Mastering operational excellence with an advanced financial tech stack
In today’s fast-paced business environment, finance leaders are under increasing pressure to drive efficiency, scale operations, and maintain compliance - all while navigating complex international markets.
In our recent webinar, Mastering Operational Excellence with an Advanced Financial Tech Stack, industry experts from Pleo, NetSuite, Avalara, Gatekeeper, and Staria discussed how businesses can leverage AI-powered financial tools to streamline operations and accelerate global growth.
The need for a future-proof financial stack
A big takeaway from the discussion was how finance teams are evolving. As businesses expand beyond their home markets, they need more than just automation, they need smart, scalable solutions that offer real-time insights into spending, compliance, and vendor management. It’s not just about making processes more efficient, it’s about giving finance teams the data they need to drive better decisions.
For companies scaling internationally, traditional accounting platforms often fall short. As Ashley from Pleo pointed out, “Businesses that outgrow smaller accounting platforms need to transition to ERP systems like NetSuite to gain real-time visibility, automation, and flexibility in financial operations.”
When is the right time to invest in an ERP?
Phillip, a CFO, raised a great point: Do you really need that pricey tool right now? Sure, ERP systems offer incredible scalability, but they’re not always the best fit for every business at every stage. Sometimes, a simple Google Sheet or a smaller accounting tool can get the job done while you fine-tune your internal processes.
AI-powered finance to work smarter, not harder
AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore, it’s a game-changer in financial tech. The panel dug into how AI-powered automation is shaking up spend management, tax compliance, and contract oversight, making everything faster, smarter, and more efficient.
- Spend management with Pleo: By integrating with leading ERP systems, Pleo eliminates the need for manual expense reporting, ensuring seamless reconciliation and better financial control.
- AI-Powered tax compliance with Avalara: International tax regulations are constantly evolving. Avalara’s AI-powered solutions help businesses manage cross-border tax requirements with minimal effort. (Fun fact from Vini: The US had over 90,000 tax mandate changes in 2023 alone, how are you keeping up?)
- Vendor contract management with Gatekeeper: Tracking vendor agreements and obligations can be overwhelming. Gatekeeper’s AI-driven contract management platform reduces risks and improves compliance.
- Scalable ERP implementation with staria: Implementing an ERP system is a significant step, but with expert partners like Staria, businesses can ensure a smooth transition while optimising financial workflows.
Lessons from real-life cases
Marta shared crucial learning from real-world ERP and financial stack implementations: Test, Test, Test! Individual components might work well on their own, but if they don’t integrate seamlessly, disaster awaits. End-to-end testing is non-negotiable to avoid expensive mistakes.
Another common challenge? Messy legal entity setups. Without proper structuring from the start, businesses can find themselves bogged down by compliance issues, operational inefficiencies, and painful restructuring down the line.
From local to global with finance on your side
Beyond automation and AI, the panel explored the strategic role of finance leaders in enabling global growth. Expanding into new markets requires careful planning, from managing multi-currency transactions to ensuring regulatory compliance.
The key takeaway? Finance teams must adopt a proactive, data-driven approach. Real-time analytics, automated reporting, and AI-driven insights allow finance leaders to make informed decisions that support growth without compromising financial integrity.
Scaling internationally made simple
Expanding globally isn’t just about the most expensive solution, it’s about the right solution. One of the most valuable insights from the webinar was that choosing partners who truly care about your business is just as important as the tech itself. Look for those with the right accreditations, training, and experience tailored to your needs, rather than simply opting for the biggest name or the highest price tag.
Building a resilient financial tech stack
To achieve operational excellence, businesses need an integrated financial tech stack that supports agility and scalability. The experts outlined the essential components of a resilient finance infrastructure:
- A powerful ERP system (like NetSuite) for centralised financial management.
- A smart spend management solution (like Pleo) to automate company spending.
- An AI-powered tax compliance tool (like Avalara) to handle cross-border regulations.
- A vendor contract management system (like Gatekeeper) to optimise supplier relationships.
- Implementation support from experts (like Staria) to ensure seamless adoption.
By integrating these solutions, companies can reduce financial inefficiencies, improve compliance, and create a scalable foundation for international expansion.
Keeping finance ahead of the curve
The future of finance is automated, intelligent, and deeply strategic. As businesses continue to expand across borders, having the right financial tech stack will be crucial for navigating complexities and unlocking new opportunities.
If you missed the webinar, you can watch the full session here to dive deeper into how shaping the financial ERP tech stack is helping companies scale smarter.