A comprehensive guide for CFOs on how to think about technology in finance

In the digital age, the blend of technology and finance has not only reshaped the finance industry but has redefined its future. Leading this evolution requires a unique acumen that marries financial strategy with technological foresight.

Technological advancements, once considered novelties, have found core functionalities in finance. AI, for instance, is employed for predictive analytics, helping firms gauge market shifts with unparalleled precision. Blockchain, originally the backbone of cryptocurrencies, is revolutionizing transparency and trust in transactions. Finance automation & Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are streamlining repetitive tasks, and Cloud Computing is ensuring data can be accessed securely from anywhere. We’ve spoken about those digitisation options and initiatives in this article. For now, I think it’s more important to talk about how we want to think about finance and technology.

So, how should we think about technology in finance?

Technology has transformed the business landscape in ways we could never have imagined. It has revolutionized the way we operate, connect, and make decisions. Gone are the days when technology was seen as a cost-reduction initiative; today, it is a critical enabler for business growth.

This shift in the way we view technology has also coincided with the elevation of the role of the CFO. No longer are finance leaders restricted to accounting, reimbursements and payroll. CFOs and finance leaders are an integral part of business planning, analysis and act as business partners for the various functions within the organization. This increased responsibility means CFOs navigate a landscape fraught with challenges. These challenges are not only intricate but also laden with contradictions - address market dynamics, manage competition, and handle cost pressures all at the same time. In the midst of these intricacies, CFOs are tasked with harmonizing long-term value creation with short-term cost optimization. Do you see how the CFOs role has changed significantly?

This change in role has meant that finance leaders need the right tools and tech to make these tough, but important decisions, and so - the way in which they think about technology needs to change too.

In the past, companies viewed technology primarily as a means to reduce costs. However, as time went by, this perspective shifted. Technology is no longer merely seen as a way to cut expenses, but rather as a powerful tool that enables companies to make informed decisions and drive growth.

Today, the focus is on leveraging technology to gain valuable insights through analytics. By analyzing vast amounts of data, businesses can uncover patterns, trends, and correlations that were previously hidden. These insights, in turn, empower organizations to make data-driven decisions, improve operational efficiency, and identify new business opportunities.

The Importance of Analytics

Analytics has emerged as a key driver of business growth. It allows businesses to harness data from various sources, such as customer behavior, market trends, and operational processes. Through advanced analytics techniques, organizations can extract actionable insights from this wealth of information.

By leveraging analytics, businesses gain a deeper understanding of their customers' needs and preferences. This knowledge allows companies to tailor their products and services to meet customer demands, leading to enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, analytics can identify potential areas of improvement in operational processes, enabling businesses to streamline operations and optimize resource allocation.

Here lies the intricacy: Capitalizing on analytics extends beyond merely integrating a ready-made analytics software. The efficacy of such tools hinges on the quality of the data they process. This necessitates feeding the tool with data that's not only accurate and unblemished but also current — reflecting real-time developments. Achieving this level of data readiness often mandates the automation of various tasks within the finance team.

To illustrate, consider this scenario: Your Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team is gearing up to draft projections for the upcoming quarter. An essential piece of the puzzle for them is a comprehensive understanding of the company's payables and receivables. They might require this data presented in specific segments or categorizations to glean actionable insights. While an analytics tool can effortlessly manage such a request, it's contingent on one crucial factor: the accessibility of digitized data. The payables and receivables data must first be digitized, structured, and then seamlessly integrated into the analytics platform to harness its full potential. Only then can the tool deliver the nuanced insights the FP&A team seeks.

The ability to glean meaningful insights from complex datasets empowers the CFO to make informed decisions that go beyond the balance sheet, influencing growth trajectories and fostering a resilient financial strategy.

How do we envision automating the finance function?

As established, the drive towards data analytics in finance is not just about procuring the right tools but also ensuring the seamless flow of high-quality data into these systems. But what if we think bigger, envisioning a financial ecosystem that is holistically automated? Here’s what that would look like:

1. Superior Data Quality:
   By removing manual tasks such as data entry and reconciliation, we eliminate common errors, boosting data reliability. This paves the way for dependable financial analytics.
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2. Operational Efficiency:
   ‍With tasks like invoice processing and payroll automated, professionals can pivot to strategic roles like risk assessment and financial planning.
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3. Prompt Insights:
   An automated setup delivers real-time data, aiding swift and informed decision-making, thus providing a competitive edge.
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4. Cost Benefits:
   Automation can curtail costs linked to labor-heavy tasks. Faster processes might also mean benefits like early payment discounts.
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5. Regulatory Adherence & Security:
   ‍Automated systems can consistently meet evolving financial regulations, ensuring compliance. Paired with stringent security protocols, they can also protect against fraud.
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6. Scalable Solutions:
   Automation ensures finance operations evolve with growing business demands, ensuring no dip in efficiency or precision.
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7. Empowering Professionals:
   Automation shifts the focus from mundane tasks to strategic endeavors, fostering job satisfaction and driving organizational growth.

Read more about this topic in our detailed article on “How a CFO can envision the future of the finance function”

Building on a Solid Foundation: CFO's Vision for Technological Evolution

The ambition of automating finance workflows is an endeavor not to be taken lightly. The foundation for this transformation must be sturdy and comprehensive, encapsulating a clear strategy, an understanding of the existing processes, and a vision for the future. Here are the key building blocks:

1. Process Evaluation:
   Thoroughly map current finance operations, spotlighting inefficiencies and errors. This paves the way for discerning automation candidates and possible process overhauls.
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2. Seamless Integration:
   Ensure your financial tools, from ERP to analytics, integrate seamlessly, facilitating real-time data exchange and eliminating manual transfers.
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3. Data Integrity:
   The quality of data dictates automation success. Purge data of discrepancies and introduce rigorous validation protocols to sustain high-quality input to automated systems.
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4. Embracing Change:
   Beyond technology, automation signifies an organizational culture shift. Equip your team with training, establish feedback avenues, and illuminate the perks of automation for both the entity and individual roles.
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5. Adaptable Solutions:
   Prioritize automation tools that scale and adapt, catering to expanding transactions and evolving business requirements.

We’ve talked about this in more detail in our article on “Building a strong foundation for automating the finance function.”

Thinking about automation for the entire finance function

There’s scope to improve finance flows and automate virtually every area within the finance function. At a high level, here’s how to think about each individual function:

1. Accounts Payable and Receivable:
   Automation can streamline invoice processing, payment scheduling, and cash flow monitoring. It can also enhance the accuracy of aging reports and facilitate quicker dispute resolution.
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2. Payroll:
   Automation simplifies payroll calculations, tax withholdings, and benefits administration, ensuring timely and accurate compensation to employees.
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3. Financial Reporting:
   Automated tools can gather and compile data, generating comprehensive financial statements and reports with minimal manual intervention.
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4. Taxation:
   With regulatory compliance in focus, automation can aid in accurate tax calculations, deductions, and timely submissions.
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5. Treasury and Asset Management:
   Tracking, depreciation, and valuation of assets can be automated for consistency and accuracy.
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6. Budgeting and Forecasting:
   Predictive analytics, when combined with automation, can provide real-time data-driven insights for better financial planning.

Prioritizing Finance Functions for Automation: A Guided Approach

Of course, it would not be possible to automate all of these functions at the same time. That would bring a lot of work to a standstill - not possible in a functional business environment. Companies must consider various factors before deciding where to start. Here's a systematic approach to prioritize:

1. Impact on Business Objectives:
   Begin by identifying the company's primary business goals, be it improving cash flow, ensuring compliance, enhancing forecasting accuracy, or any other objective. The finance functions directly impacting these objectives should be high on the automation list.
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2. Volume & Time Consumption:
   Functions that involve a high volume of repetitive tasks and consume a significant portion of the team's time are prime candidates. For instance, if the accounts payable process entails manually entering hundreds of invoices weekly, it may be the ideal starting point.
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3. Error-proneness:
   Processes that are susceptible to human errors, and where such errors could have significant ramifications, should be prioritized. Mistakes in vendor payments for instance, can have a large impact on the reputation of the company, and also lead to massive losses.
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4. ROI Potential:
   Consider the potential return on investment (ROI). Automation that can significantly reduce costs or lead to revenue gains should be on top. For instance, automating receivables can speed up the collection process, positively impacting cash flow.
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5. Ease of Implementation:
   While it might be tempting to tackle the most complex functions first, there's value in quick wins. Automating simpler processes can serve as a pilot, allowing the team to become accustomed to new systems and build confidence.
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6. Stakeholder Readiness:
   Certain functions may have stakeholders more receptive to automation than others. If a particular team is tech-savvy, enthusiastic, and ready for change, it can be strategic to start there, ensuring smoother transition and adoption.
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7. Integration Capabilities:
   If some of your finance functions are already supported by digital tools, it might be easier to automate those that can readily integrate with existing systems, reducing both implementation time and potential integration challenges.
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8. Regulatory & Compliance Needs:
   Areas facing stringent regulatory requirements and frequent updates might benefit from early automation. Automated systems can be regularly updated to stay compliant, ensuring the organization avoids non-compliance penalties.

If you’d like to read about this in more depth, please refer to the article written by our staff on “Navigating the Path to Automation: Prioritizing Finance Functions Effectively”

Finance Automation: Paving the Way for AI and ML Innovations

The automation of finance functions is not merely a shift towards faster and more efficient processes. It's a gateway to a future where vast data troves become the norm, empowering businesses with insights that were previously unfathomable.

As finance workflows become increasingly automated, the volume of digital data generated multiplies. These aren't just large data sets; they're comprehensive, clean, and consistently updated archives reflecting the financial pulse of an organization. The true value of this data, however, is unlocked when paired with the prowess of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

AI and ML thrive on data. The cleaner and more extensive the data, the more accurately these technologies can predict, analyze, and recommend. For the finance function, this has game-changing implications:

1. Enhanced Forecasting:
   With the backing of historical data and real-time updates, AI-driven models can provide forecasts with higher accuracy, enabling finance leaders to make strategic decisions with more confidence.
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2. Risk Management:
   ML algorithms can detect patterns that might be indicative of financial risks or fraudulent activities, ensuring that potential threats are identified and mitigated proactively.
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3. Operational Efficiency:
   AI can analyze workflows to identify inefficiencies or areas for cost savings, driving continuous improvement in financial operations.
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4. Personalized Insights:
   Beyond broad organizational insights, AI can tailor financial recommendations for specific departments or projects, ensuring resource allocation is optimized at every level.

In the long run, automating the finance function does more than streamline operations. It sets the stage for an era where data-driven insights become integral to financial strategy. As AI and ML technologies continue to evolve, their symbiotic relationship with finance will only deepen, offering businesses a competitive edge in an increasingly data-centric world.

A Platform for Business Growth: Finance's Technological Arsenal

In the realm of technological prowess, the options are manifold. The palette of platforms at an organization's disposal enables enhancement across various operational aspects and fuels the furnace of innovation:

Cloud computing stands as a prime example of this. The cloud liberates businesses from the shackles of on-site servers, ushering in the era of storing and accessing data and applications via the internet. The inherent flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency make cloud computing an ideal companion for adapting to dynamic demands and enhancing operational agility.

The Internet of Things (IoT) further propels this technological momentum. It encompasses the network of interconnected devices that gather and exchange data. The insights drawn from these devices – whether monitoring product performance, scrutinizing supply chain efficiency, or understanding customer behavior – translate into real-time data that optimizes processes, reduces downtime, and tailors experiences for individual customers.

Yet, the spotlight also falls on blockchain technology, heralding security, transparency, and trust in business operations. A decentralized ledger system, blockchain records transactions across multiple computers, ensuring data integrity and immutability. In industries that demand stringent security and traceability – such as finance, supply chain, and healthcare – blockchain emerges as an invaluable asset.

Embracing the Future: Finance's Technological Odyssey

In a world where technology's pace surpasses imagination, businesses are called to remain nimble, adapting to the evolving landscape. By embracing emerging technologies, organizations leapfrog into uncharted territories of innovation, fortifying efficiency and fostering sustainable growth.

CashFlo enables businesses to gear up for growth by eliminating manual work, saving time, and boosting process control. The platform ensures detailed audit trails, facilitating seamless compliance and making auditors' tasks easier. Going paperless, CashFlo enables sustainability goals and contributes to a greener future. For the CFO, this journey is imbued with the resonance of strategic leadership. As technology continues to unfurl its potential, CFOs are presented with the canvas to paint the financial strategy that guides growth. As the CFO's role evolves from cost reduction to strategic growth enabler, CashFlo's capabilities propel businesses toward growth, efficiency, and innovation. The art of making data-driven decisions, fueled by technology's insights, weaves a narrative where traditional financial stewardship transcends to strategic partnership.

The future comes with boundless potential. Technology's metamorphosis from a cost center to a growth enabler resonates across industries, with the CFO's role as a vanguard of this transformation. As organizations ride the crest of technological evolution, they tap into a wellspring of innovation, ensuring that technology doesn't merely define business growth – it propels it into uncharted horizons.