AI and Automation Transformation Initiatives in Finance Still Face Challenges, New SAPinsider Report Finds

While most SAP-centric finance organizations have made meaningful progress modernizing their technology stacks, the majority remain stuck short of true transformation—caught between automation ambitions and operational reality, a newly released SAPinsider benchmark intelligence report finds.

The report, “The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance” is based on a global survey of 110 SAP-using enterprises and offers a detailed look at how CFO organizations are navigating SAP S/4HANA migrations, financial close automation, and early-stage AI adoption.

Building the Digital Backbone

One of the headline findings: 54% of respondents have migrated core finance operations to SAP S/4HANA, establishing what SAPinsider describes as the “digital backbone” required for automation and advanced analytics. Yet just 17% report fully integrated finance systems, which leaves most organizations to operate in siloed or partially integrated environments that limit the value of those investments.

That gap is reflected in maturity ratings. Nearly six in ten finance organizations classify themselves as “Level 3 – Established.” This means they have standardized processes and governance in place, but only 8% say they have reached an “Optimized” state, where automation, predictive insights, and enterprise-wide integration actively support strategic decision-making.

Closing the Speed Gap

The financial close also remains a central pressure point. While 47% of organizations now prioritize automating the close, SAPinsider found that 42% still require more than eight days to complete it. Only 5% have achieved one-to-three day close, a benchmark the report associates with significantly greater agility and decision-making speed.

“Waiting a week or more for financial clarity has become a strategic liability,” the report notes, particularly as finance teams face mounting demands for real-time insight from business leaders and boards.

From Forecasting to Production

AI adoption, meanwhile, is advancing, albeit cautiously. Nearly seven in ten respondents (69%) say they are using AI in finance, primarily in forecasting and anomaly detection. Those already running AI in production report tangible benefits; these include faster cycle times and reduced manual effort. However, more advanced use casessuch as agentic AI for close orchestration or machine-learning-driven planningremain largely in evaluation phases.

The report also highlights growing pressure on CFOs from outside the organization. Regulatory complexity, cybersecurity, fraud, and risk exposure were cited by 54% of respondents as top factors shaping finance strategy, tied for first place among external drivers. That defensive posture is consuming attention even as finance leaders are asked to play a more strategic role inside the enterprise.

Breaking Strategic Constraints

SAPinsider’s analysis suggests the path forward is clear but difficult. To move beyond the current maturity plateau, CFO organizations must focus on three priorities:

• Consolidating financial operations around SAP S/4HANA,
• Shifting from incremental efficiency gains to true automation of the close, and
• Breaking down data silos to enable real-time analysis and AI at scale.

Without that acceleration, the report cautions, finance risks remaining operationally competent—but strategically constrained—at a time when speed, integration, and insight increasingly define competitive advantage.

As the report notes: “Pressure on the CFO is coming from all sides. Our research identifies a convergence of external threats and internal demands that are forcing a re-evaluation of financial strategy.”

Read the full SAPinsider Benchmark Report here: The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance