8FEBRUARY - MARCH 2026CFO TECH OUTLOOKArtificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations manage data, make decisions and deliver value. To capture its potential sustainably, enterprises must modernize their strategies to identify opportunities and navigate the risks AI presents in established domains and new, rapidly evolving areas shaped by its unique complexity. Success depends on clear architectural foundations, strong governance and a culture of innovation that can continuously adapt as AI evolves.1. 360° Data and Analytics StrategyAI can deliver powerful insights, but it also amplifies the weaknesses of traditional analytics. Challenges such as duplicative data, rigid reporting structures and inconsistent information are compounded as data volumes grow. Without targeted intervention, this leads to low trust, higher operational costs and missed opportunities--at scale.To address these challenges, organizations must avoid building bloated, overly complex architectures. Instead, they should simplify their data environments through clear, user-centric processes. This involves decomposing existing systems by function and rebuilding around modular, purpose-driven components:· Unified data storage that spans data lakes, warehouses and lakehouses, supporting structured, semi-structured and unstructured data with consistency.· Advanced pipelines for ingestion and transformation that accommodate diverse data velocities, from batch processing to real-time streams.· Modern delivery layers, including dashboards and generative business intelligence (BI) tools.· Robust governance with lineage and cataloging capabilities that enhance data discovery and literacy.· Semantic layers that translate complex data into standardized business definitions.· Proactive data quality practices that build trust and scale with growing data complexity.This clarity unlocks meaningful benefits:· Faster self-service insights· Consistent metrics across teams· Reduced costs and rework· Real-time data access· Enhanced AI performance through richer context and better-aligned inputsBy aligning architecture and processes with user needs, organizations can build a scalable, trustworthy foundation for sustainable AI-driven value.Perspectives Shaping StrategyThe Case for Generative BITraditional reporting can't keep pace with today's fast-changing business demands. Generative BI allows users to ask questions in natural language, eliminating the wait for new dashboards. For example, teams can immediately explore how a market event impacts investments, accelerating insight and decision-making.Creating a Virtuous CycleWhen AI-integrated pipelines and governance work in harmony, they form a virtuous cycle. Better insights lead to richer questions, which in turn demand deeper data, compounding value over time.Execution Sets You ApartNo strategy succeeds without deliberate, effective execution. The way teams work together ultimately determines whether AI efforts translate into meaningful outcomes.Execution Anchored in User OutcomesExecution should always be grounded in the needs of its users. Traditionally, organizations have "shifted left," emphasizing early-stage governance and security. While that remains essential, the new imperative is to "shift right" and ensure implementation delivers practical, measurable business impact. This approach ensures that AI drives real results aligned with the people and processes it is meant to support.By combining pragmatic execution with ongoing refinement, organizations can consistently deliver value while laying a strong, future-ready foundation.UNLOCKING THE VALUE OF AIBy Louie Celiberti, MD, Head of Software Engineering - Shared Services, Guggenheim PartnersLouie CelibertiIN MY OPINION
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