Adapt or Be Automated: Finance’s 2025 Reality Check

Delaying AI carries more risk than adopting it, Ryan Frere, executive VP and general manager of B2B at Flywire, writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, “Headlines That Will Shape the Close of 2025.”

This has been a year defined by volatility, with shifting trade flows, unpredictable markets and rapid advances in technology. Yet amid the uncertainty, one theme stands out with clarity: finance is at an AI inflection point. Much like the internet or the smartphone, artificial intelligence is not just improving existing processes, it is fundamentally redefining them. For finance leaders, the question is no longer if artificial intelligence will transform operations, but how quickly they can adapt. Those who hesitate risk falling behind in a marketplace where automation is already proving to be a decisive competitive edge.

This isn’t speculation. AI-powered accounts receivable (AR) solutions are delivering step-function improvements: settlement times reduced by 60%, reconciliation efforts cut by 70%, and DSO shortened by more than two weeks. These are not incremental gains; they are structural shifts that change the way finance teams operate and the way companies compete.

What makes AI different from past automation waves is its ability to learn and improve continuously. Traditional software follows static rules; AI evolves with every transaction. Early adopters are already compounding their advantages, while late movers face the daunting task of catching up to systems that have grown smarter with every cycle.

Crucially, the risk equation has flipped. Today’s AI platforms include built-in guardrails, audit trails and human oversight mechanisms that address concerns about compliance and control. Inaction now carries more risk than adoption. The longer organizations delay, the harder it becomes to overcome the lead of competitors who are already scaling AI-driven finance operations.

Market forces are also accelerating the timeline. Customers demand billing transparency, frictionless payment options and responsive service. Global businesses face growing complexity in multi-currency transactions, foreign exchange management and cross-border compliance. Regulators expect more rigor in reporting and audits. Manual processes cannot keep pace with these realities — even without the AI revolution.

Talent expectations add another layer of urgency. Today’s finance professionals don’t want to spend their careers buried in reconciliations or data entry. They expect tools that free them to focus on strategy, analysis and growth. Companies that fail to modernize risk losing their best people to organizations that offer a more advanced, future-ready environment.

The best way forward is targeted adoption. High-value use cases such as cash application, collections optimization and customer risk assessment deliver clear returns and provide momentum for broader transformation. Early wins build confidence and create the foundation for sustainable change.

The competitive window is narrowing. Soon, artificial intelligence will be table stakes, and the advantage will shift to those deploying it most effectively. But companies that act now will not only optimize operations — they will define customer expectations and set industry standards as we move into 2026.

The message for finance leaders is clear: the AI inflection point is here. Those who seize it will unlock lasting gains in efficiency, customer experience and strategic agility. Those who wait will spend the years ahead playing catch-up in an increasingly automated marketplace.