A new global report reveals a critical paradox facing modern finance teams: they are being pulled into more strategic roles while simultaneously being bogged down by inefficient, manual processes. Tipalti, the AI-powered platform for finance automation, has released "The Global Finance Outlook: Are Teams Equipped for Today's Economy?" The report, based on a survey of over 2,300 finance professionals, highlights that teams are losing 11 hours per week—nearly 72 workdays per year—to manual accounts payable (AP) tasks, creating significant risks and stifling growth at a time of increasing global business complexity.
Quick Intel
Finance teams lose 11 hours per week (72 days/year) to manual AP tasks.
74% of teams are taking on more strategic roles despite operational inefficiencies.
56% say their current AP systems cannot support long-term growth.
Only 7% of organizations have fully automated their AP operations.
AI is the #1 investment priority for 50% of finance leaders.
Key barriers to automation are data security, integration complexity, and accuracy fears.
The Strain of Global Expansion on Outdated Systems
The report identifies a major disconnect between corporate ambition and financial infrastructure. While 35% of businesses plan to expand globally in the next 1-2 years, operational readiness is lagging. More than half (56%) of respondents admit their current AP systems cannot support long-term growth without major overhauls. This is compounded by external pressures, with 59% of finance leaders stating that U.S.-related tariffs are directly affecting their expansion plans, creating uncertainty and contributing to stress and burnout.
Escalating Compliance and Fraud Risks
As companies grow internationally, compliance and fraud present escalating challenges. Half of all finance professionals report they lack a clear roadmap for managing global compliance, leaving their organizations exposed. Furthermore, 60% say fraud has become a greater concern in the accounts payable process. While many companies are reacting by investing in new technology or creating internal protocols, the report suggests that without foundational automation, these measures are often short-term fixes rather than scalable solutions.
The Clear Divide in Automation Adoption
The findings show near-universal recognition of automation's value, with 80% of leaders agreeing it drives long-term business goals. However, adoption remains low, with only 7% of organizations having fully automated AP. The top barriers to adoption include data security concerns, integration complexity, and fears over accuracy. Despite this hesitation, momentum is building, with 68% of teams actively re-evaluating their AP processes and 46% implementing or piloting AI tools. For those who have automated, the benefits are tangible, including fewer errors, faster approvals, and improved employee retention.
The report underscores a pivotal moment for finance departments. The accelerating pace of global business, combined with regulatory and fraud pressures, is making manual processes unsustainable. The path forward is clear: strategic investment in AI and automation is no longer optional but is the essential foundation for building resilient, scalable, and strategic finance operations capable of supporting modern business ambitions.
Tipalti is the AI-powered platform for finance automation, elevating how finance teams operate in the global economy. We empower our customers to scale faster and smarter by removing the complexities of doing global business and accelerating their finance operations efficiency. Our platform provides a comprehensive suite of finance automation solutions designed for mid-market businesses across accounts payable, global payouts, procurement, employee expenses, corporate cards, supplier management, tax compliance, and treasury. Tipalti partners with leading financial institutions such as Citi, Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan, and Visa, enabling over 5,000 global companies to efficiently and securely pay millions of suppliers and payees across 200+ countries and territories, in 120 currencies.
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