ISG Software Research Analyst Perspectives

Software Increases Productivity in the Record-to-Report Cycle

Posted by Robert Kugel on 22 May 2025

The six costliest words in managing a finance department are, “We’ve always done it this way.” The record-to-report (R2R) cycle describes the process of finalizing and summarizing the financial activities of a business for a specific accounting period—typically a month, quarter or fiscal year. It is important to note that R2R exclusively covers the activities between recording (keeping the books)... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, ERP and Continuous Accounting, digital finance, Generative AI, Consolidate and Close Management, AI and Machine Learning

Knowledge Graphs are Critical to Data Intelligence and AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 22 May 2025

I recently described how business data catalogs are evolving into data intelligence catalogs. These catalogs combine technical and business metadata and data governance capabilities with knowledge graph functionality to deliver a holistic, business-level view of data production and consumption. The concept of the knowledge graph has been part of the data sector for decades, but adoption has... Read More

Topics: Governance, Generative AI, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies

What’s Next for AI and Sales?

Posted by Stephen Hurrell on 21 May 2025

Ten years have passed since artificial intelligence (AI) first appeared in sales technology, and the results are mixed. Early tools applied rudimentary machine learning (ML) models to customer relationship management (CRM) exports, assigning win probability scores or advising on the “ideal” time to call. The mathematics was sound, the demos impressive, yet adoption faltered because little thought... Read More

Topics: sales engagement, Office of Revenue

AI-Enabled Contingency Planning is More Accessible Than Ever

Posted by Robert Kugel on 20 May 2025

We live in a time of uncertainty, not unpredictability. Especially when a business finds itself on an undefined journey with an unclear destination—whether caused by internal events or the world at large—having plans to deal with a range of outcomes increases the odds of success. Or, at least enduring the least amount of damage. Managing an organization in uncertain times is always hard, but... Read More

Topics: Machine Learning, Office of Finance, Supply Chain Planning, Business Planning, Supply Chain, Enterprise Resource Planning, Artificial intelligence, digital finance, Generative AI

Domo Addresses Data Products and Agentic AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 20 May 2025

Domo is best known as a business intelligence (BI) and analytics software provider, thanks to its functionality for visualization, reporting, data science and embedded analytics. Additionally, as I recently explained, the company’s platform addresses a broad range of capabilities that includes data governance and security, data integration and application development, as well as the automation... Read More

Topics: Analytics, AI, Generative AI, Technologies

Conversational Automation’s Impact on AI and CX

Posted by Keith Dawson on 15 May 2025

Conversational automation is one of those software segments that means something different depending on who you are or your role in an organization. According to my colleague Jeff Orr, the core of the idea is that conversational automation tools benefit from artificial intelligence (AI), allowing software agents, chatbots and virtual assistants to automate customer interactions and internal... Read More

Topics: Customer Experience, Contact Center, Intelligent Self-Service, Conversational Intelligence

Oracle Wants to Be the Database for AI

Posted by David Menninger on 15 May 2025

Founded as Software Development Laboratories in 1977, Oracle is a behemoth in the software industry, generating more than $50 billion in revenue in its fiscal year 2024. Originally focused solely on the relational database market, the software provider operated as Relational Systems, Inc. for several years before adopting the name Oracle in 1982. The company went public in 1986 and became one of... Read More

Topics: Machine Learning, Artificial intelligence, Data Platforms, Generative AI

Gaining Financial Management Effectiveness in Midsize Enterprises

Posted by Robert Kugel on 15 May 2025

Doing more with less is the defining characteristic of finance and accounting departments in midsize enterprises, which ISG research defines as organizations with between 100 and 999 workers. One frustrating truth confronting executives in these organizations is that, once their company stops being a small business, it has many of the same challenges that large enterprises face but with fewer... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Business Planning, ERP and Continuous Accounting, natural language processing, Procure-to-Pay

Preparing for Q-Day: Safeguarding Enterprises Against Quantum Threats

Posted by Jeff Orr on 15 May 2025

As quantum computing advances at an unprecedented pace, the concept of Q-Day—a day when quantum computers can fundamentally undermine our current encryption methods—has entered discussions among cybersecurity professionals and business leaders alike. While there is no definitive date set for Q-Day, we are approaching a critical juncture where traditional cryptographic techniques may no longer... Read More

Topics: Digital Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Security

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Data Governance and AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 14 May 2025

Data governance has always been a critical part of the data and analytics landscape. However, for many years, it was seen as a preventive function to limit access to data and ensure compliance with security and data privacy requirements. To fulfill today’s data-driven agendas, many enterprises need an evolved perspective on data governance. The development of new applications driven by artificial... Read More

Topics: Governance, Machine Learning, Operations, AI, Data Intelligence

Silos in HR, Sales and Finance for Total Rewards Strategy

Posted by Matthew Brown on 13 May 2025

For decades, organizations have treated sales incentive compensation as a separate entity, isolated from the broader total rewards strategy. This isolation stems from historical operations, where sales compensation is designed and managed within Sales, with periodic budget oversight from Finance, while HR focuses on base pay, benefits and equity. Unfortunately, this siloed approach, further... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Business, Total Compensation Management

Informatica Embraces AI for Data Intelligence and Operations

Posted by Matt Aslett on 08 May 2025

It has been a little over a decade since the term data operations entered the analytics and data lexicon. It describes the application of agile development, DevOps and lean manufacturing by data engineering professionals in support of data production. DataOps was initially seen as antithetical to traditional data management approaches, which typically included batch-based and manual tools and... Read More

Topics: Governance, Machine Learning, Operations, AI, Generative AI, Data Intelligence

The Consequences of AI-Induced Head Count Reduction for Contact Centers

Posted by Keith Dawson on 08 May 2025

Most of the discussion and planning around artificial intelligence (AI) tools for contact centers and CX has focused on finding appropriate use cases and understanding how to deploy these tools. There are already plenty of success stories about enterprises reducing friction for agents, saving time and expanding the breadth of interactions that can be handled automatically. Now that most people... Read More

Topics: Customer Experience, Contact Center, Business, agent management, Intelligent Self-Service, Conversational Intelligence

HR Metrics That Matter: Why Your Turnover Rate Isn’t the Whole Story

Posted by Matthew Brown on 07 May 2025

Turnover rates have taken center stage in workforce discussions, often being the first metric leaders request when assessing the state of the workforce. Yet, in isolation, turnover is one of the least understood indicators we have. Relying solely on turnover is like driving a vehicle using only your side and rearview mirrors; you’re reacting to what has already happened, without a clear view of... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Learning Management, Talent Management, Workforce Management, Business, Payroll Management, Total Compensation Management, employee experience

ThoughtSpot Delivers Democratized AI-Based Analytics

Posted by Matt Aslett on 06 May 2025

Natural language interfaces for business intelligence products existed long before the emergence of generative artificial intelligence. Large language models have allowed BI providers to accelerate the delivery of functionality to convert natural language questions into analytic queries and generate summarizations and recommendations from data and charts. Features that enable natural language... Read More

Topics: Analytics, AI, Generative AI

Infor Shows off AI, Process Mining and MES Advances

Posted by Robert Kugel on 01 May 2025

Infor provides industry-specific enterprise software that enhances business performance and operational efficiency. These verticals and related micro-verticals include manufacturing, food and beverage, hospitality, healthcare, distribution and retail. Infor offers applications for enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, customer relationship management and human capital management,... Read More

Topics: ERP, Machine Learning, Office of Finance, Operations, Continuous Accounting, Supply Chain, AI

Employee Experience: Is Software Helping or Hurting HCM?

Posted by Matthew Brown on 01 May 2025

HR software for HCM is supposed to be the great enabler of a better employee experience. It promises to streamline processes, create seamless engagement and elevate the workplace into something dynamic, personalized and intuitive. Yet, for many organizations, the reality is far from the promise. Instead of making work better, HR software often becomes a tangled web of disconnected tools,... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Learning Management, Talent Management, Workforce Management, Payroll Management, Total Compensation Management, employee experience