The Game-Changing Potential of AI in Finance Transformation
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Co-founder, Yokoy
With the rise in popularity of generative AI technologies like Chat GPT, more and more companies are looking at ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into their daily routines.
Across departments, AI is seen as a potential game changer in times of crisis, as it can help teams work more efficiently and be more creative when problem solving.
But while the rapid adoption of AI technology is driven by the generative aspect of it, it’s the intelligence layer of artificial intelligence that can help organizations gain competitive advantage by working smarter.
So in this article, I’ll focus on the impact of artificial intelligence on the digital transformation of the Finance function. However, the principles I’ll state below apply to virtually all other departments.
The finance function in transition: From digitalization to transformation
To understand where and how employee expense fraud occurs, let’s take a closer look at the different stages of the traditional expense reporting process and zoom in on the steps where fraud commonly occurs.
According to data from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the most common types of expense fraud affecting companies are:
- employees creating fraudulent physical documents – 39%
- submitting altered physical documents – 32%
- employees creating fraudulent digital documents – 28%
- submitting altered electronic documents – 25%
- destroying or withhelding physical documents – 23%
The same report shows that most of the occupational fraud cases come from four departments:
- operations – 15%
- accounting – 12%
- executive or upper management – 11%
- sales – 11%
Now let’s zoom into these the types of fraud related to expense reimbursements specifically and let’s cover these one by one, to understand the associated risks, as well as the changes you should implement to prevent fraud in your organization.
"The transformation of the finance function will require finance professionals to develop new skills and competencies, such as data analytics, digital strategy, and innovation management."
In recent years, the finance function has undergone a profound transformation as a result of digitalization.
From automation to artificial intelligence, technology has played an increasingly important role in the finance industry, enabling finance professionals to work more efficiently, accurately, and effectively.
However, digitalization is just the beginning of the transformation of the finance function. In the coming years, the finance industry will need to move beyond digitalization and embrace true transformation if it is to keep pace with the changing demands of the business world.
What does this transition look like today?
At its core, it involves a shift from a focus on technology and process improvements to a focus on strategic innovation and value creation.
For example, instead of simply automating existing processes like data entry and report generation, finance teams can use AI to develop new business models, identify new investment opportunities, predict market trends, and optimize risk management strategies.
By leveraging the power of technology in this way, finance professionals can add more value to their organizations, improving financial performance and driving growth.
Of course, this transformation is not and will not be easy.
It requires finance professionals to develop new skills and competencies, such as data analytics, digital strategy, and innovation management. It also requires organizations to invest in new technologies and systems, and to create a culture that values innovation and experimentation.
But the rewards of this transformation are significant: by embracing the full potential of artificial intelligence technologies, finance professionals can redefine their role in the organization, creating more meaningful and impactful career paths.
Thus, I think it’s safe to say that with AI at the core of its processes, the finance function will undergo even deeper transformations in the coming years.
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How much are companies losing due to expense reimbursement fraud?
Companies lose a significant amount of money each year due to fraudulent expense reporting. While it can be difficult to determine an exact figure, studies suggest that businesses lose an average of 5% of their revenue to fraud each year, and expense reimbursement fraud is one of the most common types of fraud.
A report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners found that the median loss due to expense reimbursement fraud was $40,000 per case. Additionally, a survey by Chrome River found that the average fraudulent expense claim is $2,481.
Fraud schemes can be extremely costly, with a median loss of $140,000 and more than one-fifth of cases resulting in losses of at least $1 million. These schemes can go undetected for a median of 18 months.
This is a global problem, with similar trends in fraud schemes and anti-fraud controls across different regions. Owner and executives tend to cause the most damage, with a median loss of $337,000, followed by managers with a median loss of $125,000, and employees with a median loss of $50,000.
But the impact of fraudulent expense reporting goes beyond just the financial losses. It can also damage a company’s reputation and erode trust among employees. When employees see others getting away with expense fraud, it can create a culture of dishonesty and undermine the company’s values.
Fortunately, there are steps that companies can take to prevent expense fraud and reduce its impact.
This can include implementing strong policies and controls, using digital solutions that can automatically flag potential fraudulent activity, and providing training and education to employees on how to properly report expenses.
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What will the AI-shaped finance function of the future look like?
"The AI-shaped finance function of the future will look profoundly different from the one of today: It will be defined by a highly collaborative process, with humans and machines working together to achieve common goals."
While there are concerns about the potential impact of AI on the job market, there is a growing recognition that AI and humans can work together to achieve better outcomes for the finance industry as a whole, with each doing what they’re best at.
To give just an example: AI-powered FP&A tools can analyze large amounts of financial data, identifying trends and patterns, and making predictions about future financial performance. Equipped with such insights, finance professionals can make more accurate forecasts, identify risks and opportunities, and make better strategic decisions.
Of course, as with any technological advancement, there are challenges associated with the adoption of AI in finance, and the concerns about job displacement or the need for new skills and training are justified.
However, research by the World Economic Forum suggests that AI may create more jobs than it displaces, particularly in areas such as data science and analysis, digital strategy, process automation, and software development.
And given the radically transformative potential of artificial intelligence, I strongly believe that the AI-shaped finance function of the future will look profoundly different from the one of today: It will be defined by a highly collaborative process, with humans and machines working together to achieve common goals.
With the integration of artificial intelligence, finance professionals will be able to effectively extract insights and recommendations from large amounts of data, using their expertise and judgment not to manipulate data, but to make the final decision.
Furthermore, I believe that the AI-shaped finance function will be highly adaptable, able to quickly respond to changing business needs and market conditions. AI algorithms will be able to learn and improve over time, becoming increasingly effective at performing complex tasks and enabling fast decision-making.
With AI-powered finance supertools at their fingertips, finance professionals will be able to provide more targeted and proactive recommendations to stakeholders, planning for the future with greater confidence.
Finally, I believe that by fully embracing the transformative potential of AI technology and making it an integral part of their daily work routine, finance professionals will be able to go back to being creative thinkers, visionary problem solvers, and empathetic relationship builders.
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Spend Management Transformation in the AI Era: A Framework
In the era of AI-driven digital transformation, traditional finance processes are becoming obsolete. As companies grapple with increasing complexities and rising competition, they must recognise the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to stay ahead of the curve.
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