The right storm: Why CFOs are on the forefront of AI and automation adoption

The push towards enterprise innovation and superior tech is not taking place in a vacuum. 

CFOs are going through a convergence of pressures that make digital transformation not simply enticing, however important. The continuing accountant expertise scarcity has made it more and more troublesome to draw and retain certified professionals for finance-related roles. In the meantime, investor expectations proceed to escalate, demanding larger transparency, sooner reporting cycles and extra refined analytics.

In keeping with a latest research from Tipalti, 72% of economic executives agree that CFOs are tasked with doing extra with much less, and the identical share indicated they’re more likely to implement AI and prioritize digital transformation to realize their enterprise targets. 

Maybe most tellingly, practically two-thirds of executives fee their group’s readiness for digital transformation as reasonable or much less. This hole between necessity and functionality is shifting the panorama for CFOs changing into key decision-makers of their organizations’ AI readiness.

The statistics paint a compelling image. Analysis from Protiviti reveals that the proportion of CFOs and finance leaders using AI greater than doubled from 34% in 2024 to 72% in 2025. Essentially the most distinguished functions are course of automation (66%), monetary forecasting (58%), and danger evaluation and administration (57%). In the meantime, research point out that companies utilizing AI for monetary automation are slashing working prices by 22-25% and dashing up duties by 30-40%.

Past cost-cutting: the strategic worth of automation

Whereas value discount is definitely enticing, forward-thinking CFOs acknowledge that automation delivers worth far past the underside line. By releasing finance groups from repetitive, time-intensive duties, automation permits them to deal with higher-value actions like strategic planning, knowledge evaluation, and driving enterprise innovation.

A 2024 Deloitte survey discovered that 73% of finance leaders spend over half their time on repetitive duties. That is time stolen from high-impact work that could possibly be spent decoding market traits, figuring out development alternatives, or advising the C-suite on strategic choices. Automation would not simply make processes sooner; it basically transforms the function of finance from a back-office perform to a strategic accomplice in enterprise success.

The effectivity features are arduous to disregard. AI-driven automation can cut back reporting errors by as much as 90% and liberate 15 to twenty hours weekly for finance professionals. However maybe extra importantly, it is altering the character of the work itself. In keeping with a 2024 LinkedIn ballot, 60% of finance professionals say AI makes their work extra inventive — a testomony to how automation eliminates tedious duties and creates house for strategic pondering.

Actual-world outcomes: Logitech’s transformation

The advantages of AI-powered automation aren’t theoretical. World expertise firm Logitech offers a compelling case research in how enterprises are attaining tangible outcomes by clever automation of their accounts payable processes.

Earlier than implementing AI-driven AP automation, Logitech struggled with a number of handbook touchpoints that led to subjective decision-making when matching invoices to buy orders. Regardless of having an present automation resolution, the corporate skilled important delays, inefficiencies and an entire lack of visibility on account of poor integration with its Oracle ERP system. Logitech’s staff described these operational blind spots as “black holes” the place the standing of invoices was merely unclear.

The transformation got here when Logitech applied an AI-powered resolution able to extracting data from invoices and routinely evaluating it towards buy order and items receipt discover knowledge. The system automated the matching course of and will seize a number of languages throughout invoices from Europe, North America and Asia.

The outcomes had been dramatic. Logitech achieved 83% straight-through processing, that means the overwhelming majority of invoices moved by the system with out human intervention. The AI resolution supplied real-time visibility into every stage of the processing journey, even earlier than reaching the ERP system. As one Logitech govt famous, “The answer is appearing like an clever useful resource, and it is saving the Accounts Payable staff a lot time.”

Past simply velocity, the AI implementation delivered measurable enhancements in accuracy, compliance and money move administration. By eliminating handbook knowledge entry and subjective decision-making, Logitech decreased errors, accelerated fee cycles and gained unprecedented perception into its monetary operations.

Evolution required: folks and processes

Implementing AI and automation is not merely about adopting new expertise platforms. It requires elementary adjustments in how accounting groups work and take into consideration their function throughout the group.

Accounting groups should evolve to undertake extra refined compliance frameworks and danger evaluation instruments, repeatedly upskilling themselves with revolutionary approaches. This evolution includes studying to discern which platforms actually supply AI performance powered by machine-learning fashions versus those who merely automate present processes with out true intelligence.

Information safety and integrity can’t be compromised as capabilities develop. Accounting groups should pivot to programs that defend delicate monetary data and do not share knowledge with outdoors sources, introducing danger and uncertainty. With rampant consolidation taking place amongst expertise suppliers, it is paramount to align with steady, well-capitalized distributors who aren’t liable to being offered off or mixed with unknown operators.

The accounting groups of immediately should establish these reliable suppliers and work intently with their CFOs to steer their organizations on a united entrance in embracing and implementing fast change. This collaboration between expertise, expertise and management will decide the path and success of income operations for years to come back.’

Wanting forward: AI as a strategic accomplice

As we transfer ahead, the function of AI in finance will proceed to develop. A KPMG survey predicts that 70% of top-performing CFOs will lean on AI to drive company-wide innovation. Finally, it is about positioning finance leaders not as gatekeepers, however as strategic catalysts for development.

The way forward for CFO automation will doubtless heart on utilizing superior expertise resembling AI and predictive analytics at the side of cloud-based enterprise platforms to completely remodel finance from a back-office perform to a strategic enterprise accomplice. Superior capabilities like AI-driven forecasting will allow higher money move predictions and situation planning, making certain operations are predictive and adaptive moderately than reactive.

For CFOs, the trail ahead is evident: automation is the inspiration for constructing a future-ready group geared up to thrive in an more and more advanced and aggressive panorama. Those that embrace AI as a strategic accomplice, put money into their groups’ capabilities and thoughtfully implement clever automation will discover themselves not simply surviving, however main their organizations to new ranges of effectivity, perception and development.

The query is now not whether or not to undertake AI and automation, however how shortly and successfully you may implement these transformative applied sciences to place your group for fulfillment.