AI Agents Are Reshaping Mobility—But Where Does the Industry Actually Stand?

The conversation about artificial intelligence in global mobility has shifted dramatically. As Alane Boyd recently explored in her WERC article on AI agents, we've moved beyond simple chatbots to sophisticated systems that can reason, take action, and operate like digital team members. These AI agents don't just answer questions—they track visa timelines, monitor housing assignments, and send real-time alerts across systems, all without manual intervention.

It's an exciting vision of what's possible. But here's the critical question: Where does the global mobility industry actually stand in its AI adoption journey?

To answer that, Plus Relocation just released our comprehensive 2025 AI Survey Report, capturing responses from 82 global mobility professionals evenly split between corporate teams and service providers. The findings reveal an industry at a fascinating inflection point—one where promise and reality don't quite align yet, but convergence is clearly on the horizon.

The Current Reality: A Tale of Two Adoption Speeds

While Boyd's article describes Level 3 AI agents that independently reason through complex tasks, our survey data shows most of the industry is still operating at Level 1 and 2. Vendors have raced ahead, with 85% actively using AI compared to just 49% of corporate teams. Worth noting: 51% of corporate respondents either don't use AI officially or aren't sure if they do.

Yet here's what's remarkable—when we asked about individual usage, only 17% reported no AI use at all. This 34-percentage-point gap suggests significant informal adoption happening in the shadows of official programs. Mobility professionals are experimenting with AI tools personally, even when their organizations haven't formally embraced them.

The top use case? Exactly what Boyd highlights as ideal for AI agents: document review and processing. Immigration paperwork, assignment letters, policy documents, rental leases, and invoices—all the paper-intensive work that defines mobility operations—ranks as the primary AI application today.

The Sentiment Gap: Optimism Outpacing Impact

Here's where it gets interesting. Despite modest current impact—78% of vendors and 68% of corporate teams rate AI's effect as low or moderate—sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive. Seventy-one percent of respondents expressed purely positive emotions: optimistic, excited, and empowered. Only 4% held purely negative views.

This optimism reflects where professionals see the industry heading. When we asked about AI's impact in 3-5 years, 71% of both groups expect significant or transformational change. That's the same percentage Boyd envisions when describing how AI agents can "amplify the human touch" by handling repetitive tasks and freeing teams to focus on life-changing transitions.

The Path Forward: From Experimentation to Implementation

Our survey identified the primary obstacles standing between today's reality and Boyd's vision of AI-powered mobility operations:

AI "hallucinations" top the concern list at 70%, reflecting the critical need for human oversight that Boyd emphasizes. Subject matter expertise remains essential for validating outputs where subtle errors can have significant consequences.

The second challenge? The expertise and resource gap. Corporate teams prioritize tools/technology recommendations and education/training as top needs, with 63% specifically seeking ROI metrics to justify investments.

This aligns perfectly with Boyd's implementation advice: before launching AI agents, organizations need centralized systems, defined workflows, proper permissions, and feedback loops. The AI isn't the biggest hurdle—internal structure is.

The Trajectory Is Clear

AI adoption in mobility appears irreversible. No respondents expect to decrease usage, and 93% anticipate considerable increases over the next two years, with over one-third predicting dramatic growth. The same 34% figure appears whether you're corporate or vendor, suggesting universal recognition that participation isn't optional—execution quality will differentiate winners.

Boyd's article describes the destination: AI agents operating as reliable digital team members, tracking timelines, retrieving documents, and providing 24/7 policy guidance across languages and time zones. Our survey reveals the industry's current location: early adoption with significant variance, positive sentiment despite modest impact, and clear momentum toward transformation.

The gap between vision and reality is narrowing rapidly. For mobility professionals wondering whether their teams are ready, Boyd offers this perspective: treat AI implementation like onboarding a new hire. Start small, iterate often, and keep your people in the loop.

The direction is set. Ninety-three percent of respondents expect to increase AI usage over the next two years, and no one plans to pull back. What remains to be seen is which organizations move from experimentation to implementation fastest.

Download the complete 2025 AI Survey Report to see detailed findings on adoption trends, use cases, and industry sentiment.