OneStream Reveals AI Adoption Gaps in Finance

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Oct. 13, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- OneStream, the AI operating system for modern Finance, has released its inaugural Forward Finance Index, revealing a significant gap between the pace of AI adoption in Finance and the enterprise value it delivers. The study, based on a survey of 1,300 CFOs across the U.S., U.K., and France, found that while 74% of Finance leaders are already using AI to reduce manual work, only 14% have achieved genuine "enterprise value and decision impact."

The report highlights that only 40% of Finance teams have fully transparent financial data, a critical foundation for AI to function effectively. This lack of transparency is a major barrier to achieving enterprise value. Additionally, 6% of Finance organizations are leading across all five critical areas identified by the study, while 52% are classified as "Followers," facing fundamental gaps in data, AI strategy, workforce, operations, and IT collaboration.

He further noted that as AI takes on more consequential work, every decision must be transparent, explainable, and traceable.

The study identifies several key gaps between strategic intent and day-to-day execution. For instance, while 71% of executives are confident in their team's ability to provide trusted data and insight for decision-making, only 40% classify their financial reporting data as fully transparent. Similarly, nearly three-quarters (74%) of Finance teams are reducing manual intervention in close, reporting, and reconciliation cycles, but only 14% say AI has reached "enterprise value and decision impact."

Moreover, 73% of Finance teams proactively approach business units to suggest efficiencies, yet only 17% rate their early-warning and risk-identification capabilities as "leading." In terms of IT collaboration, 71% believe Finance and IT are strategic partners, but only 15% have a fully integrated joint roadmap with shared KPIs and accountability.

The research also found that data quality issues regularly block or delay AI projects, underscoring the importance of a robust data foundation.

The Forward Finance Index benchmarks leading CFOs against the Forward Finance Blueprint, an AI operating model designed to help Finance steer the business forward. The study reveals that leaders outperform followers in five key areas: data transparency, measurable ROI, decision governance, IT alignment, and workforce readiness. Leaders maintain an end-to-end view of data lineage across financial and operational systems, establish the trusted foundation autonomous AI requires, and actively track whether operational decisions deliver expected outcomes.

OneStream, with over 1,900 customers, including 16% of the Fortune 500, and a strong ecosystem of go-to-market, implementation, and development partners, empowers the Office of the CFO to become a critical driver of business strategy and execution. The company's platform unifies core financial close, planning, and operational processes, embedding the governance, context, and control required to make AI work for Finance.

The research underscores the importance of a robust data foundation and a well-prepared workforce in achieving enterprise value through AI. As decision velocity becomes a defining competitive advantage, organizations must address the gaps identified in the study to fully leverage AI's potential.