Finance leaders to boost agentic AI use for efficiency gains

A new survey by Wolters Kluwer has found that finance leaders plan a significant increase in the adoption of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) within the next year.

The survey, which gathered responses from 392 finance professionals, indicates that while only 6% of finance leaders currently use agentic AI, a further 38% intend to implement the technology over the coming 12 months. This would result in 44% of finance teams employing agentic AI by 2026, representing a more than sixfold increase from present levels.

Agentic AI refers to systems that can act autonomously to perform tasks and make decisions, advancing beyond traditional rule-based AI solutions. The anticipated rise in adoption is linked to both the search for greater efficiencies and the need to address growing economic volatility.

Economic disruption was another key theme identified in the survey results. In response to current volatility, 67% of finance leaders reported plans to use AI for the first time for Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). An additional 14% said they would boost their existing AI adoption, while 8% plan to continue with their current usage levels.

Finance teams are also seeking to bolster their resources, with 33% of respondents considering hiring new staff to better manage economic instability. A further 24% are contemplating organisational restructuring. However, 22% of finance leaders indicated they recognised inadequacies in their teams but felt unable to implement changes at this time.

The hiring landscape is being shaped by these technological advancements. Some 85% of finance leaders described AI skills as important when recruiting for finance roles, while 11% said such skills are absolutely essential. The survey also highlighted the major factors driving increased AI adoption: 44% identified data readiness as the primary requirement, followed by the availability of AI-driven corporate performance management technologies (25%) and the need for further AI training (23%).

To support finance professionals in developing relevant skills, Wolters Kluwer has introduced a new Learning Hub. According to the company, this resource is designed to "help finance professionals build skills including greater AI fluency and data proficiency – empowering them to optimise our innovative technology and drive productivity."

Efficiency and accuracy remain at the forefront of reasons for adopting AI. The survey found that 40% of finance leaders see increased accuracy and reduced human error as the chief advantage offered by AI, while 36% prioritise efficiency and productivity gains. As a result, 42% of respondents expect to save 10% of working time (an estimated 26 days per year) through AI usage in the next 12 months. In addition, 24% expect a time saving of 20% (52 working days), and 22% anticipate saving 5% (13 working days).

In support of productivity improvements, Wolters Kluwer has launched a new Excel 365-based feature within its Intelligent Analytics solution. This enhancement is built to provide continuity for users accustomed to familiar spreadsheet tools while incorporating Ask AI, a natural language interface.

The company states that "users can now pull data from CCH Tagetik and shape analysis-ready visualisations as needed," streamlining the transition from data retrieval to actionable insights.

Wolters Kluwer's portfolio also includes the CCH Tagetik Intelligent Platform with Ask AI, which the company describes as a platform that "embodies Agentic AI with a Finance BrainTM".

"At Wolters Kluwer, we are committed to continuous innovation for the office of the CFO. Last year, we launched the market's first AI-powered corporate performance management platform - the CCH Tagetik Intelligent Platform with Ask AI. We have evolved Ask AI to an embedded super agent; it now mobilizes cutting-edge agentic technology across multiple use cases, including responding to voice commands in multiple languages, drilling into data without the need for IT skills, and testing assumptions and running analysis. Agentic AI represents an evolutionary leap in how finance leaders operate," Karen Abramson, Chief Executive Officer of Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG, said.

The CCH Tagetik Intelligent Platform is equipped to handle a range of finance-specific tasks, including self-service analytics through natural language queries, diagnostic checks for financial close and consolidation, and intelligent support for data transformation activities.

The survey demonstrates a broad recognition among finance leaders of the need to adopt AI-driven approaches and to seek out new skills and structures to meet emerging business challenges driven by both technological possibilities and economic pressures.