend to be highly innovative when it comes to developing new medical devices and enhancing existing ones. But company executives are often more conservative about the day-to-day processes of running their businesses.

Early adopters are demonstrating that digital workforces comprised of interconnected AI agents can automate complex workflows, adapt to changing conditions, and compound business value in ways traditional automation cannot match.⁴ While some challenges and unknowns remain, the accelerating adoption of agentic AI signals a fundamental shift: medtech leaders who harness these technologies strategically could be well-positioned to drive transformative process enhancements, future-proof their organizations, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.

Acknowledgements: Sheettal Chandrashekar, Ram Paravasthu, Cory Lukens

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Endnotes:

¹Trends and insights for AI-powered medical device development, Jama Software, June 20, 2025
²Siemens Healthineers saves millions in costs, Bynder, 2025
³Generative AI use in health care: Opportunities for clinical excellence and administrative efficiency, Springer Nature, January 16, 2025
⁴AI readiness in medtech, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor.

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