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Andrew Kennard, CFO of Metacask in London, writes that blockchain technology is entering traditional industries such as whiskey cask trading. Drawing on his own experience, he analyzes how this technology enables digital ownership certificates through NFTs, solves the problem of paper certificates not being recognized by warehouses, and provides producers with tools for asset tracking and sustainability proof, ultimately improving efficiency and profitability.
Family businesses contribute over half of U.S. private-sector GDP, yet only 40% transition to the second generation. When facing sale decisions, common biases against private equity may cause owners to miss valuable opportunities. This article analyzes PE's unique value in retaining control, providing liquidity, supporting M&A-driven growth, and navigating uncertain markets, recommending that owners adopt an open mindset to include PE as an option.
Against the backdrop of persistently rising interest rates, enterprises face multiple challenges such as increased costs and cash flow pressure. Wes Bricker, Vice Chair and Co-leader of Trust Solutions at PwC US, suggests that enterprises should strengthen scenario planning, review pricing power and cost structures, focus on value creation, and build fortress-like balance sheets as four steps to address short-term pressures while laying the foundation for future growth.
Before the pandemic, lean and just-in-time models helped procurement executives reduce costs and improve efficiency. Now, inflation, shortages of critical materials, and labor shortages force procurement teams into reactive overspending. This article proposes that through predictive pricing, AI-driven supplier discovery, and institutional knowledge reuse, procurement can move away from firefighting purchasing and become a key lever for CFOs to enhance performance.
Against the backdrop of consecutive Fed rate hikes, how can CFOs balance costs and growth? TD Bank executive Bill Fink suggests focusing on capital investment, M&A, and organic growth, and anticipates that interest rates will begin to fall in 2024.
As the first digital-native generation, Gen Z is profoundly influencing the B2B payments sector. Billtrust Vice President Justin Main writes that B2B companies that continue to rely on outdated payment systems will struggle to meet Gen Z's expectations for instant, seamless digital transactions, risking customer attrition. The article analyzes key gaps such as contactless innovation and new credit tools, and calls on companies to completely rethink their approach to customer experience.
Amid heightened macroeconomic and financial market volatility, business owners and financial executives are broadly concerned about the risks of bank failures or disruptions to a single financing channel. Pipe CEO Luke Voiles points out that while macro storms cannot be predicted, enterprises can build microeconomic resilience by improving operational efficiency and proactively diversifying capital sources. This article elaborates on how enterprises can safely navigate crises amid uncertainty, focusing on two dimensions—operational efficiency optimization and working capital acquisition—combined with specific tool examples.
In the current era of generative AI intertwined with unstable market factors, CFOs face transformation pressure. Intelligent automation, combining machine learning, natural language processing, and RPA, can optimize accounts payable processes, enhance cash flow visibility, strengthen internal controls, and improve supplier relationships. Data shows that in 2022, over 75% of AP teams saw an increase in invoice volumes, but manual processing led to inefficiencies. By using process mining to diagnose the current state and then achieving straight-through processing, costs can be significantly reduced, returns improved, and compliance risks mitigated.
With the rise of a new generation of decision-makers in the B2B sector, customer experience (CX) is becoming a new battlefield that CFOs must focus on. Research shows that companies leading in CX achieve significantly higher profit margins and returns. This article explores how CFOs can accelerate cash flow and strengthen customer relationships by optimizing payment experiences, bridging the gap between AP/AR systems, and using tools like digital lockboxes.