Oct 31, 2025

Tipalti, an AI-powered platform for finance automation , today released  The Global Finance Outlook: Are Teams Equipped for Today’s Economy? , revealing a stark reality for finance professionals: the pace and complexity of global business are accelerating faster than most finance teams can manage. Based on a survey of more than 2,300 finance professionals across North America, the UK, and Europe, the report highlights an inflection point for finance organizations. While 74% of teams say they’re being pulled into more strategic roles, they’re also losing 11 hours per week—or nearly 72 workdays per year—to manual AP tasks that stifle productivity and growth. Amid this growing strain, the report reveals that global business complexity, outdated AP systems, tariffs, and evolving regulations are creating critical risks for organizations. “The increasing complexity of global business is a profound challenge for finance professionals still bound by manual AP,” said Manish Vrishaketu, chief customer and operating officer at Tipalti. “These outdated systems create compliance bottlenecks, operational blind spots, and burnout at a time when agility matters most. AI-powered finance automation is no longer a future nice-to-have; it’s the foundation for resilience, scalability, and competitive advantage in today’s global economy.” As companies expand internationally, the strain on finance teams is mounting. More than one-third (35%) of businesses plan to expand globally within the next 12–24 months, and 55% already spend more time on international business than in previous years. Yet, the operational readiness isn’t keeping up. More than half, 56%, of respondents say their current AP systems can’t support long-term growth without major overhauls, and only one in four finance professionals feel “very prepared” to manage finances amid rising international growth. Four out of five (80%) say they need to scale their AP processes to handle growing invoice volumes, signalling a clear capacity gap between ambition and infrastructure. External headwinds are compounding the internal pressures finance teams are battling. Roughly 59% of finance leaders say U.S.-related tariffs are directly affecting their expansion plans, while 61% have slowed investment or growth due to tariff uncertainty. North American companies are bearing the brunt: they are 37% more likely than those in Europe to say tariffs are impacting financial planning and 65% more likely to report stress or burnout linked to geopolitical shifts. As organizations pursue international growth, the complexity of compliance and fraud prevention continues to rise. Half of finance professionals say they lack a clear roadmap for managing global compliance, leaving their organizations exposed to potential regulatory missteps with costly consequences. The problem is worsening—43% report more compliance issues in the past year, while 60% say fraud has become a greater concern across the AP process. To respond, many are layering in quick fixes: 51% have invested in new technology for control and compliance, 43% have created new internal compliance protocols, and 33% have increased staffing or added compliance-focused roles. Yet, without implemented automation, these measures risk being short-term patches rather than scalable solutions. The report finds near-universal agreement that automation and AI are key to the future of finance. Four out of five finance leaders say automation’s value goes beyond efficiency to drive long-term business goals. Yet, only 7% of organizations have fully automated AP operations today. Among those more hesitant to fully adopt automation, top barriers include data security concerns, integration complexity, and fears around accuracy. But the cost of inaction is clear—64% of finance teams worry that a lack of automation will limit scalability. Momentum is building, however. Two-thirds are actively re-evaluating how they manage AP, and 46% are implementing or piloting AI tools. For those who have already embraced automation, the payoff is tangible—fewer errors, faster approvals, and stronger control. When asked where they plan to invest through the remainder of 2025, finance leaders ranked AI as the #1 most critical investment for the future of AP, among other top strategic priorities: 50% plan to invest in AI 44% in fraud detection and risk monitoring 44% in data security and privacy 41% in financial compliance and audit Beyond supporting business efficiency, 73% of finance leaders have seen improved retention of skilled employees as a result of implementing or piloting AI tools. These investment trends reflect a shift toward AI as a core driver of business readiness, not just a tool for back-office efficiency. Tipalti’s AI-powered platform unifies AP, procurement, expenses, corporate cards, treasury, and global mass payments, helping mid-market and multi-subsidiary companies simplify global complexities and scale. By removing manual bottlenecks and mitigating compliance risk, Tipalti enables finance teams to unlock new levels of efficiency and focus on strategy, insight, and innovation. Sponsored Links by DQ Promote