Quadient , a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, shares some predictions on the trends expected to disrupt the finance and accounting sector in 2025.
Quadient’s predictions include:
- How more finance teams will go all-in on blockchain
- How 2025 will see accounting becoming a dying profession if education doesn’t change
- 2025 will be the year of instant cash flow
- How AR teams will become a driving force in business decision making
- 2025 will see open banking redefining payments
More finance teams will go all-in on blockchain
Sarah-Jayne Martin, Director of Financial Automation at Quadient
“In 2025 more finance teams will turn to blockchain for accurate financial transaction logging, reporting and analysis. So far, blockchain adoption in traditional businesses has been limited due to its complexity and a lack of specialised knowledge. However, there is a growing awareness of its advantages. In part, this is due to an acceptance that the benefits of blockchain extend beyond cryptocurrency and outweigh the perceived complexities.
“In practice, the increased level of transparency can play a pivotal role for finance teams. For example, blockchain’s accurate record keeping can transform areas like credit risk analysis by enabling instant access to transaction histories and credit data. On top of this, blockchain’s built-in chronological audit trails streamline compliance reporting and ensure regulatory alignment. Ultimately, embracing blockchain will help finance teams mitigate risk and improve financial precision, which will help drive wider growth in a competitive landscape.”
Accounting will become a dying profession if education doesn’t change
Sarah-Jayne Martin, Director of Financial Automation at Quadient
“In 2025, the already declining number of students studying finance and accounting will see a significant drop. Coupled with an ageing population in finance, we are going to see a serious skills gaps. Accounting and finance roles simply aren’t alluring anymore. These roles were previously considered a “safe” profession, but graduates simply don’t value this in employment anymore. Why would a graduate want to then spend another three more years doing exams, when their peers are getting stuck into the working world?
“The whole industry, from educators to employers, need to reassess what will attract graduates to pursue a finance profession. For example, are three years of additional study really necessary, or could this be condensed so that new recruits can spend more time on developing their practical skills? Likewise, younger generations now demand the latest technology and tools when they enter the workplace. Employers need to ensure they provide automation solutions that reduce the manual burden on graduates, so they are less likely to feel burnout. Without this understand of what graduates want and investment in technology, employers will see a sharp decline in applications in 2025.”
2025 will be the year of instant cash flow
Sarah-Jayne Martin, Director of Financial Automation at Quadient
“In 2025, real-time payments will become the expected norm in business transactions, as the corporate world takes a leaf out of the consumer banking playbook. Companies, no longer content with waiting days for funds to clear, are demanding instant transfers to enhance cash flow across the credit-to-cash cycle. The rise of digital invoicing, automation, and advancements in payment infrastructure mean that delays in the payment process will increasingly be seen as an avoidable friction.
“We’ll see financial leaders prioritising these systems to gain a competitive edge by freeing up working capital faster. Reduced payment delays will also help to build stronger vendor relationships, smoother operations, and a more agile response to market changes. This shift, supported by the continued evolution of Open Banking and real-time payment networks, promises a more transparent, efficient financial landscape where immediate payments aren’t a luxury but a baseline expectation. Businesses that use these capabilities will stand to significantly improve liquidity, resilience, and overall financial health, driving a new standard for the industry.”
AR teams will become a driving force in business decision making
Simon Yaxley, Accounts Receivable Solutions Consultant at Quadient
“In 2025, businesses facing economic pressures surrounding taxes, inflation and interest rates will increasingly rely on finance teams for strategic insight. We will see AR teams elevated from a back-end collection function to a strategic advisory role, empowering finance to guide decision-making and contribute directly to business resilience and growth. As a result, AR teams will be expected to use predictive analytics and AI to analyse payment data with greater accuracy. This will help forecasting cash inflows, identifying cash at risk, and suggesting process improvements.”
2025 will be the year open banking redefines payments
Joey Glazer, Director of Sales – SME at Quadient
In 2025, AP teams will increasingly rely on open banking to meet the growing demand for faster, more accurate, and secure payments. AI-powered tools within open banking will give AP teams a decisive advantage, whether through real-time transaction verification or advanced analytics that detect suspicious patterns early. Together, AI and open banking will allow AP professionals to operate with new levels of efficiency, freeing up time for higher-value tasks such as managing supplier relationships. Ultimately, AP teams that are reluctant to fully embrace open banking and AI will continue to find it challenging to identify fraud patterns or eliminate data entry mistakes. This in turn will see them fall behind competitors who can take advantage of faster, more accurate, and secure payment processes.