Gartner Says CFOs Are Focusing on Automation Investments to Drive Down Costs
A July 2022 survey of 226 CFOs found that digital acceleration was the top spending priority for CFOs over the next 12 months, with 98% of respondents saying they will protect digital investments and of those, 66% stating they plan to increase their investments in the category.
A separate survey of 128 CFOs and CEOs in June highlighted the particular areas within technology that are set to receive the most investment: one third of respondents said they will prioritize back-office automation technologies, the most popular choice among 13 different categories of potential technology investment (see Figure 1).
“Automating back-office workflows is a key to achieving efficiency gains across a number of areas including accounts payable, accounts receivable and internal IT services, such as helpdesk support,” said Randeep Rathindran, vice president, research in the Gartner Finance Practice. “In a cash-constrained environment, where margins are under pressure, the urgency to improve productivity in these areas is heightened.”
Figure 1: Digital Investments CEOs and CFOs Believe Will Improve Performance Efficiency

Source: Gartner (August 2022)
Gartner’s survey on CFOs’ investment priorities also revealed the areas most vulnerable to cost cuts over the next 12 months. Forty-six percent of respondents indicated they will cut spending on consultants, while 45% said they will decrease spending on real estate. Contractor spend was also targeted by 39% of respondents.
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