Businesses aren't just talking about artificial intelligence—they're actively using it and seeing results. According to BILL’s 2025 State of Financial Automation Report, an overwhelming 73% of financial decision-makers say they are already using AI to run their business, with even more (83%) expecting that influence to continue to grow over the next two years.
BILL partnered with SMB Group to conduct the annual survey, which reveals a significant shift in how businesses view and use AI technology, particularly in financial operations. Among the surveyed businesses, 30% reported AI has already had a "very big impact" on their operations, while 50% predict it will have a very big impact within that two-year horizon.
AI earns SMBs’ trust: 90% confident in AI for financial operations
Trust in AI for financial operations has reached a significant milestone, with 90% of SMBs reporting either high (40%) or moderate (50%) levels of trust in the technology. This widespread confidence is particularly noteworthy given the critical nature of financial data.
"AI is transforming businesses of every size and in every city," said Ken Moss, Chief Technology Officer at BILL. "This data shows us the conversation around AI has shifted from 'if' to 'how'. It's an exciting moment for businesses as more and more of them leverage automation and AI to help drive growth, unlock richer insights, drive better decision-making, serve their customers and succeed."
Enthusiasm for AI among financial decision-makers remains high
The enthusiasm for AI technology continues, with 85% of respondents saying they are either very or somewhat enthusiastic about using AI in their operations. This positive outlook is particularly strong among companies of 200–500 employees, where 71% see more benefits than drawbacks in AI implementation. Even among smaller businesses with 10–49 employees, 63% see AI's advantages as outweighing potential challenges.
Cybersecurity and fraud concerns are on the rise
As businesses increasingly rely on digital tools and AI technologies, cybersecurity and payment fraud have emerged as growing concerns. The findings reveal that cybersecurity threats/payment fraud have climbed to the third most significant concern for financial leaders in 2025, with 42% identifying it as a key issue—up from 39% in 2024.
This heightened focus on cybersecurity comes amid broader economic challenges. Inflation remains the greatest concern, with 62% of financial decision-makers—up 15 points (47%) in 2024—placing it in the top three macro trends they're most concerned might impact their business in 2025. Economic uncertainty remains a top concern, holding steady as the second most pressing issue at 43%.
Despite these challenges, 92% of respondents feel prepared to weather these challenges, though the percentage feeling "very prepared" has dropped 14 points from 2024, sliding from 51% to just 37%.
Top benefits cited for AI include better decision-making, efficiency
The survey reveals that businesses are seeing practical, tangible benefits from AI implementation across various aspects of their financial operations. These advantages span both strategic planning and day-to-day operations, suggesting that AI is delivering value at multiple levels of business management.
Digging into the top benefits
When asked about specific benefits, respondents highlighted several key advantages of using AI in financial operations:
- Better decision-making and analytics capabilities, with businesses reporting improved ability to analyze trends and make data-driven decisions
- Improved data summarization, making it easier to understand and act on financial information
- Simplifying everyday activities—streamlining routine financial tasks and improving operational efficiency
- Freeing up employee time for more critical tasks, allowing staff to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine operations
- Enhanced ability to detect anomalies, helping businesses identify potential issues before they become problems
Chief drawbacks and concerns
While enthusiasm for AI is high, businesses are mindful of potential challenges. The primary concerns cited by respondents include:
- Information security, reflecting the broader cybersecurity concerns in the industry
- Risk of incorrect or misleading information
- Potential for unintended negative consequences
Notably, these concerns tend to be more pronounced among smaller businesses. Of businesses with 10–49 employees, 15% expressed low trust (13%) or no trust (2%) in AI, compared to much lower skepticism rates in midsize organizations.
85% want financial solutions to embed AI capabilities
The strong preference for embedded AI capabilities in financial solutions reflects a growing recognition that AI is becoming essential for modern business operations. The findings show that 85% of financial decision-makers consider it important for their vendors to embed AI capabilities in their financial solutions, with 40% rating it as "very important" and 45% as "somewhat important."
"Businesses want AI integrated into their financial operations," noted Moss. "It's all about using technology to empower people to do more, and do it better."
BILL has been at the forefront of this integration, leveraging AI technology for years to help businesses streamline their financial operations. As an early adopter of AI and automation, BILL continues to harness innovation, leveraging its expertise in developing AI capabilities to make solutions easier to use, more automated, and increasingly predictive—to help businesses thrive even in the face of economic uncertainty.
The platform's AI-powered engine, which processes more than 100 million payment transactions each year, includes enhanced capabilities, such as automated invoice matching, fraud prevention, and intelligent payment recommendations. These features directly address the key benefits that finance teams seek from AI implementation, while maintaining the robust security measures needed to address their cybersecurity concerns.
The findings in the 2025 State of Financial Automation Report suggest that AI has moved beyond the experimental phase and is rapidly becoming an essential tool for business operations and growth. As organizations continue to adapt to economic challenges and evolving technology, the integration of AI into financial operations appears poised to accelerate further.
About the study: The BILL 2025 State of Financial Automation Report, conducted by SMB Group, was fielded in December 2025, surveying 750 SMB financial decision-makers in the U.S. with 10-500 employees. The survey sample was not drawn from a list of BILL customers. Where appropriate, we compared these findings with data from our 2024 State of Financial Automation study, conducted the previous year.
