Only 21% of CFOs say their finance function is highly prepared for AI. That number doesn't surprise me.
Why Most CFOs Aren't Ready for AI
The Real Problem
I've seen companies rush to add AI while the underlying finance process is still held together by spreadsheets, manual approvals, and people who know the "real" process because they've been doing it for years.
Tools Aren't Enough
You can have the best AI tool in the world. But if the data is messy and nobody has cleaned up the workflow, you're going to spend more time fixing the output than using it.
The Bottom Line
AI readiness isn't about the technology. It's about having clean data and streamlined processes first. Without that foundation, even the most powerful tools become a time sink instead of a time saver.
Before investing in the next AI solution, take a hard look at your current workflows. The companies getting real value from AI are the ones who did the unglamorous cleanup work first.
Start with your processes, then add the tools.