9DECEMBER 2025CFO TECH OUTLOOKLean Architecture principles tell us that--more often than not--the less we have to maintain, the more cost-effective the system becomes.data-driven techniques to create architecture with automated feature delivery that can be extended and scaled up and out later as demand increases. Such a system will require fewer people and man-hours to both create and maintain.Should you find yourself inheriting a system similar to one already in place, consolidate the former into an existing system wherever possible and let existing people own it going forward. Generative AI has emerged as the headline that we all want to be a part of. However, disguised in that mirage is the need for automation integrated throughout the enterprise. For example, cloud infrastructure provisioning can be automated, similar to how we push updates for systems and deploy new mobile apps. Once that foundation has been laid, one of the benefits is to find the value proposition for using generative AI in the systems you have built.Another option is to buy it: many of the tools we already pay for have some AI component to them. Investigate them according to your organization's legal and data governance policies and then trial them, settling on the ones that work for you using ROI data. These tend to accelerate the person we already have, which translates into decreased expense or increased operational efficiency.Aligning Tech Strategies with BusinessMost of us find ourselves wandering on the paths of digital transformation and application modernization. Gone are the days when we can build and then let systems run. Instead, they must be groomed and constantly updated to maintain platform support and increase security posture. There must be people whose focus is to stay in sync with the technology landscape.Where new technology enables us, customer experience plays a role in driving system improvements and adding features that did not exist in prior years. Customers will change along with the technology at their fingertips, and we must too.Regardless of the agent for change, we must emphasize the importance of test automation, which allows us to implement new system behavior without compromising existing ones. The more we have, the faster we can adapt to change, which translates into an agile business --one that can run with the market ups and downs without much internal friction. Once a significant level of tests is automated, existing systems can be upgraded and new ones built with modern technology that attracts both customers and employees.Technology Leadership Insights in FinanceIt's always helpful to have good people, both on the business side and IT. Find those people, invest in them, and then let them drive your story of success and innovation. The people who are closest to the work will often have some of the best answers and can provide leadership with the information to make wise strategic decisions. Respect them, give them responsibility, ensure healthy relationships between departments and teams and then enable those people and teams to produce results. With those things in place, it is far easier to take on new technology and embark on digital transformation.
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