2025 Automation Statistics That’ll Upset the Finance Applecart

Automation statistics expose a brutal truth for finance departments in 2025. Digital transformation is no longer optional. Our survey of 470+ finance leaders across the UK, US, and Germany reveals a critical divide between technological potential and current capabilities. These automation stats, combined with industry analysis, uncover challenges and emerging opportunities in finance transformation.

Download our Document Automation Trends 2025 report. How to automate like a boss – a finance leader’s guide to digital transformation. Includes automation stats, expert analysis, key actions, and KPIs.

Key automation statistics: The current state of finance automation

Artificial intelligence plays a vital role in the automation market. Enabling businesses to analyze data, predict trends, and prevent fraud. 

While Gartner reports 82% of CFOs increased investments in digital technology in 2024, our research reveals a significant gap in automation adoption…

• 49% of finance departments still operate with zero automation, relying on manual data entry, Excel spreadsheets, etc.
  
• 38% have implemented partial automation  – working with legacy OCR technology, handling data extraction via templates, and involving a ton of human intervention
  
• Only 13% are fully automated  – i.e., 50%+ straight-through processing across the document journey

This gap between investment intention and current automation levels suggests a critical transformation period is coming our way. According to Deloitte’s digital transformation in finance research, organizations that fail to accelerate their automation initiatives risk falling behind competitors that are more digitally mature.

Technology adoption statistics

Current automation statistics show a dramatic contrast between traditional and emerging technologies…

• Excel spreadsheets dominate at 58% usage
• IDP adoption at 20% shows growing recognition of intelligent document processing solutions
• Traditional OCR maintains 17% market share
• Gen AI and LLMs at 10% reflect early adoption of cutting-edge technology
• RPA – robotic process automation – at 9% suggests possible market saturation or shift to more advanced solutions

58% of finance leaders surveyed chose Excel as their main tech driver!!! 

Let that sink in…

Fair enough. The familiarity, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of Excel triumph. That’s despite advancements in RPA, intelligent document processing, optical character recognition, etc.

But, the limitations of Excel spreadsheets are acute for growing businesses. While AI-enabled automation is able to scale operations and manage large and complex volumes of transactions and data. 

Worth noting that 26% of respondents report using no automation tools whatsoever. Highlighting a significant technological divide in the industry.

The automation satisfaction paradox

Our automation statistics unmask an intriguing disconnect…

• 60% expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with current automation levels
• Only 13% reported dissatisfaction

However, when asked about their department’s approach to automation…

• 46% identify as Luddites
• 29% consider themselves laggards
• Only 24% identify as automation drivers

Rossum’s Document Automation Trends 2025 report.

McKinsey’s analysis suggests many organizations underestimate their automation potential, leading to misguided satisfaction with substandard processes. A 2022 McKinsey survey highlights that while industrial companies plan to significantly invest in robotics and automation, many “currently operate a hodgepodge of legacy technologies”. Facing challenges because of a lack of internal experience and concerns about costs. Which can result in underestimating their true automation potential.

Drivers & challenges in finance automation

Key drivers

The primary motivators for automation adoption reveal a focus on operational excellence…

• Efficiency gains – 43%
• Cost reduction – 32%
• Improved decision making – 27%

Forrester’s 2024 Automation Predictions supports these findings, saying that businesses increasingly see automation as a strategic must-have rather than a cost-cutting tool.

Implementation challenges

The most significant barriers to automation implementation include…

• Cost concerns – 32%
• Tool complexity – 24%
• Integration issues – 20%

Cost proves a barrier when implementing automation in finance operations.

These statistics mirror Accenture’s Finance Function of the Future report, which identifies similar obstacles in finance transformation initiatives.

Future outlook – Skills, security, ROI

Skills evolution statistics

Our automation statistics indicate that finance leaders anticipate notable shifts in required skill sets…

• 34% emphasize the need for AI skills
• 32% prioritize adaptability and continuous learning
• 28% focus on strategic thinking and planning
• 26% highlight technical skill requirements

This aligns with PwC’s Future of Finance report, which predicts a necessary reshaping of finance roles through automation.

Security perspective

The security implications of automation and AI give us a mixed outlook…

• 34% see an equal balance of risks and opportunities
• 27% perceive more risks than opportunities
• 20% identify more opportunities than risks

ROI expectations

When talking about return on investment…

• 42% anticipate medium to very big impact from automation initiatives
• 39% expect small to very small impact
• 20% remain uncertain about potential returns

Expert analysis & future implications

The automation statistics suggest several key trends…

• AI implementation gap
  While IDC predicts global spending on AI solutions will grow to more than $500 billion in 2027, our statistics show many organizations still lag behind.
  
• Technology evolution
  The relatively low adoption of advanced automation technologies – 10% for Gen AI – indicates significant growth potential. Supporting Boston Consulting Group’s projection of accelerated AI adoption in fintech, software, and banking as the sectors with the highest concentration of AI leaders.
  
• Skills transformation
  The emphasis on AI skills – 34% – aligns with World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, highlighting the growing importance of technical literacy in finance.

Before we wrap it up, I’ve analyzed specific survey responses to find key insights and anomalies that define each country’s relationship with automation in finance operations…

United Kingdom automation statistics

The UK finance sector demonstrates a conventional technological approach to automation adoption. Evident by higher levels of dissatisfaction and reliance on traditional tools. These trends highlight a resistance to change, significant reliance on Excel, and relatively high perceived challenges.

• 66% of UK finance departments still depend on Excel spreadsheets, the highest among the three countries, indicating a slower transition to advanced tools.
  
• 17% of UK respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their current automation levels, showing a marked contrast to Germany’s lower dissatisfaction at 8%.
  
• 35% of UK leaders identify their departments as “laggards”, slightly higher than Germany’s 28% but notably higher than the US at 25%.

United States automation statistics

The US finance sector strikes a balance between progressive adoption and an enduring reliance on traditional tools. While it leads in using advanced technologies, such as Gen AI, concerns about automation’s risks and its impact on jobs are evident.

• 12% of US finance departments use Generative AI, the highest across all three countries, demonstrating more enthusiasm towards advanced solutions.
  
• 32% of US finance leaders fear automation may replace the majority of finance employees, far higher than the UK at 12% and Germany at 19%.
  
• 34% of US respondents see more risks than opportunities in automation, aligning closely with Germany’s 33%, but significantly higher than the UK’s 16%.

German automation statistics

Germany reflects a practical yet cautious view on automation, with a clear focus on efficiency and satisfaction. However, concerns about cost and tools’ complexity put up barriers to further progress.

• 41% of German respondents are satisfied with their automation levels, the highest among the three countries, indicating broader acceptance of current tools.
  
• 45% of German respondents prioritize efficiency gains as the primary driver of automation, just higher than the UK at 43% and the US at 40%.
  
• 33% of German finance leaders cite cost as a top challenge in implementing automation, closely aligned with the UK at 37% and the US at 25%, stressing its global importance.

Key takeaways from automation statistics

• Automation gap
  Despite positive predictions, our automation statistics demonstrate that there’s considerable room for growth in finance automation.
  
• Technology mix
  Current statistics reveal a complex technology landscape where traditional tools such as Excel coexist with emerging advanced AI solutions like IDP and LLMs gaining traction. Indicating a gradual shift toward modern solutions.
  
• Skills evolution
  Our automation statistics indicate a clear shift toward a blend of technical and strategic skills, with AI literacy becoming increasingly important.
  
• ROI potential
  While 42% expect significant impact, the high percentage of manual processes suggests untapped potential.
  
• Implementation barriers
  Cost and complexity remain primary obstacles, suggesting a need for more accessible and integrated automation solutions.
  
• Workforce impact
  Statistics show automation is viewed as augmentation rather than replacement, supported by multiple industry analyses. With our automation stats showing that 66% of finance leaders do not believe automation will replace the majority of their workforce.

These automation statistics provide a clear roadmap for finance leaders. Yes, there are challenges, but the benefits of automation – operational efficiency, cost reduction, and decision-making capabilities – make it a strategic priority.

For organizations looking to accelerate their automation journey, our stats highlight the importance of considered planning, mindful tool selection, and comprehensive change management. As we move through 2025, our automation stats suggest that the gap between leaders and laggards may widen. Making it crucial for organizations to take decisive action in their digital transformation journey.

Document automation statistics infographic

Our survey of 470+ finance leaders in the UK, US, and Germany was implemented as part of our inaugural Document Automation Trends 2025 report. A finance leader’s guide to digital transformation. Seven trends shaping document automation in 2025.

If you’d like to learn more about the trends and how to work with them, download our DAT25 report. You’ll find insights from finance leaders, qualified analysis from global experts, key actions for success, and the KPIs to watch.

Spoiler!

Check out our cracking stats infographic…