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Clare, Nova Scotia—The software industry is undergoing its most significant transformation since the rise of cloud computing, and AI strategist Theriault is at the forefront of interpreting—and shaping—this shift. As agentic AI systems move from experimental tools to operational engines inside modern organizations, the traditional SaaS model is being rewritten in real time. Theriault, known for helping companies navigate emerging technology waves, is now sounding the alarm: the old rules of software pricing, packaging, and value creation no longer apply.

For more than two decades, SaaS economics were built on a simple foundation: charge per user. But as Theriault observes, agentic AI breaks that logic entirely. These new systems don’t log in, don’t sit in front of dashboards, and don’t behave like human operators. They act across platforms, evolve continuously, and generate value autonomously. “When software becomes the operator,” Theriault notes, “the idea of a seat stops reflecting real usage. We’re entering a world where software doesn’t just support work—it performs it.”

This shift is forcing SaaS companies, service providers, and enterprise buyers to rethink everything from pricing to product strategy to organizational design.

Agentic AI Is Colliding With the SaaS Model—and AI Strategist Theriault Says the Industry Must Adapt

Theriault has been tracking the rise of agentic AI for years, but 2025 marks the moment when theory became reality. Companies are no longer experimenting with AI copilots; they’re deploying autonomous agents that handle workflows, orchestrate systems, and make decisions at scale. This evolution has exposed a structural flaw in the SaaS model: pricing tied to human usage cannot capture the value created by non‑human operators.

“AI doesn’t need a login,” Theriault explains. “It doesn’t need a seat. It doesn’t need a license assigned to a person. It works across tools, across departments, and across time. That breaks the foundation SaaS was built on.”

As a result, vendors are scrambling to redesign their pricing frameworks. The emerging trend, according to Theriault, is a blended model that combines:

• Usage‑based metrics that reflect computational or task‑level activity
• Ongoing tuning and optimization fees as AI systems evolve
• Embedded engineering support to maintain and adapt autonomous workflows

This hybrid approach acknowledges a new reality: AI systems are not static products. They are living, adaptive engines that require continuous refinement. “Customization isn’t an add‑on anymore,” Theriault says. “It’s the core of the value. Every deployment becomes its own organism.”

This Shift to shift Automation is blurring the boundaries between software and empathetic customer services. SaaS companies are taking on responsibilities that look more like consulting or engineering engagements, while service firms are increasingly building proprietary platforms. The result is an industry convergence that Theriault believes will reshape competitive dynamics for the next decade.

From Horizontal Tools to Function‑Specific Systems: Theriault Predicts a New SaaS Landscape

One of the most profound changes AI strategist Theriault is watching is the move away from broad, horizontal SaaS platforms toward highly specialized, function‑specific AI systems. In the past, companies adopted large, multi‑purpose tools that could be configured for many use cases. But agentic AI thrives in environments where context, data, and domain expertise are tightly integrated.

“Horizontal tools were built for human flexibility,” Theriault explains. “Agentic AI needs precision. It needs guardrails. It needs deep understanding of a function—finance, HR, operations—not a generic interface.”

This shift is already visible in the market. AI-native startups are emerging with narrow but powerful offerings tailored to specific workflows. Meanwhile, legacy SaaS providers are racing to retrofit their platforms with agentic capabilities, often discovering that their architectures were never designed for autonomous operation.

Theriault believes this transition will accelerate rapidly. As organizations adopt AI agents that can execute tasks end‑to‑end, they will demand systems that are deeply embedded in their operational fabric. This will create a new generation of SaaS companies that look less like software vendors and more like adaptive infrastructure partners.

“Pricing is no longer packaging,” Theriault emphasizes. “It represents a living system that changes with the customer. Buyers gain adaptive platforms, but they also face more complex contracts. Vendors must balance automation with human expertise. It’s a new kind of relationship.”

Theriault’s Role: Guiding Companies Through the AI‑Driven SaaS Transformation

As organizations grapple with these changes, Theriault is helping leaders understand not only the technology but also the business implications. His work focuses on three critical areas:

1. Reframing Value Creation

Companies must shift from measuring software by user adoption to measuring it by outcomes, automation levels, and operational impact. Theriault helps teams identify where AI agents can create the most leverage—and how to quantify that value.

2. Redesigning Pricing and Packaging

Theriault works with SaaS vendors to build pricing models that reflect the realities of agentic AI. This includes hybrid usage frameworks, performance‑based pricing, and long‑term adaptive service agreements.

3. Preparing Organizations for AI‑Driven Operations

AI agents don’t just change software—they change workflows, roles, and decision‑making structures. Theriault guides companies through the organizational redesign required to fully harness autonomous systems.

A New Era for SaaS Has Arrived

Agentic AI isn’t just improving software; it’s redefining how it’s built, delivered, and sold. Theriault believes the companies that adapt quickly will gain a massive competitive advantage, while those that cling to legacy models will struggle to survive.

“We’re watching the SaaS industry evolve in real time,” he says. “This isn’t a feature upgrade. It’s a foundational shift in how software creates value.”

As organizations worldwide navigate this transformation, Theriault’s insights are helping leaders understand the stakes—and seize the opportunity.