From Exploration to Scale: The AI Adoption Pathway in Finance

As finance teams globally embark on their journey toward AI integration, it’s clear that the pace of adoption varies significantly by region. While many organizations in North America and Japan are primarily in exploratory or testing phases, France has emerged as a leader in implementing AI solutions across various finance functions with notable speed and confidence.

AI Adoption Stages by Region

Most finance teams remain at the beginning stages of AI adaptation, but the approaches differ markedly:

• In North America, 86% of finance professionals report they are either exploring use cases (53%) or testing AI in specific areas (33%).
• Japan shows a similar trend, with 76% of respondents still in preliminary phases.
• France stands out, where 72% are exploring or testing AI technologies, but an impressive 18% are actively integrating AI across multiple financial functions—this is more than four times the rate in North America (4%) and double that of Japan (7%).

Regional Barriers to AI Development

The major challenges hindering AI deployment in finance reveal a diverse landscape across regions:

• Lack of Internal Expertise: This barrier is universally noted, with 51% in North America, 52% in Japan, and 43% in France citing it as a challenge.
• Regulatory, Security, and Ethical Concerns: Almost 48% of respondents in France have indicated these issues as primary obstacles, a stark contrast to 29% in North America and 19% in Japan.
• Uncertain ROI on AI Investments: This concern is more pronounced in North America (37%) compared to Japan (26%).
• Funding Constraints: Japan leads with 20% of respondents facing funding issues, while France follows closely at 18%, and North America lags at just 10%.

Trust Drivers for Agentic AI: Regional Perspectives

When it comes to boosting confidence in deploying agentic AI at scale, preferences vary:

• In North America, 65% of finance professionals prioritize proven use cases.
• Respondents from France emphasize the importance of integrating agentic AI with existing CPM tools (65%).
• Clear governance and accountability frameworks are highlighted by 44% in Japan and 41% in North America as vital to increasing confidence in AI deployment.
• In Japan, 36% of respondents also noted that enhancing internal AI knowledge would bolster readiness for scaling AI applications.

A Shared Vision Amid Diverse Paths

Insights from recent inTouch25 surveys indicate that the path to AI in finance is not linear but characterized by varied experiences and ambitions:

Financial leaders globally recognize the transformative potential of AI. However, the adoption journey varies significantly by region. At Wolters Kluwer, we emphasize collaboration with clients to navigate obstacles, whether they are related to integration in France, ROI clarity in North America, or funding challenges in Japan. Recognizing these regional differences is crucial for assessing progress and anticipating future challenges.

Future-Ready CFO: Upcoming Insights

Looking ahead, prepare for the Future Ready CFO Report, part of a series of global investigations from Wolters Kluwer. Set to launch by March 2026, this report will gather insights from 1,300 financial decision-makers across North America, Europe, and Japan. It will delve into future financial leadership, including technology adoption, operations, and decision-making influenced by the ongoing AI revolution.