• SAP S/4HANA
• Research Reports

The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance

SAPinsider Benchmark Intelligence Report

• 

  Susan Galberaith

  Vice President & Research Analyst, SAPinsider

Key Takeaways

• 54% of organizations have migrated to SAP S/4HANA, positioning themselves for AI-driven transformation.

• 69% use AI in finance; those in production report faster cycle times and less manual effort.

• 47% of organizations prioritize automating the financial close, yet 42% still take over 8 days to close their books.

SAP CFO organizations are at a turning point. Our latest benchmark study of 110 SAP-centric enterprises reveals how finance leaders are modernizing their core, automating the close, and leveraging AI to move from transactional efficiency to strategic intelligence.

The Office of the CFO is evolving from a compliance-driven function into a strategic co-pilot for the enterprise. SAPinsider’s 2025 research shows that 54% of organizations have migrated core financial activities to SAP S/4HANA, creating the digital backbone for automation and AI. Yet only 17% report fully integrated finance systems, leaving most stuck at “Level 3 – Established” maturity. This plateau limits agility and slows transformation. CFOs face mounting pressure from regulatory complexity and cybersecurity risks, while internal demands for efficiency and performance drive a shift toward automation and real-time insights.

Modernization isn’t optional. 47% of organizations now prioritize automating the financial close, and leaders achieving 1–3 day close (just 5% today) gain a decisive competitive advantage in agility and decision-making. AI adoption is accelerating, 69% of respondents use AI in finance, primarily for forecasting and anomaly detection. Those leveraging AI report faster cycle times and less manual effort, freeing capacity for strategic planning. The report provides actionable recommendations for CFOs at every maturity level, from fixing data foundations to piloting agentic AI and moving toward autonomous finance.

Download the full report to benchmark your SAP CFO transformation and learn how to accelerate modernization.

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SAP CFO organizations are at a turning point. Our latest benchmark study of 110 SAP-centric enterprises reveals how finance leaders are modernizing their core, automating the close, and leveraging AI to move from transactional efficiency to strategic intelligence.

The Office of the CFO is evolving from a compliance-driven function into a strategic co-pilot for the enterprise. SAPinsider’s 2025 research shows that 54% of organizations have migrated core financial activities to SAP S/4HANA, creating the digital backbone for automation and AI. Yet only 17% report fully integrated finance systems, leaving most stuck at “Level 3 – Established” maturity. This plateau limits agility and slows transformation. CFOs face mounting pressure from regulatory complexity and cybersecurity risks, while internal demands for efficiency and performance drive a shift toward automation and real-time insights.

Modernization isn’t optional. 47% of organizations now prioritize automating the financial close, and leaders achieving 1–3 day close (just 5% today) gain a decisive competitive advantage in agility and decision-making. AI adoption is accelerating, 69% of respondents use AI in finance, primarily for forecasting and anomaly detection. Those leveraging AI report faster cycle times and less manual effort, freeing capacity for strategic planning. The report provides actionable recommendations for CFOs at every maturity level, from fixing data foundations to piloting agentic AI and moving toward autonomous finance.

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• 
  • SAP S/4HANA

  The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance

  Reading time: 1 mins

• 
  • SAP S/4HANA

  The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance

  Reading time: 1 mins

• 
  • SAP S/4HANA

  The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance

  Reading time: 1 mins

• 
  • SAP S/4HANA

  The Office of the SAP CFO and the Future of Finance

  Reading time: 1 mins