2022-01-05-Gartner-Digital_Technology_Use_Cases_in_Finance_13页_654kb

Gartner for Finance: Digital Technology Use Cases Summary

Overview:
Finance leaders aim for ambitious digital goals but often overlook advanced digital capabilities. This report outlines six critical digital capabilities to reset understanding of digital potential: RPA-driven finance process automation, routine business decision automation, intelligent (hyper)finance process automation, business decision augmentation, AI-enabled analysis and decision support, and AI-enabled nudges. All capabilities show promise, with implementation varying by function.

Key Findings:

• 60% of finance functions are using RPA for process automation, but only 36% are enhancing judgment-based work with digital tools.
• Current focus is on automating manual tasks, while advanced capabilities like AI for judgment support are underutilized.
• Eighty percent of senior leaders agree finance must accelerate digital technology use by 2025, yet only 37% have a clear investment strategy.

Six Digital Capabilities and Implementation:

1. RPA-driven Finance Process Automation: Automates manual tasks, widely adopted (45% implementing).
2. Routine Business Decision Automation: Eliminates bias in decisions (15% implementing).
3. Intelligent (Hyper)Finance Process Automation: Uses AI (e.g., ML) for predictions and complex tasks (only 8% implementing).
4. Business Decision Augmentation: AI-enhanced recommendations for complex decisions (14% implementing).
5. AI-Enabled Analysis and Decision Support: Custom reports and analyses (9% implementing).
6. AI-Enabled Nudges: Behavioral prompts to improve decisions (5% implementing).

Recommendations:

• Educate finance leaders on all digital capabilities, including those for judgment work.
• Develop a multi-year digital roadmap for prioritizing investments.
• Use sample use cases to define fit-for-purpose applications for each capability.

Evidence:

• Based on the 2020 Gartner Future of Finance Survey, showing limited progress in advanced AI capabilities.

Next Steps:
Finance leaders are encouraged to start with practical steps: focus on improvement methods (automation, prediction), involve IT partners, and leverage multi-year planning to guide investments.