Finance Digital Transformation: A Work-in-progress, Not A buzzword

By Author: Harsh Vardhan
Total Articles: 17
Comment this article

I’ve noticed something odd over the past couple of years. More and more finance teams are being pulled into conversations about digital transformation. Not because they asked for it, but because suddenly everyone expects them to lead the change. And honestly, that’s a big shift.

This whole “finance digital transformation” thing — what is it, really? A shiny new tool? A faster close cycle? Better forecasts? Depends on who you ask.

In real life, it looks a bit messier. It’s the finance lead juggling 5 spreadsheets while trying to explain last quarter’s dip. It’s the controller who’s expected to “be more strategic” but still has to chase receipts. Sound familiar?

It’s Not Just About Tools
You can throw money at the best software. Doesn’t mean it’ll fix your planning chaos. A lot of teams I’ve seen still use email chains and manual reports, even after getting a cloud platform.

The problem isn’t just tech. It’s people not talking. Finance does its thing. FP&A does something else. Planning becomes a guessing game. But when those groups sync up? That’s when ...
... things start clicking.

Real-World Frustration Sparks Real Change- https://dbaccounting.us/blog/fueling-finance-digital-transformation/
Here’s the truth — no one wakes up saying, “Let’s digitally transform today.” What usually happens is something breaks. Forecasts fall apart. The board wants numbers you don’t have. You realize you’ve been copying/pasting into spreadsheets for hours.

And that’s when the question comes up: how do we make this less painful?

What Works (At Least From What I’ve Seen)
Start small. Automate one thing — maybe monthly reporting. Or align your planning cycle with ops. Don’t overthink it.

Also, don’t expect miracles. You’re still going to chase data. You’ll still deal with messy numbers. But slowly, the chaos gets quieter.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s getting to a place where your team can say, “We actually know what’s going on — and what might happen next.”

It’s Not a Tech Project — It’s a Team One
What’s wild is that most of this isn’t about software. It’s about people talking more. Sharing what they know. Trusting each other’s numbers.

Finance teams that thrive during transformation? They ask better questions. They stop doing things “just because that’s how we’ve done it.” They experiment. Fail sometimes. Learn. Move on.

Final Thought (Not a Wrap-Up, Just… A Thought)
If you’re leading a finance team, or part of one, and this all sounds a little too familiar — it’s because you’re already in the middle of it.

Finance digital transformation doesn’t have a “start” date. You just realize one day: we need to do this better. So you begin. No banners. No consultants. Just better habits, better tools (eventually), and more conversations that lead somewhere.