An entry point for Finance in the AI revolution: Automated Sales Forecasting
Unlocking the potential of AI in organisational processes
AI is transforming how organisations operate, decide and respond − and Swiss companies are no exception. Yet despite the widespread surge in AI adoption, the Finance function is often the last to benefit. CFOs see the potential, but practical barriers keep getting in the way: high transformation costs, complex IT integration, scarce data science talent, and the risk of disrupting core processes.
Many Finance teams seem to be falling behind in the AI transformation, hindered by the challenge of finding a suitable entry point. While Finance is waiting to start, other areas of the organisation are already moving forward with AI.
Finance activities that have an important impact on the organisation – like sales forecasting – remain manual and are less able to adapt to a fast moving and dynamic landscape. AI has yet to strengthen the capability of the organisation to look ahead and regularly update expectations of financial results.
Meanwhile, manual, Excel-driven forecasting continues to dominate. It works — until volatility hits, markets shift, or the business requires faster, more accurate planning cycles. Traditional forecasting methods simply cannot keep pace with the speed and complexity of today’s environment.
Finance leaders need a low-risk, low-cost, high-impact entry point to unlock AI-powered forecasting without committing to a full-scale transformation.
A no-regret, low-entry AI option for Finance teams
Deloitte’s Sales Forecasting Box, hosted entirely on Deloitte’s hardened Swiss cloud infrastructure, gives Finance leaders immediate access to automated, high-accuracy forecasting on a pay-per-use basis – with no systems integration needed, no new tools to adopt, and no specialist skills to hire.
It offers a safe, controlled environment where Finance teams can test and validate AI forecasting performance, compare it directly with their existing manual processes, and build organisational confidence in data-driven planning.
This model is particularly valuable for organisations that:
- Execute monthly forecasts but lack predictive analytics capability
- Desire external support without large consulting or IT project spend
- Require Swiss data residency and strict security
- Expect rapid, accurate forecasting without disrupting existing systems
- Want a pragmatic way to begin their Finance AI journey
"For Finance leaders, the biggest barrier to AI hasn’t been belief in the technology – it’s been the cost and complexity of getting started. This model removes both. It gives CFOs and Finance teams a fast, safe and affordable way to bring AI into forecasting without asking the organisation to change its systems or
processes.” – Miriam Hirs, Finance Transformation Partner, Deloitte Switzerland
How the Sales Forecasting Box works
A fast, secure, plug-and-play forecasting engine, which runs a set of machine learning algorithms specifically developed for this purpose by the Deloitte Finance & Data teams: No integration. No onboarding. No heavy lift. Just accurate forecasting on demand.
Why CFOs are choosing this model
The Sales Forecasting Box gives CFOs the benefits of AI forecasting today — without committing to the cost, risk, or complexity of a full AI transformation, unlocking many benefits:
- Immediate accuracy uplift compared to manual methods
- Hours, not months – fast forecasting cycles
- Low cost, zero implementation effort
- Pay only when used – no annual license
- Swiss-hosted, compliant and secure
- Externalised AI capability with Deloitte experts
- A safe first step toward broader Finance AI adoption
"The Sales Forecasting Box lets Finance teams experience immediate value from AI. Within hours, they see how algorithmic forecasts compare with their manual effort. For many CFOs, this side-by-side comparison becomes the turning point for accelerating broader Finance AI adoption.”
– Antonio Russo, AI & Data and Innovation Leader, Deloitte Switzerland
If you needed more accurate forecasting by tomorrow, would you be able to deliver it?
Most CFOs already know the answer and that’s exactly why this moment matters: Markets aren’t slowing down. Forecast cycles aren’t getting easier. Manual spreadsheets aren’t getting any smarter. And waiting for the “perfect” transformation roadmap only delays the value that Finance teams could unlock today.
The truth is straightforward: AI forecasting is no longer a future ambition. It’s a competitive advantage available right now, at minimal cost and zero disruption. The Sales Forecasting Box gives Finance leaders a way to step into AI without betting the farm: no system overhaul, no IT dependency, no million-franc programme. Just clean, Swiss-hosted, on-demand intelligence that turns uncertainty into clarity, month after month.
The organisations that act now will make faster calls, steer with more confidence, and build a Finance function ready for the next wave of volatility. Those that wait may only realise the cost of inaction when it’s already too late. The question for CFOs is no longer “Should we start?” - It rather is: “Why haven’t we started already?”
Authors
This article was co-authored by Nishant Sinha, Luut de Haan and Ahmad Ben M’Rad, from the Finance Transformation and the AI & Data team at Deloitte Switzerland. Connect with us to see Sales Forecasting Box in action and explore how it can support your Finance organisation.
