What CFOs Will Want from Technology Vendors and What the Market Still Lacks

Description

This IDC Market Perspective describes what CFOs want from technology vendors and what the market still lacks. CFOs are driving enterprisewide transformation, influencing over two-thirds of technology investments. They demand platforms offering real-time insights, modular architecture, embedded governance, AI collaboration, interoperability, and self-service capabilities. However, vendors often fall short, providing fragmented systems, inadequate AI governance, limited risk assessment tools, and generic solutions lacking industry specificity. To meet CFOs' evolving needs, vendors must prioritize adaptability, seamless integration, trust, and vertical depth. Those that innovate boldly and align with CFO priorities will shape the future of enterprise technology."CFOs are reshaping enterprise transformation, demanding future-ready tech that integrates intelligence, governance, and adaptability. Vendors must innovate or risk irrelevance in a dynamic market." - Heather Herbst, research director, CFO Tech Agenda, IDC

Product Code: US53741723

Executive Snapshot

New Market Developments and Dynamics

Expectations: What CFOs Will Demand
- Real-Time, Integrated Decision Intelligence
- Pilot-Ready, Future-Optional Platforms
- Embedded Governance, Risk, and Compliance
- Finance-AI Collaboration, Not Just Automation
- Interoperability and Open Ecosystems
- Solutions That Don't Depend on IT for Every Change
- AI Doesn't Solve All the Problems in Finance
Market Gaps: What Vendors Still Get Wrong
- Fragmented Architecture Across Finance Domains
- Lack of AI Transparency and Governance Tools
- Incomplete Risk Capabilities in Financial Technology
- Underinvestment in Enterprise Complexity
- Absence of True Agentic Capabilities
- Generic Solutions That Ignore Industry Nuance
The Call to Vendors: Build for the CFO of Tomorrow