Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in Asia Pacific (APAC) are rapidly shifting their approach to artificial intelligence (AI), moving from conservative adoption to seeing it as a key driver of growth. A new Salesforce study reveals that 75% of CFOs in the region now believe AI agents will not only cut costs but also generate revenue and transform existing organisational structures.
From cautious adoption to strategic investment
In 2020, almost two-thirds of APAC CFOs (63%) had a conservative stance on AI. Today, that number has fallen sharply to just 3%. Instead, many CFOs now view AI as a strategic tool that delivers long-term returns rather than short-term savings. Around a third of CFOs have officially adopted aggressive AI strategies, reflecting growing confidence in the technology’s ability to deliver value.
Robin Washington, President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Salesforce, said: “The introduction of digital labour isn’t just a technical upgrade — it represents a decisive and strategic shift for CFOs. With AI agents, we’re not merely transforming business models; we’re fundamentally reshaping the entire scope of the CFO function. This demands a new mindset as we expand beyond financial stewards to also become architects of agentic enterprise value.”
CFOs redefine ROI with AI agents
AI agents, described as digital labour capable of working autonomously, are changing how CFOs measure return on investment (ROI). Half of APAC CFOs say these tools have expanded the way they assess technology investments, moving beyond traditional metrics to consider wider business outcomes such as productivity, efficiency, and risk reduction.
On average, CFOs in the region dedicate 23% of their AI budgets to agents, while 60% say they are essential to competing in today’s economic climate. Nearly a third (32%) say adopting AI requires a bolder approach to technology investment, and 62% report that AI agents are changing how they think about company spending.
One CFO surveyed explained: “The ROI of older technology often depends on immediate, measurable results, while AI’s returns may accrue over the long term through an ongoing process and new business models.”
AI agents take on strategic responsibilities
The research found that AI agents are expected to deliver both efficiency and revenue growth. Three-quarters of CFOs believe these systems will increase revenue by nearly 20% while also cutting costs. More than half (58%) think AI agents will handle more strategic work than routine tasks, including risk assessments, financial forecasting, and profitability analysis.
CFOs also highlight that AI enhances financial oversight by enabling real-time budget tracking and improving forecasting accuracy. As one respondent noted: “AI provides real-time budget tracking, which improves forecasting accuracy and helps protect ROI from overspending through better financial control.”
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Two of the biggest concerns among APAC CFOs are security and privacy risks (68%) and the longer time needed to realise returns (62%). Ethical risks and the need for ongoing monitoring and retraining also add complexity compared to traditional tools.
The findings point to a clear trend: APAC CFOs are no longer just experimenting with AI but are embedding it as a central part of business strategy, viewing it as both a cost-saving measure and a growth engine.
