Financial automation is not a reality in 98% of Brazilian companies, study says

Almost all large and medium-sized Brazilian companies (98%) still do not use automation in the financial area, according to a survey released by LeverPro at the end of 2024. This means that they do their operations manually, often from spreadsheets. This dynamic differs from the current competitive context, in which companies need to manage their resources with strategy, make assertive decisions and reduce the space for errors.

“O number is alarming, because automating financial operations is no longer a competitive advantage for many years. Today, it is a necessity for any company that wants to ensure reliability to its data, its analysis and” decisions, analyzes Wilder Gouveia, Chief Financial Officer of Unentel, distributor of technological solutions for the B2B market.

A recent survey conducted by McKinsey & Company revealed that companies implementing financial automation reduce operating costs by up to 25% and increase reporting accuracy by more than 30%Enterprise Resource Planning) to RPAs (Robotic Process Automation), which execute, monitor and manage operations.The idea is to promote information security and enable professionals in the area to prioritize other activities.

In addition to analyzing a large volume of data and generating accurate reports, these tools can perform specific tasks in different areas of the financial department.In the accounts payable sector, they make it possible to schedule payments, automatically check documents and control and analyze recurring expenses; in accounts receivable, they facilitate the sending of collections, the monitoring of receipts in real time and the preparation of revenue reports.

In the management of notes, automation allows you to validate XMLs, issue electronic invoices and take care of returns and adjustments. As for supplier management, the tools continuously update registration data, ensure tax and regulatory compliance, and perform integrated contract management. Finally, within the scope of reports, provide real-time analysis, consolidation and integration of financial data, in addition to forecasting scenarios.

Thus, the finance department can evolve to become a strategic center, so much so that, according to the Global Digital Operations Study report, carried out by PwC, 72% of companies that automate financial operations observe significant improvements in their ability to respond to market demands.

Sebrae shows that companies that automate financial processes reduce the time dedicated to these tasks by up to 70%, demonstrating that automation not only solves current challenges, but can also be part of a long-term growth tactic, when well implemented.

“It is a challenge to choose the right system, but it exists. To make an assertive decision, you need to think about technology from a strategic point of view, evaluating the needs of your company and choosing the most compatible solution with the business profile”, concludes Gouveia.