#Japan #AI Technology #Tokyo #Coupa #Japan CFO Association

Introduction of the Survey

In an era marked by economic uncertainty and rapidly changing market conditions, understanding the perspectives of financial leaders is crucial. Coupa, a leader in AI-native spend management solutions, in collaboration with the Japan CFO Association, conducted a comprehensive survey targeting CFOs and financial executives across Japan. The research titled "Japan CFO Strategy Survey: 2025" aimed to identify transformative spending strategies and insights into the utilization of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in corporate finance.

Key Findings Overview

The survey gathered responses from 358 financial executives, shedding light on the critical awareness shifts among CFOs regarding spending management and their respective challenges in achieving financial targets. Below are the noteworthy insights extracted from the survey:

1. Concerns Facing Japanese CFOs

The survey revealed that Japanese CFOs are notably concerned about inflation and rising costs, with 62% identifying it as the primary threat to their businesses. Additionally, 20% cited sudden currency fluctuations as a leading concern. Remarkably, 85% of CFOs expressed apprehension regarding their ability to meet this year's financial goals, a stark contrast to the 69% reported by their Western counterparts. This disparity highlights a greater sense of urgency among Japanese firms in their response to the prevailing economic climate.

2. Strategic Priorities for Maximizing Corporate Value

In terms of strategic focus, more than half (53%) of the respondents emphasized the importance of optimizing capital efficiency through strategic investments. Additionally, 50% identified expenditure management and cost structure optimization as essential strategies. Despite more than half of the CFOs indicating a need for enhanced competitiveness through global market expansion, over 70% acknowledged difficulties in achieving sales growth—illustrating the complex balance between maintaining operational efficiency and pursuing new opportunities.

3. Data Visibility Challenges

One of the significant obstacles identified by Japanese CFOs in spending management is insufficient visibility of company-wide spending data (61%). Respondents noted that data fragmentation across multiple sources leads to inefficiencies in data collection, with 42% citing difficulties in timely access to information. This raises concerns regarding real-time data accessibility capabilities, which are critical for informed decision-making.

Interestingly, only 2% of Japanese firms reported having strategically integrated AI across financial and procurement processes, compared to 48% globally. The survey revealed that a significant portion (39%) of Japanese companies are still in the trial stages of integrating AI, predominantly relying on traditional tools like Excel.

4. Barriers to Digital Transformation

Significant barriers impeding digital transformation within Japanese companies were also noted. The lack of skilled digital talent and expertise (26%) was marked as a major hurdle, alongside organizational siloing (17%) and the continued use of outdated systems (15%). This underscores a pressing need for investment in talent development and technological advancement to thrive in the modern business landscape.

Conclusion: The Need for Enhanced Spend Management

This survey accentuates the importance of refining spending management as a critical driver of digital transformation amidst a backdrop of market uncertainty. As CFOs face economic pressures and workforce shortages, optimizing spending management becomes increasingly paramount for maximizing corporate value and ensuring sustainable growth. The results suggest that elevating visibility of spending data, gaining real-time access, and streamlining data utilization are necessary actions for Japanese businesses.

Moreover, promoting the use of AI in addressing these challenges can potentially facilitate significant advancements in financial management. By driving all spending toward visibility and automating processes, companies can eliminate inefficiencies and optimize working capital. AI can deliver predictive analytics to support smarter financial strategies, positioning firms to better embrace opportunities amidst uncertainties. Integrated solutions like Coupa’s AI-native spend management platform will undoubtedly play a crucial role in empowering CFOs to navigate unpredictability effectively and transform present challenges into future opportunities.

Additional Comments

Hiroshi Taniguchi, Managing Executive Officer, Japan CFO Association

"Faced with rising raw material prices, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical risks, CFOs, alongside finance teams, are grappling with unprecedented complexities. This survey emphasizes spending management and cost optimization as essential strategies for profitability. We hope this research inspires CFOs to turn the uncertainties of the global market into opportunities for transformation."

Koichiro Hanamachi, CEO of Coupa Japan

"In this turbulent era marked by inflation and sudden exchange rate fluctuations, corporate leaders face challenging navigation. Our survey highlights that the advancement of spend management is a vital strategy for unlocking new profitability. Coupa is committed to being a partner in solving challenges for business leaders, contributing to the transformation and growth of spending, procurement, finance, IT, and supply chains in Japanese firms, strengthening their international competitiveness."

Survey Summary

• - Conducted by: Japan CFO Association
• - Collaborator: Coupa, Inc.
• - Target Audience: CFOs and financial executives from member companies of the Japan CFO Association
• - Methodology: Online survey
• - Valid Responses: 358
• - Survey Period: June 5, 2025 – July 18, 2025

For more details about the global version of this survey, please refer to Coupa's Strategic CFO Report.