On 12 March 2026, more than 100 CFOs and finance leaders came together in Amsterdam to discuss what it takes to move beyond experimentation and turn AI investments into real business value.
Featured speakers included Annemieke Roest (Group Controller, ABN AMRO) and Kata Barariu (Head of Shared Services, Coca Cola HBC), who shared compelling client stories on how organizations are reducing costs and unlocking measurable ROI from AI.
The AI value gap in Finance
Many organisations have already introduced AI into their finance function. Fewer are seeing clear results.
According to Deloitte’s Finance Trends 2026 report, based on a survey of 1,326 finance leaders, 63% have deployed AI solutions, while only 21% report measurable value.
This points to a gap that is less about technology and more about how AI is implemented and scaled. The focus now is on turning early adoption into consistent, measurable impact.
Five lessons for turning AI into value
Our experts shared five critical lessons for closing the AI ROI gap:
- Be deliberate in your approach. Embedding AI into existing workflows can deliver quick results. Redesigning processes can unlock more value over time. Both require clear intent.
- Don’t wait for perfect data. In many cases, AI helps improve data quality. Waiting for perfect inputs often slows progress unnecessarily.
- Look beyond cost reduction. Leading organisations track value across revenue, risk and decision-making. Cost is only part of the picture.
- Ensure active executive sponsorship. Sustained leadership involvement is often what determines whether initiatives scale or stall.
- Focus on readiness, not just tools. Data, processes, governance and skills all need to be in place. Technology alone is not enough.
Next steps & stay connected
The opportunity to create value with AI is immediate, but it requires focus and follow-through. We invite you to:
- Connect with our experts to explore what this could look like in your organisation.
- Access event insights, including speaker presentations, key findings from Finance Trends 2026, and practical guidance on closing the AI value gap.
Introduction by Deloitte
Keynote by ABN AMRO
Keynote by Coca Cola Hellenic
Watch the "Leading with AI: Finance Forward 2026" highlights
Yvonne Daas
Naser Bakhshi
Explore our State of AI 2026 PoV
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