In a groundbreaking 2025 report released today, The Hackett Group® (NASDAQ: HCKT) unveiled how top-performing finance teams—labeled as “Digital World Class®”—are harnessing generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) to operate at 45% lower cost while delivering executive insights 74% faster.
The study, based on global benchmarking data, shows that finance departments embracing AI and digital transformation are moving beyond routine tasks and playing a strategic role in enterprise decision-making.
“Gen AI presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform finance,” said Martijn Geerling, Global Practice Leader at The Hackett Group®. “Leaders in the space are using automation not just for efficiency but to become strategic partners in the business.”
Performance Gains
Digital World Class® finance organizations outperform their peers across five key dimensions:
Forward-Looking Analysis: Spend 68% more time generating strategic insights rather than collecting data.
Forecast Accuracy: Provide forecasts 57% faster and improve working capital by reducing delinquent payments by 83%.
Digital Maturity: Nearly 100% enable online access for customers and suppliers, making them 6-7x more efficient.
Automation: Nearly all journal entries (99%) and 80% of accounts payable processes are automated.
Operational Efficiency: Achieve 35-57% shorter close cycles and use 42% fewer staff across core functions.
Rethinking the Finance Model
To reach Digital World Class® status, The Hackett Group recommends six transformation levers: reimagining service design, adopting AI-ready technologies, upskilling finance talent, improving data governance, optimizing outsourcing partnerships, and streamlining governance structures.
Vince Griffin, Finance Executive Advisory Leader at The Hackett Group®, emphasized, “These teams are not just cutting costs. They’re transforming how finance drives business value in a volatile, AI-driven economy.”
The findings arrive at a critical time, as U.S. companies face increasing economic uncertainty and pressure to deliver faster, smarter decisions. The Hackett Group’s insights provide a blueprint for CFOs looking to leverage Gen AI to stay ahead.