Finance Teams Consolidated Software While Adopting AI
As AI usage climbed to 67% in 2026, finance departments streamlined their tech stacks to favor fewer, multifunctional platforms.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Corporate Finance
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As of mid-2026, 67% of finance teams have adopted AI tools, a significant increase from 31% in 2024. During this period, departments focused on consolidation by limiting their software ecosystems to six or fewer applications.
Why it matters
Finance departments are prioritizing unified platforms to reduce complexity and allow staff to shift time from manual tasks to strategic decision-making. This trend reflects an effort to centralize data as AI integration automates formerly labor-intensive processes.
Ninety percent of finance teams now operate with six or fewer software tools, with 80% continuing to rely on spreadsheets for forecasting. Meanwhile, 41% of teams utilize Anthropic's Claude for general-purpose AI tasks.
The players
Anthropic
An AI research and safety company that develops the Claude large language model platform.
CFO Connect
A professional community and knowledge network for financial leaders and executives.
Deloitte
A multinational professional services network providing audit, consulting, and financial advisory services.
The details
Teams are increasingly integrating AI features directly into their incumbent accounting and ERP systems rather than purchasing specialized standalone products. Despite the surge in AI usage, 80% of teams continue to perform planning and forecasting in spreadsheets, while 55% still track cash through the same medium. Additionally, 64% of companies lack a dedicated procurement tool, further highlighting a preference for keeping core functions within existing, familiar environments.
Timeline
In 2024, 31% of finance teams used AI tools.
In 2025, 56% of finance teams used AI tools.
CFO Connect conducted a poll of 215 executives in June and July 2026.
Deloitte surveyed 58 large-company CFOs in the UK in July 2026.
Market Landscape
Finance teams are consolidating their technology footprints, moving away from fragmented product suites toward centralized platforms that include AI capabilities. This shift challenges the industry's historical reliance on spreadsheets for critical forecasting and cash-tracking functions.
Operators should evaluate whether their current finance software supports integrated AI features before investing in new, standalone tools. Reducing the number of software applications to simplify the tech stack may improve data visibility and decrease maintenance overhead.
The takeaway
The move toward consolidated platforms highlights the value of centralizing financial data to support AI-driven automation. To prepare, audit your existing software suite to identify redundant applications that could be replaced by current vendor AI upgrades.
Further reading
For broader insights on managing back-office efficiency, see Corporate Finance.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Next Web.
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Do you believe finance departments should prioritize AI tools over traditional manual spreadsheet workflows?
