Financial leaders face unprecedented challenges as technology transforms every aspect of business operations. Many executives are struggling to keep pace while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Dave Sackett, co-founder of AIOne and advisor to AI companies Chatfin.AI and HyperBot, has spent years guiding finance professionals through this technological shift. His focus on practical applications helps skeptical CFOs embrace innovation without compromising their traditional oversight role.
Embrace AI for Smarter Financial Decision-Making
Let’s face it, spreadsheets can only take you so far. Dave cuts through the AI hype to focus on what actually matters to financial leaders. “Embrace AI for smarter decision making, for more productivity and efficiency,” he says. It’s not about replacing human judgment but enhancing it.The finance department is drowning in data. Numbers from every corner of the business pile up faster than anyone can analyze them, and that’s where AI changes the game. Dave works with finance teams that have gone from spending days compiling reports to having real-time insights at their fingertips.
The resistance he encounters usually boils down to fear of the unknown. Most CFOs Dave works with aren’t tech-averse, they’re just naturally skeptical. They’ve seen too many “revolutionary” tools come and go. His approach isn’t about wholesale transformation but about identifying specific pain points where AI can deliver real value. Get a small win, then build from there.
Leverage Blockchain for Transparency and Trust
Remember when blockchain was going to change everything? The hype has died down, but Dave thinks finance leaders shouldn’t write it off just yet. “Blockchain is an accounting technology. It’s been around, it’s got cryptography,” he explains. “It’s not the most popular technology today, but there was a hype cycle where we thought blockchain was going to be the next level of transparency and trust.”
What makes blockchain interesting for finance isn’t cryptocurrency, it’s the immutable record keeping. Think about audit trails that can’t be tampered with. Or transaction verification without third party involvement. The potential is there, even if implementation is still evolving.
“Keep being knowledgeable about that technology and don’t let it pass you by,” Dave advises CFOs. His point isn’t that you need to implement blockchain tomorrow, it’s that understanding its capabilities today puts you in a stronger position to evaluate its applications in the future. Smart financial leaders stay informed, even about technologies they’re not yet ready to adopt.
Tap Into eCommerce Tools to Drive Growth
Online shopping isn’t new. But Dave sees the next wave of eCommerce reshaping how businesses connect with customers. “The growth of e-commerce is really shaping how people are going to buy in the future, how to make it more social in terms of you’re going to buy from people you know,” he notes.Think less Amazon, more trusted network. The opportunities go beyond just having an online store. “There’s going to be referrals. There are ways that you can buy and influence sales so that not only are you someone that can maybe sell something on e-commerce, maybe you’re a buyer, or maybe you’re trying to influence that sale to make a sale happen and get a commission.”
For CFOs, this means rethinking how to track and analyze sales channels. The metrics that worked for brick-and-mortar operations don’t capture the full picture of digital commerce. Dave helps financial leaders develop frameworks that address these new realities, without abandoning fiscal discipline.
Dave doesn’t mince words about the typical finance executive mindset. “Traditionally, CFOs are skeptical. They don’t like change. They don’t like newness. They want to be very conservative and really be fiscally responsible,” he acknowledges. But that’s exactly why they need to engage with new technologies. “The role of the CFO is evolving. Whether it’s any of these technologies, AI, blockchain or e-commerce, the future belongs to those who can adapt and who learn,” Dave insists.You can be responsible and forward-thinking at the same time. In fact, ignoring technological change might be the biggest risk of all.
Connect with Dave Sackett on LinkedIn to explore how he helps CFOs adapt to new technologies with confidence.
