Google Cloud Next '26: What It Takes to Build The Agentic Enterprise

66degrees and Gordon Food Service at Google Cloud Next '26

The term "Agentic Enterprise" is everywhere, but what does it mean to actually build one? For leaders struggling to move from buzzword to business case, the path forward can feel anything but clear. At this year’s Google Cloud Next '26, we aimed to transform that complexity into clarity.

66degrees CEO Ben Kessler sat down with Brendan Bonthuis, CIO of Gordon Food Service (GFS), on theCUBE to discuss the realities of this new frontier. They explored the critical role of data readiness, the "people opportunity" at the heart of AI, and why a trusted partner is essential for navigating the journey.

If you missed the live broadcast, here are the top takeaways from their conversation.

The Mission Stays the Same; The "How" is Changing

While the tooling is evolving faster than ever, both leaders agreed that technology's core purpose remains the same: creating value for customers, employees, and the business. As Brendan noted, the "how" is changing, but the "what" and "why" are constant.

For 66degrees, the vision for the agentic enterprise is centered on the "Human in the Lead." It’s about empowering people with AI agents to amplify their impact. Ben explained that the goal isn't to do the same work with fewer people, but to enhance the existing workforce, with a vision of a 10x increase in capacity. It’s a people opportunity, focused on making work more creative, less burdened, and more impactful.

Why Fundamentals Still Matter

A key highlight was how GFS, a century-old company, prepared for the AI era. Long before "agentic" was a buzzword, GFS partnered with 66degrees to build a centralized data platform, a foundation for what would come next. Brendan stressed that despite the excitement around new AI models, foundational principles like good architecture and high data quality are still the keys to success. Our rigorous process provides the foundation of trust and reliability that de-risks transformation, proving that the "stuff that used to be true is still true."

Navigating Uncharted Territory Through Partnership

Generative AI is a new frontier, and businesses can't rely on a decade of historical use cases to guide them. This makes deep, collaborative partnerships essential.

Brendan highlighted the necessity of a partner like 66degrees who is willing to walk alongside you, share risks, and course-correct together. This peer-to-peer collaboration, where a partner has "skin in the game," allows companies to make bold bets with the confidence that they have a guide to help find the right path forward.

Looking Ahead: Our Strategic Priorities

Looking to the next 6 to 12 months, Ben outlined three core priorities for 66degrees as we continue guiding clients like GFS:

1. Building deep, trusting relationships to ensure we are solving the right problems.
2. Sharpening our technological expertise to anticipate business needs and stay steps ahead.
3. Deepening our understanding of specific business challenges to help clients decompose and improve specialized processes.

Ultimately, successfully adopting AI is about pragmatic innovation. It’s not about replacing what makes a business great, but using technology to dramatically improve it.

Watch the full interview from Google Cloud Next '26 to learn more about how 66degrees is helping clients build the Agentic Enterprise.

‍

‍

‍

‍