Mid-Sized Swedish Firms Face Implementation Hurdles in Adopting AI for Finance

Nearly half of mid-sized companies in Sweden have yet to implement AI tools within their finance departments, despite 80% believing AI will become standard in a few years, according to a report by Kleer. CEO Pontus Björnsson highlights that the slow adoption is less about reluctance and more about time constraints and uncertainty around the skills required for integration.

Björnsson outlines a five-step strategy to facilitate AI adoption: first, map where time is lost in finance processes to identify automation opportunities; second, ensure foundational processes are standardized and data centralized; third, start with a limited test area, such as vendor invoices, to build momentum; fourth, run a pilot program with human oversight to train and validate AI agents; and fifth, plan for scaling successful solutions across the organization.

Emphasizing that selecting the right system partner is crucial, Björnsson notes Kleer's automated finance system with open APIs enables effective AI integration. He envisions AI transforming finance operations from traditional monthly and yearly cycles to real-time management, automating repetitive tasks and freeing professionals to focus on strategic analysis.

This approach provides a practical roadmap amid the widespread anticipation that AI adoption in finance is inevitable, bridging the gap between potential and actual deployment in Scandinavian mid-sized companies.