Top priorities for the finance function (next 12–18 months)
Respondents chose up to three. Figures show the share selecting each, so they do not total 100%.
Cash flow & working capital
Northern Europe avg
55%
Risk management
Northern Europe avg
61%
Cost control
Northern Europe avg
29%
Automation & efficiency
Northern Europe avg
48%
Data & forecasting
Northern Europe avg
48%
Compliance & regulation
Northern Europe avg
40%
Strategic business partnering
Northern Europe avg
14%
Confidence in managing financial risk over the next 12 months
Single choice on a 1–5 scale. Figures total 100%.
96%
Confident (4–5)
Northern Europe
1 — Not confident
Northern Europe avg
0%
2
Northern Europe avg
0%
3
Northern Europe avg
4%
4
Northern Europe avg
39%
5 — Very confident
Northern Europe avg
57%
How would you describe your current credit and collections setup?
Single choice. Figures total 100%.
67%
Largely automated or fully integrated (4–5)
Northern Europe
Fully manual
Northern Europe avg
6%
Mostly manual
Northern Europe avg
15%
Partly automated
Northern Europe avg
11%
Largely automated
Northern Europe avg
39%
Fully integrated & data-driven
Northern Europe avg
29%
How important is improving working capital and cash conversion?
Single choice on a 1–5 scale. Figures total 100%.
98%
Important (4–5)
Northern Europe
1 — Not important
Northern Europe avg
0%
2
Northern Europe avg
0%
3
Northern Europe avg
2%
4
Northern Europe avg
41%
5 — Very important
Northern Europe avg
57%
How would you describe your current use of AI in the finance function?
Single choice. Figures total 100%.
94%
In operational use (limited or embedded)
Northern Europe
Not using AI
Northern Europe avg
0%
Exploring / piloting
Northern Europe avg
6%
Limited operational use
Northern Europe avg
44%
Embedded in key processes
Northern Europe avg
50%
Biggest challenges to AI implementation in finance
Multiple choices allowed. Figures show the share citing each, so they do not total 100%.
Cost & unclear ROI
Northern Europe avg
55%
Skills & capability gaps
Northern Europe avg
50%
Governance, risk & compliance
Northern Europe avg
45%
Data & systems challenges
Northern Europe avg
40%
Cultural resistance & change management
Northern Europe avg
35%
Strategy & execution barriers
Northern Europe avg
16%
Where could AI deliver the most value in credit management?
Respondents chose up to two. Figures show the share selecting each, so they do not total 100%.
Customer segmentation
Northern Europe avg
61%
Risk prediction
Northern Europe avg
49%
Credit decisioning
Northern Europe avg
37%
Collections prioritisation
Northern Europe avg
36%
Forecasting & reporting
Northern Europe avg
14%
Which capabilities would you consider paying for in the next 12–18 months?
Multiple choices allowed. Figures show the share selecting each, so they do not total 100%.
Real-time dashboards
Northern Europe avg
64%
Predictive risk insights
Northern Europe avg
59%
Automated collections workflows
Northern Europe avg
54%
AI-driven credit scoring
Northern Europe avg
47%
Cross-market consistency & compliance
Northern Europe avg
25%
Most important factor when evaluating a new solution (ranked first)
Share ranking each factor as their single most important. Totals approximately 100%.
ROI
Northern Europe avg
31%
Transparency & control
Northern Europe avg
34%
Ease of integration
Northern Europe avg
18%
Compliance
Northern Europe avg
10%
Scalability
Northern Europe avg
7%