CFOs can assist in successful digital transformation

Contributed Article
July 4, 2019 6:59 pm

The impact of digital transformation on every aspect of the business – from back-office processes to the customer experience – means that it is more important than ever for technology and business strategy to be in lockstep. Though there is a great deal of discussion about the importance of the chief executive, chief marketing officer, and chief HR officer in digital transformation, the pivotal role of the chief financial officer, CFO is sometimes overlooked.

But who could be better positioned to partner with the chief information officer, CIO to understand how digital technology can be used as a lever for revenue and profit growth than the CFO? The modern CFO is not only responsible for financial planning, management and record keeping – they also have a key role to play in the analysis of data and strategic decision-making. The financial leader is the person who sees all vital business data and has skills to analyse and interpret it.

As such, CFOs are in a great position to look at digital projects—from enterprise applications to artificial intelligence and the cloud—and assess whether they will deliver the return-on-investment to justify long-term change. They can evaluate whether initiatives are likely to differentiate the business and result in better productivity and efficiency.

For that reason, the CFO needs to work closely with the CIO to understand where technology investment should go and what should be prioritised. For example, the CFO should be looking attentively at where inefficient processes can be automated, rather than increasing headcount, which can be a costlier exercise.

Data-driven and cloud-enabled

As part of digital transformation, CFOs should be looking for enterprise technology solutions that can provide fast and easy access to real-time financial data, which they can use to make better-informed decisions. As well as ensuring compliance, these tools must give them better access to financial and operational data, with automated alerts and perhaps capabilities such as scenario planning.

The cloud is a great enabler, allowing CFOs access to real-time data anywhere and anytime. With enterprise cloud solutions now reaching maturity, businesses are turning away from legacy ERP systems to more flexible and cost-effective solutions powered by the cloud, hybrid version or even on-premise.

The good news that CFOs in GCC countries are awake to the possibilities of digital transformation and are hence open to working with the IT team and CIO to unlock the value of digital technology. According to an IDC study, 33% of CFOs in the GCC see ICT’s role as helping the organisation to disrupt its industry, while another 31% say it will enable them to change business models, create new workflows and enable new customer engagement points.

It is through partnering with CIOs and by deploying fit-for-purpose business solutions that the CFO can help the organisation grow and thrive during a time when technology and consumer expectations are changing at high speed.

Today, the job of a CFO is to create better financial strategies that align with the needs of the business. They must in effect become strategic partners, empowered with the real-time analytics and insight that digital transformation can bring.

Mansoor Sarwar, Regional Technical Director, Sage Middle East.

Key takeaways

  • CFO needs to work closely with the CIO to understand where technology investment should go and what should be prioritised.
  • 33% CFOs in GCC see ICT’s role as helping the organisation to disrupt its industry.
  • The modern CFO plays a key role in the analysis of data and strategic decision-making.

CFOs can work with CIOs to select the projects best suited for the organisation, writes Sage’s Mansoor Sarwar.

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