Controlling business spend is helping finance leaders to forecast with confidence
- Written by Fabian Calle, managing director, small and medium business, SAP Concur Australia
Forecasting has always been central to financial planning; however, traditional methods based on historical trends are no longer enough. Economic signals have become fragmented as inflation, shifting tariffs, interest rate volatility, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions continue to converge. At the same time, companies face growing pressure to improve transparency and maintain tighter control of spend. To navigate this environment, finance leaders need greater visibility and the confidence to make fast and informed decisions.
Finance leaders are stepping into a more strategic role as their insights now carry greater influence over investment decisions, cost management, and long-term growth planning. To lead effectively, they need immediate access to real-time spend data, clarity on where money is going, and the ability to connect expenditure with business outcomes. When expense, travel, and invoice data are connected and analysed holistically, they become powerful tools for strategic decision-making rather than administrative necessities.
Fabian Calle, managing director, small and medium business, SAP Concur Australia and New Zealand, said, “Organisations that integrate spend management into their wider financial strategy don’t just gain efficiency, they gain control. Finance leaders make faster and more informed decisions when they can see what’s being spent, where it’s going, and how it fits with company goals. That’s critical when change is constant.”
Automation is transforming how finance teams operate. According to SAP Concur, 76 per cent of travel and expense decision-makers said improving efficiency through automation is a priority. (1) Integrated tools that automatically capture receipts, categorise expenses, and streamline approvals help reduce manual work, minimise errors, and improve employee experience. Eighty per cent of businesses using both automated expense and accounts payable tools report improved compliance, and 70 per cent have reduced invoice processing costs. (2)
Automation also lays the foundation for stronger forecasting and greater resilience. With full visibility into current spend, finance leaders can model the impact of cost pressures such as tariffs, currency movements, and supplier changes on cash flow and budgets. In today’s unpredictable economic climate, real-time insights and adaptive forecasting tools are critical for managing uncertainty. Some finance leaders are even using digital twin technologies to test supply chain changes before implementing them. Nearly half (48 per cent) of CFOs are exploring ways to re-engineer supply chains in response to tariff-related disruptions. (3) Scenario-based modelling tools help finance teams simulate different outcomes and strengthen their ability to respond quickly and confidently to shifting conditions.
Fabian Calle said, “Finance teams can’t afford to be reactive. Forecasting used to be a once-a-quarter exercise based on last year’s numbers. Now, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool let organisations model multiple scenarios in real time. This helps them prepare for uncertainty and avoid last-minute decisions that could affect revenue or compliance.”
AI is accelerating the shift from reactive to predictive finance. AI-powered forecasting can model how factors such as inflation or tariffs might influence customer behaviour, supplier costs, and profit margins. This lets finance teams move from manual, bottom-up models to faster and more accurate top-down approaches. AI-powered systems let finance teams forecast revenue and expenditure more precisely by combining historical spend data with live inputs from customer relationship management and other systems. This improves accuracy and frees finance teams to focus on higher-value activities such as identifying risks, reducing costs, and reallocating resources where they will have the greatest impact.
Finance leaders are also managing rising expectations around performance, compliance, and meaningful work, often with fewer resources. Research from SAP Concur shows that 58 per cent of finance leaders are prioritising investments in AI to drive growth. (4) Importantly, this isn’t only about technology but also about empowering people.
Fabian Calle said, “Automation helps reduce workloads and, more significantly, it gives people their time back. Finance teams can engage more strategically and add value when they are freed from repetitive, manual tasks. That’s where the real power of automation lies.
“The connection between efficiency, visibility, forecasting, and people sets resilient companies apart. In a climate defined by constant change, finance leaders who embrace automation, AI, and scenario modelling can forecast confidently, act quickly, and guide their businesses toward sustainable success. When finance leaders have accurate data, integrated tools, and a proactive mindset, they can lead confidently even when conditions are uncertain.”
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