INTHEBLACK September/October 2025 - Magazine - Page 42
KEY AI
INVESTMENTS
Annette Dal Pra, a digital transformation
specialist and head of finance at Boral’s
cement division, outlines some of the key
AI-driven solutions that companies are
investing in.
F E AT U R E
1. Automation
Dal Pra says a significant portion of current
AI investment is directed toward automating
repetitive, data-intensive tasks within finance.
“This includes areas like reconciliation
activities, fraud detection and financial
reporting,” she says.
An example of one advanced AI-driven
solution is robotic process automation (using
intelligent technologies to perform repetitive
tasks) combined with machine learning
(enabling computers to learn from data and
make decisions or predictions). “The RPA
handles the repetitive tasks, while machine
learning helps the system adapt and improve
over time,” Dal Pra says.
2. Predictive analytics
AI-powered predictive analytics tools can
improve forecasting accuracy and risk
management, according to Dal Pra, and allows
them to make more informed decisions about
investments, resource allocation and pricing.
“Companies use AI to analyse vast sales
datasets, market trends and economic
indicators to generate more accurate sales
forecasts. This helps them to optimise
inventory levels, reduce waste and improve
profitability by understanding the price
elasticity of customers.”
3. Real-time data
Dal Pra says companies are also leveraging
real-time data analysis through AI-driven
solutions to make quick decisions. These
risk-modelling solutions allow organisations
to respond to emerging threats and identify
opportunities.
“This is seen with algorithmic trading in
financial services, where systems rapidly
analyse market data and execute trades based
on pre-programmed rules. They can identify
patterns and trends that humans might miss.”
42 INTHEBLACK Sep/Oct 2025 SPECIAL EDITION
“BYD has been pioneering the use of AI throughout
its whole business process,” Jin says. “So, from
manufacturing automation to autonomous driving,
AI is playing a fundamental role. It’s already disrupted
the whole industry.”
EMBRACING AI AS A TRANSFORMATION TOOL
The challenge for other businesses, including
accounting firms, is to similarly turn AI potential into
profit. With tech researcher IDC forecasting that the
use of AI will yield a global cumulative impact of
more than US$22 trillion by 2030, there are rewards
for getting it right. While many companies have
achieved productivity gains courtesy of traditional
models of machine-learning-based AI, some are
just starting to trial initiatives related to Gen AI
and agentic AI — a new class of AI that can
perform tasks without human intervention.
Associate professor Dimitrios Salampasis,
an emerging-technologies and fintech expert at
Swinburne University of Technology and a member
of CPA Australia’s Digital Transformation Centre of
Excellence, says many businesses’ AI projects remain
at the proof-of-concept level. “This highlights the
complexities of scaling AI solutions,” he says.
As AI models mature, Salampasis calls on the
C-suite to treat them not as technology deployment,
but as full-spectrum transformation tools that enhance
value creation, value delivery and value capture.
Some businesses have already heard the message.
For example, Starbucks has used AI to personalise
customer experiences and create new products,
resulting in higher engagement and order value.
Goldman Sachs, via its GS AI assistant, is rolling
out a Gen AI tool to bankers that will initially help
with tasks such as summarising or proofreading
