When CFOs were asked what one recommendation they had to improve company decision-making, the top response was “implement digital technologies, AI, and automation.”
And for good reason. Tools like automation and AI technology can create a positive ripple effect that extends to forecasting, planning, and analyzing your metrics.
Such perks encourage today’s finance professionals across all departments to develop a healthy appetite for technology-enabled decision-making, budgeting, and forecasting, which is especially applicable in accounting.
After all, avoiding technological changes in accounting is like insisting on navigating with an atlas and a compass when we all have dynamic maps in our pockets. Sure, getting where you want to go is possible, but you’re more likely to get lost and fall behind.
Let’s dive into how automation and AI in accounting are transforming financial planning and the role of finance and accounting within an organization.
Concerns related to the adoption of AI in accounting
Navigating the future of AI in accounting
Final thoughts: Understanding the future of automation and AI in accounting
Embracing automation and AI in accounting means businesses can process larger amounts of data more efficiently and more accurately. Letting technology handle repetitive and time-consuming accounting tasks, such as ledger entries, will give your team more time to focus on high-impact financial management work that requires human expertise, like identifying opportunities to improve cash flow or profitability.
To understand the impact automation and AI technology will have on the accounting industry, it’s helpful to take a stroll down memory lane to see how we got here in the first place.
Traditional budgeting was often done annually and followed a top-down approach where financial targets were set based on previous performance and assumptions about future changes.
This approach requires repetitive data entry and manual calculations to track each transition and balance accounts. Accountants mainly used spreadsheets for forecasting and budgeting by adding their own formulas.
In many ways, it was like trying to reach a destination while wearing a blindfold. You know where you want to go, but without real-time financial data, you don’t know where you are now.
Even if you peek out the bottom of the blindfold for clues, you have to rely heavily on estimates and assumptions that you hope will point you in the right direction. Many times you remove the blindfold and are miles away from your goal. Ultimately, the journey is a repetitive process filled with endless trial and error.
Not to mention, traditional accounting also generates rigid results like forecasts and budgets that aren’t easy to update once you receive new information.
Digital commerce tools started the transformation of budgeting and forecasting by providing access to more data and automated calculations. It was akin to removing the blindfold and getting an accurate map of your location.
Software with automation features can record transactions, balance accounts, and generate forecasts without as much manual input — and you can access all of that data in real time.
Real-time data increases the accuracy of budgets and means businesses don’t have to rely heavily on estimates. It’s become crucial for businesses, with 44.7% of companies reporting that improving forecast accuracy is a top financial performance strategy for 2023 and beyond.
Besides better forecasts, automating calculations and ledger entries decreases the risk of manual error and makes budgeting less time-consuming.
That way, businesses can update projections as new data becomes available.
Intelligent budgeting represents the future of bookkeeping, budgeting, and forecasting. Features like automation, AI technology, and machine learning will change how businesses do accounting by enabling real-time financial planning.
Real-time financial planning is a dynamic approach to budgeting that uses current data from internal and external sources when creating forecasts and budgets.
If we use the map analogy, this is your dynamic Google maps with live traffic estimates and a voice telling you where to turn and what to expect.
Dynamic forecasts and budgeting give you the opportunity to respond to and monitor for changes in the environment and adjust to less predictable situations, like seasonal demand.
And, just like Google Maps, the future of accounting is here, with 48% of accounting professionals expecting their organizations to invest in AI and automation by 2024.
The use of AI in accounting to facilitate real-time financial planning offers several benefits to businesses, including the following:
Despite the business benefits, the transformation from traditional accounting to intelligent budgeting can raise some concerns. For instance:
Potential concerns are no reason to stay behind the curve and avoid intelligent budgeting altogether.
Instead, business leaders should understand the concerns associated with intelligent budgeting and take steps to proactively ensure a responsible and effective transformation.
Here are a few things to keep in mind that can help you navigate the future of accounting more smoothly.
Just as Google Maps can’t drive you to your destination, AI and automation aren’t replacements for human team members.
Instead, intelligent budgeting can enhance the capabilities of your team, automate manual accounting processes, and enable informed decision-making.
While accounting software with automation and AI can reduce human error, these tools aren’t a 100% guarantee against mistakes. As such, you still need a team to test the algorithms and methods to validate and verify the results.
Humans will still be responsible for explaining decisions made by AI tools, which means it’s crucial for them to have an understanding of how the software works.
For instance, you can use intelligent accounting software to generate financial statements, but have someone verify the accuracy of the information before it’s reported to stakeholders.
To integrate technology responsibly into your business, it’s important to remember that human judgment is a crucial element in the accounting profession.
Keep in mind that artificial intelligence was created by humans, after all, which means it’s possible for the software to introduce bias into financial processes. For example, bias can result in discrimination in lending decisions or fraudulent transaction alerts.
While holding on to tradition may be tempting, running your business with a map and a compass may not be the best way forward. Embracing tools like automation and AI have the power to get you where you want to go more efficiently.
By using technology to handle time-consuming, mundane tasks, accountants will be able to increase the accuracy of their insights and achieve more in less time. That gives them more time to focus on long-term growth and strategy.
Business leaders, too, will have quicker access to the most up-to-date information, which supports improved data-driven decision-making and the ability to respond proactively instead of react.
If you want to leverage the same technology benefits for inventory management, such as real-time product data, smart forecasting, and seamless accounting integrations, try Cin7 today.
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