Enterprise resource planning: AI driven tools to meet today’s changing financial services landscape
AI-driven (aftificial intelligence) ERP (enterprise resource planning) is quickly becoming a strategic necessity for financial services firms navigating volatility, regulation, and rising expectations for speed and insight. In an article from Verdict.co.uk, author Lara Williams recaps a recent GlobalData executive roundtable that explored how AI-powered enterprise planning tools are reshaping finance operations across the sector.
The discussion—held in London with senior finance leaders and supported by Workday—highlighted a familiar tension in financial services. Firms are often early adopters of advanced technology, yet they operate in highly regulated, risk-averse environments. With AI conversations shifting from hype to hard ROI, finance directors are now tasked with identifying which AI-driven ERP tools deliver measurable value and how to implement them amid uncertainty around both human and financial capital.
A central theme in Williams’ reporting is the growing importance of adaptive planning. Market volatility, regulatory pressure, and evolving customer expectations have made real-time budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modeling a competitive differentiator. While executives broadly agreed on the value of unified, AI-powered data platforms, Williams notes that organizations are at very different stages of adoption.
Legacy system integration and data silos remain major obstacles. According to Williams, finance leaders see AI-driven adaptive planning as a way to streamline the monthly close, automate consolidations, and enable faster fraud and anomaly detection—especially for multinational organizations.
Williams also points out an interesting side effect of greater visibility: uncovering more fraud can strain resources, even if it’s ultimately a positive outcome. The takeaway is clear in her analysis—AI-driven ERP can unlock real agility and insight, but only when built on strong data foundations and supported by the right enterprise technology partners.
