The Real Cost of AI Agents Is Not Tokens

Name: ReplyFabric
Price: 199 EUR
Availability: InStock
Author: ReplyFabric

August 25, 2026

Tom

13 min read

McKinsey's latest analysis of agentic AI economics shows why token prices tell only part of the story. The real question is what it costs to complete the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tom Vanderbauwhede - Founder & CEO of ReplyFabric

About the Author

Tom Vanderbauwhede is the founder & CEO of ReplyFabric, lecturer in AI at KdG University, and a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of business experience. He holds master's degrees in Applied Economics, Business Administration (MBA), and Strategic Change Management & Leadership. Tom is passionate about building AI tools that reduce email overload and help teams focus on what matters.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn and follow his journey as a founder.

The Real Cost of AI Agents Is Not Tokens

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are token costs a poor measure of AI agent ROI?

What is completed work ROI?

Why can high-volume AI workflows have better economics?

How does ReplyFabric make AI costs predictable?

What is AgentOps?

About the Author