AI and finance departments: what do the numbers say?
Why are 79% of finance departments still lagging behind on AI? What are the 3 main barriers to adoption? Which promising uses do finance departments identify as a priority?
AI in Finance: Immense Potential, Still Limited Adoption
AI is establishing itself as a performance lever for finance departments. However, the results of our MeltOne 2026 barometer reveal a paradox: confidence is high, but deployment remains limited.
MeltOne surveyed 50 Finance and Data decision-makers in March 2026. Here is what the figures tell us, and what they imply for departments wishing to take action.
AI in Finance: Why are companies still falling behind?
79% of companies still underutilize AI. This is the most striking figure from our barometer. Nearly 8 out of 10 companies use little or no AI in their financial processes.
Yet, the confidence is there. 75% of respondents report having high or very high confidence in AI. 94% say they are ready to deploy AI solutions in the short or medium term.
The challenge is therefore not conviction, but taking action.
Numerous barriers block the adoption of AI in finance departments
31% of companies are not comfortable with the quality or harmonization of their data. Data reliability is indeed a non-negotiable prerequisite for artificial intelligence in Finance. An AI working with false data will inevitably provide a flawed analysis. No one wants to report figures that are only 90% accurate.
30% of companies have not clearly designated a manager or entity in charge of AI topics. This governance deficit is revealing. Without clear leadership, strong sponsorship, and a clear problem to solve, AI initiatives remain isolated. They do not integrate into a coherent and operational transformation strategy.
Without clear AI governance and reliable data, projects remain fragmented and fail to scale.
Which AI uses do finance departments judge most promising?
Despite the barriers, finance departments have a clear vision of the expected benefits. Three uses stand out clearly.
Chatting with data (28%)
Querying financial data in natural language, without manual exports or technical queries and without having to build dashboards. Direct access to information that crosses multiple sources for all Finance profiles.
Augmented Planning & Forecasting (27%)
Multi-scenario modeling, identification of variation sources, integration of external signals, predictive alerts on discrepancies. AI transforms the departmental budget cycle.
Augmented Reporting & BI (20%)
Moving from descriptive reporting to prescriptive reporting. AI generates comments, detects anomalies, and contextualizes discrepancies. Analyses, rules, and dashboards are co-constructed with agents, providing autonomy and acceleration. Teams focus more on analysis and decision-making rather than production.
| 💡 Key Takeaways: ✓ Top 3 uses: conversational data, augmented forecasting, prescriptive BI. ✓ 63% of departments position AI as a co-pilot: humans remain at the center. ✓ These uses are accessible today with the right tools and structured data. |
What this infographic explains: AI for finance departments is a matter of methodology
Today, in 2026, finance departments do not need to be convinced. They need to be supported.
The confidence is there. The intention is there. What is missing: reliable data, clear governance, a structured vision of use cases, and a roadmap. This is precisely where MeltOne comes in.
The 5 key points to remember:
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79% of companies underutilize AI
The potential to catch up is immense. -
Data quality is the #1 prerequisite
Without reliable and available data, AI cannot deliver. -
AI governance must be managed
Designate a manager, define a framework, and measure results. -
Priority uses are identified
Forecasting, augmented reporting, conversational data. -
AI is a co-pilot, not a replacement
Business value and responsibility come from humans.
MeltOne: Your Partner for Finance & Data Transformation
MeltOne is an international consulting and integration firm, founded in 2014, that supports companies in their digital transformation in an innovative and sustainable way by intervening in their processes, data, and solutions. With more than 200 consultants, MeltOne currently supports over 300 clients in the services, industry, retail, consumer goods, luxury, and financial services (banking and insurance) sectors.
Based on the results of its survey, MeltOne has designed an essential guide for getting started with AI, designed for finance departments, featuring an overview of uses, 2026 updates, and the MeltOne methodology. You will notably discover the full results of the MeltOne survey.
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