Sixty-eight percent of finance organizations are using AI or plan to use the technology, according to a recent survey of finance leaders by Gartner, Inc. A May 2023 survey of 133 finance leaders found that 39 percent of respondents are using AI/machine learning (ML), and an additional 29% of respondents said AI/ML is planned (see Figure 1).

“The most successful AI-forward finance organizations embrace and evangelize AI at the C-suite level and embed data science teams directly within finance departments while avoiding reliance on third parties,” said Mark D. McDonald, senior director analyst in the Gartner Finance Practice. “It’s only when employees embrace AI as a co-worker rather than a threat to their jobs that organizations see the highest likelihood and magnitude of success.”

AI in Finance Success Strategies
To help CFOs and finance leaders navigate this trend, Gartner experts have identified three characteristics of the most successful finance organizations using AI today:

1.    Shorter-term results are possible, but transformative results take time. Although short-term benefits from AI are possible through simple or purchased solutions, the transformative value of AI in finance requires a level of maturity that takes time to build.

2.    Data science emerges are a new role in finance. A majority of finance teams report using data scientists. Once seen as a risky and frivolous headcount, modern finance teams commonly use data scientists whether they leverage AI or not..

3.    Acceptance plays a role in AI’s success. Organizations with a high level of AI acceptance report a high level of success. Without the buy-in from knowledgeable process owners, building AI-driven processes that emulate their decisions and actions proves difficult.

“These three quite simple factors have an impact on success rates with AI in the finance functions,” said McDonald. “Put the data scientists close to the processes and people that will train AI, make sure those people understand that AI can make their jobs easier and give them the time needed to produce transformative results.”

Additional information is available to Gartner clients in the report Finance AI Strategies Emerging as The Benchmark for Success. CFOs can benchmark their current approach to these priorities, as well as understand Gartner’s best practices for managing them. Nonclients can watch a short video Gartner Experts on AI in Finance: The Next Industrial Revolution or the webinar Move Towards an AI-Forward, Autonomous Finance Future.

About the Gartner Finance Practice
The Gartner Finance practice helps senior finance executives meet their top priorities. Gartner offers a unique breadth and depth of content to support clients’ individual success and deliver on key initiatives that cut across finance functions to drive business impact. Learn more at https://www.gartner.com/en/finance/finance-leaders. Follow Gartner for Finance on LinkedIn and X using #GartnerFinance to stay ahead of the latest expert insights and key trends shaping the Finance function. Visit the Gartner Finance Newsroom for more information and insights.