Jakarta, INTI - Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping how corporate finance functions operate.
No longer limited to automation, the technology is now directly influencing efficiency and business decision-making processes.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, stated that AI adoption in the financial sector is already delivering measurable results.
Studies involving hundreds of companies have shown significant productivity gains, particularly in accounts receivable management and transaction processing.
“Technology and digitalization have become top priorities for CFOs this year. They no longer see AI as merely an automation tool, but as a key driver to respond to market changes and customer dynamics more quickly and precisely,” he said at the Deloitte Indonesia CFO Forum 2026 held in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
He added that, based on the Stanford AI Index 2025, global business adoption of AI has risen sharply, with 78 percent of organizations now utilizing the technology, up from 55 percent previously.
The impact is evident. A study of 500 companies implementing AI in receivables processes reported productivity increases of up to 82 percent, along with operational efficiency gains reaching 60 percent.
Leadership, Data, and Talent Become Key Challenges
However, Nezar emphasized that the main challenge in digital transformation within the financial sector lies not only in technology, but also in leadership and organizational culture.
“The biggest barrier is not technology, but leadership and organizational culture. Many AI initiatives stop at the pilot stage without delivering real impact,” he stressed.
In his presentation, he outlined three key strategic challenges for finance leaders.
The first is the “pilot project trap,” where organizations remain stuck in experimental AI projects that fail to scale or generate meaningful value.
The second challenge concerns data quality and governance. AI relies heavily on clean, integrated, and secure data. Without a strong data foundation, AI initiatives risk failure or producing misleading insights.
“We know that AI, in any form, will fail without high-quality data. Pay close attention to building a clean, integrated, and secure data architecture as the foundation for all your AI initiatives,” he noted.
The third challenge is human capital readiness, highlighting the importance of a human-in-the-loop approach in AI development.
According to him, the true value of AI emerges when technological advancement goes hand in hand with human capability development.
“This is perhaps the most crucial point, building people, not just systems. The World Economic Forum notes that true productivity gains from AI are only achieved when human capabilities grow alongside it. So, do not sideline people in AI-driven systems,” he emphasized.
As a strategic step, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is currently preparing a national AI roadmap that will serve as a policy foundation to ensure ethical, secure, and inclusive AI adoption.
“Komdigi has finalized the National AI Roadmap, which will be formalized as a presidential regulation along with a separate document on AI ethics. Hopefully, within the next one to two months, the President will sign the National Artificial Intelligence Development Roadmap,” he concluded.
Conclusion
AI is no longer just a supporting tool in corporate finance, it has become a strategic driver of efficiency, productivity, and faster decision-making. However, its success depends not only on technology adoption but also on strong leadership, reliable data governance, and the readiness of human talent. With the upcoming national AI roadmap, Indonesia is positioning itself to ensure that AI development remains ethical, secure, and aligned with long-term economic transformation.
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