Why Your Finance Team Needs an AI Strategy, Now
The finance function is evolving fast. Whether it's streamlining close processes or spotting anomalies before they become real problems, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword. It's a real capability that businesses are expecting finance leaders to adopt.
And that expectation extends to the teams they lead.
Yet there's one big challenge: most finance departments weren't built for this shift. Talent shortages are already stretching departments thin, and many current employees lack the tools—or the training—to capitalize on what AI has to offer.
So how do you build a finance team that's not only prepared for AI but empowered by it? Find out by joining us for our free webinar, Why Your Finance Team Needs an AI Strategy, Now, powered by Oracle NetSuite and Entrepreneur.
Dr. Jill Schiefelbein, AI strategist and host of the Humanize Automation podcast, will moderate a conversation with Rebeca Bichachi, CPA and Product Marketing Director for Oracle NetSuite. Together, they'll walk through six specific strategies to build a finance department that's truly future-ready.
From reevaluating your hiring criteria to eliminating unfulfilling tasks with smart automation, this session goes beyond theory and offers practical, scalable action steps. Attendees of this webinar will learn:
Why "intentional experimentation" is your best on-ramp to AI integration
How to expand your talent pool by looking outside traditional finance roles
Ways to reskill current team members—without overwhelming them
Where to deploy AI tools to free up time for strategic, high-impact work
How to spot (and reward) your early adopters and AI champions
What today's "ideal candidate" for finance looks like—and why that definition is shifting fast
Whether you're a CFO, controller, or finance leader at a growing business, this session will help you align your AI ambitions with your most valuable resource: your people.
The Why Your Finance Team Needs an AI Strategy, Now webinar will take place live on Thursday August 28 at 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Energy Transfer Playing The Long Game While Everyone Else Panics
Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET)'s share price was under pressure from the broader market since early 2025. This is one of those stocks that doesn't make headlines like the flashy tech companies, but is quietly building something huge while most investors are looking for the next AI company. In this article I'll analyze ET in light of recent developments and give my investment decision. Pipeline Empire Getting Bigger Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with ET. ET has one of the biggest networks in America when it comes to energy. I'm talking about over 125,000 miles of pipeline that crosses more than 30 states. That shows that ET is a company that is essentially the American energy's circulatory system. The first thing I want to touch on is how their volumes are growing overall. Interstate natural gas volumes are increased by 3% in Q1 2025 and reached a new partnership record, while crude oil shipments are up 10%, NGL shipments are up 4% and NGL exports are up 5%. Those are some really big numbers and we can clearly see the huge amount of energy that's flowing through their system every day. Before starting the year ET announced that they made an investment decision for the Hugh Brinson Pipeline which is a $2.7 billion project. That project links the Dallas/Fort Worth area to the Permian Basin. They say that the first phase will be able to handle 1.5 billion cubic feet of water every day and will be fully operational by the end of 2026. There's Also An AI Effect These days any company I analyze has AI related to it. ET is no different. They said they will make their first business contract to send natural gas straight to a data center. They worked out an agreement with CloudBurst Data Centers to develop a building just for AI. The facility will produce roughly 1.2 gigawatts of power which is enough for 750,000 homes. Co-CEO Tom Long said ET got requests for potential connections from 62 power plants it doesn't currently serve in 13 states and 15 power plants it currently serves. It also received requests from more than 70 potential data centers in 12 states. Companies are lining up to connect to ET's network in order to meet the massive power requirements of AI. LNG Export Opportunity The Lake Charles LNG export project by ET is going forward now that it received permission from the government to export 2.33 billion cubic feet of natural gas every single day. Facility will have a liquefaction capacity (this means maximum amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that the facility can produce) of 16.45 million tons yearly and will be operational by December 2028. In April 2025, ET also signed a development deal with MidOcean Energy. We really need to discuss about that essential matter. Because MidOcean promised to pay for 30% of the building costs. ET definitely benefit from increasing global LNG demand. As Europe continues to reduce its reliance on Russian gas and Asian markets expand ET has very good opportunity to take advantage of that. Debt Management Energy Transfer's long-term debt is $59 billion in Q1 2025. This was 14% greater than the year before. That might sound scary, but the company produces a lot of money and uses it to grow instead of merely paying off debt. The debt/equity ratio is also 130%, which is very bad for a regular corporation. But I can say that it's a fair sum for a midstream company that requires a lot of cash. For example if you look at peers of ET you'll see that average debt to equity ratio is around %157. That's why I can say that %130 is pretty okay ratio for ET. Dividend Analysis I clearly see that ET was distributing dividends since its IPO but it doesn't have a stable dividend growth. Even though the average dividend growth is around 8.29%, it saw a maximum of 42% and a minimum of -42% YoY dividend change. When I consider that dividend growth will grow by 6% on average in the coming years with a linear regression calculation I think we will encounter a DPS of $1.79 in 2030. This indicates a yield on cost of 10.14% which I think is not bad at all. When I look at the dividend yield, I again see serious volatility rather than stability. I calculate that the dividend yield fluctuates around 11.76% on average. In addition to that the linear regression calculation indicates a dividend yield of 8.26% in 2030. In the scenario where the dividend per share is $1.79, a dividend yield between 8.26 - 11.76% indicates that the stock price will be between $15.2 - 21.7 in 2030. If I calculate dividend growth with CAGR instead of linear regression, I reach a slightly different result. The dividend growth rate over the last five years is 16.48%. If I assume that this growth rate will continue for the next five years, I predict that the dividend per share will be $2.80 in 2030. This again indicates a share price in the range of approximately $23.8 - 34 with the same dividend yield level. The dividend analysis indicates a worst-case dividend of $1.79 per share and a share price of $15 in 2030, while the best-case dividend of $2.80 per share and a share price of $34. Since this range is mostly above ET's current share price, I can say that the dividend analysis is giving a bullish signal for the stock. Revenue Growth Seems Steady When I look at ET's revenue, especially since the beginning of 2023, I don't see any particular trend, neither positive nor negative. The revenue, which was stable at $20 billion, continues to keep net income around $1.2 billion. Net margin was fluctuating quite steadily around 5.24% since 2021. If I assume that revenue will shrink by an average of 3.9% in the next quarter, as it has in every second quarter since 2022, I can expect a revenue of $20.21 billion. This revenue indicates that net profit will be announced at $1.06 billion with an average net margin of 5.24%. With the current shares outstanding, this also indicates an EPS of $0.31. I see analyst consensus of $24 billion for revenue and $0.31 for EPS. But my calculations suggest that this is below expectations and almost the same EPS. This isn't surprising given ET consistently reported less income than expected. It looks like it might do it again. In conclusion, I can say that I see stability in the financials in general. Even if there are below expectations reports the stability continues and there is no negative trend in sight. Valuations and Profitability ET currently stands at 11.86x forward P/E, above its historical average of 8.63x. At the same time, while it historically diverged negatively from the SP500 index's forward P/E by an average of 11.60x, this divergence is currently at -10.26x. So it can't be easily said that the stock is a cheap stock according to forward P/E analysis, but it doesn't appear to be seriously expensive either. Compared to Kinder Morgan (KMI), ET offers a higher dividend yield (7.43% vs. 4.17%) but more leverage. ET's 14.77% ROE beats KMI's 8.43%, while its forward P/E ratio of 11.86 is lower than Kinder Morgan's 22.07. ET's more aggressive growth strategy and higher leverage create more risk but also more upside potential compared to the more conservative KMI. Price Performance and Charting ET made serious lows in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. But it recovered very well from these levels and especially in 2022 it rose above the Hodrick-Prescott filter that I use to determine the trend. After this process, the trend officially became bullish and ET ran to $20, testing these levels again for the first time since 2017. Even though it fell below $15 in early 2025, affected by the general market trend and international relations, it managed to recover again by finding support from this HP filter. Even though the stability of its financials supported ET's recovery very well, unfortunately there is not enough positive momentum. Especially the MACD shows that negative momentum is currently taking over the stock on the monthly time frame. When I go down to the weekly timeframe, I see that especially the 100 and 200-week weighted moving averages were in a bullish trend since mid-2022. But especially with the effects of the general market sell-off in the first half of 2025, the 200-week moving average seems to have been tested for the first time since 2020. It seems likely that ET, which couldn't find enough buying, will encounter a new negative momentum when looking at the MACD. This shows that ET will retreat to at least around $16. My thought here is that the financials and its position in the general market will help and support ET's price to remain at a certain level. Even though I don't think this uptrend will be easily broken, if it drops below $16 we can see ET fall to $13. Because $13 level is a support level. I still see the worst-case scenario as one where ET fluctuates between $20-13. In the positive scenario where it stays above the moving averages, I think the bullish trend will continue as long as the $20 level is broken. Risks Especially in the financials I see that ET is having difficulty fully translating its revenue growth into net profit growth. ET's PEG ratio of 0.91 may be pricing in overly optimistic growth assumptions that could disappoint the market. In addition to that I said that the company has a fee-based revenue model, but still 10% of it is inevitably exposed to volatile commodity prices. The fact that wars are currently on the agenda in the international arena increases the volatility of oil prices, which in one way or another creates potential threats or advantages to ET's production volumes. I think this issue should be monitored carefully. Finally, the fact that the volatility and instability in dividend growth are seriously high reduces confidence for dividend investors, while volume cuts may cause a dividend decrease of 42% as in 2020. ESG and Environmental Issues ET is working on emissions reduction initiatives, including its Dual Drive compression technology, which saved 789,908 tons of CO2 by 2023. They also invested in renewable energy projects and renewable natural gas initiatives, such as the Maplewood 2 Solar Project and the Eiffel Solar Project. But the company faces ongoing environmental scrutiny due to projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline and traditional fossil fuel focuses. ESG-focused investors may continue to steer clear of the stock despite operational improvements. Bottom Line Energy Transfer is essentially a pick-and-shovel game for America's energy infrastructure. While everyone else is arguing about renewables vs. fossil fuels, ET is building the pipelines and processing facilities that transport energy across the country, regardless of source. The AI ??and data center boom are creating a huge new demand for reliable power and Energy Transfer's network is positioned to take advantage of it. The stock is unattractive, but it pays a 7.4% dividend that is well-covered by cash flow, trades at reasonable valuations and invests in projects that should drive growth in the coming years. Its debt load is manageable given its cash generation and recent acquisitions are already showing in volume numbers. The biggest risk is probably a major recession that crushes energy demand, but even then, Energy Transfer's diversified network and core infrastructure role provide some defensive features. The only negative is that in the short term, the technical data from the charting analysis is biased toward momentum, which could put ET's stock price in a somewhat sideways trend. This isn't a get rich quick story, but it is a solid dividend-paying infrastructure company that should compound returns over time as America's energy consumption continues to grow. I think it's a good long-term investment and I'm a long-term buy, although the chart shows some downside potential down to $16. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘AI veganism': Some people's issues with AI parallel vegans' concerns about diet
New technologies usually follow the technology adoption life cycle. Innovators and early adopters rush to embrace new technologies, while laggards and skeptics jump in much later. At first glance, it looks like artificial intelligence is following the same pattern, but a new crop of studies suggests that AI might follow a different course – one with significant implications for business, education and society. This general phenomenon has often been described as 'AI hesitancy' or 'AI reluctance.' The typical adoption curve assumes a person who is hesitant or reluctant to embrace a technology will eventually do so anyway. This pattern has repeated over and over – why would AI be any different? Emerging research on the reasons behind AI hesitancy, however, suggests there are different dynamics at play that might alter the traditional adoption cycle. For example, a recent study found that while some causes of this hesitation closely mirror those regarding previous technologies, others are unique to AI. In many ways, as someone who closely watches the spread of AI, there may be a better analogy: veganism. AI veganism The idea of an AI vegan is someone who abstains from using AI, the same way a vegan is someone who abstains from eating products derived from animals. Generally, the reasons people choose veganism do not fade automatically over time. They might be reasons that can be addressed, but they're not just about getting more comfortable eating animals and animal products. That's why the analogy in the case of AI is appealing. Unlike many other technologies, it's important not to assume that skeptics and laggards will eventually become adopters. Many of those refusing to embrace AI actually fit the traditional archetype of an early adopter. The study on AI hesitation focused on college students who are often among the first demographics to adopt new technologies. There is some historical precedent for this analogy. Under the hood, AI is just a set of algorithms. Algorithmic aversion is a well-known phenomenon where humans are biased against algorithmic decision-making – even if it is shown to be more effective. For example, people prefer dating advice from humans over advice from algorithms, even when the algorithms perform better. But the analogy to veganism applies in other ways, providing insights into what to expect in the future. In fact, studies show that three of the main reasons people choose veganism each have a parallel in AI avoidance. Ethical concerns One motivation for veganism is concern over the ethical sourcing of animal by-products. Similarly, studies have found that when users are aware that many content creators did not knowingly opt into letting their work be used to train AI, they are more likely to avoid using AI. These concerns were at the center of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes in 2023, where the two unions argued for legal protections against companies using creatives' works to train AI without consent or compensation. While some creators may be protected by such trade agreements, lots of models are instead trained on the work of amateur, independent or freelance creators without these systematic protections. Environmental concerns A second motivation for veganism is concern over the environmental impacts of intensive animal agriculture, from deforestation to methane production. Research has shown that the computing resources needed to support AI are growing exponentially, dramatically increasing demand for electricity and water, and that efficiency improvements are unlikely to lower the overall power usage due to a rebound effect, which is when efficiency gains spur new technologies that consume more energy. One preliminary study found that increasing users' awareness of the power demands of AI can affect how they use these systems. Another survey found that concern about water usage to cool AI systems was a factor in students' refusal to use the technology at Cambridge University. Personal wellness A third motivation for veganism is concern for possible negative health effects of eating animals and animal products. A potential parallel concern could be at work in AI veganism. A Microsoft Research study found that people who were more confident in using generative AI showed diminished critical thinking. The 2025 Cambridge University survey found some students avoiding AI out of concern that using it could make them lazy. It is not hard to imagine that the possible negative mental health effects of using AI could drive some AI abstinence in the same way the possible negative physical health effects of an omnivorous diet may drive some to veganism. How society reacts Veganism has led to a dedicated industry catering to that diet. Some restaurants feature vegan entrees. Some manufacturers specialize in vegan foods. Could it be the case that some companies will try to use the absence of AI as a selling point for their products and services? If so, it would be similar to how companies such as DuckDuckGo and the Mozilla Foundation provide alternative search engines and web browsers with enhanced privacy as their main feature. There are few vegans compared to nonvegans in the U.S. Estimates range as high as 4% of the population. But the persistence of veganism has enabled a niche market to serve them. Time will tell if AI veganism takes hold. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: David Joyner, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: The biggest barrier to AI adoption in the business world isn't tech – it's user confidence Is AI dominance inevitable? A technology ethicist says no, actually Can you trust AI? Here's why you shouldn't David Joyner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Solve the daily Crossword
Entrepreneur
24 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
You've Earned a Break (And 10 Bottles of Wine)
Choose every bottle and get them shipped to your door for less than $9 apiece. Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. You've handled back-to-back meetings, client curveballs, and a never-ending Slack thread—and it's still not the weekend. If "I could use a drink" is basically your internal monologue, this choose-your-own wine bundle might be the most rewarding thing you've done for yourself all month. You know a good deal when you see one, so how does this sound? For less than $9 each with shipping, you can hand-select every bottle from choices like reds, whites, rosés, dry, sweet, domestic, or international, and have them shipped right to your door. No subscription required. Redemption is so simple Start by buying your wine deal here, heading to Swirl Wine Shop's website, and selecting your 10 bottles. Maybe some cabernet from Chile, a red blend from France, or rosé from Italy? Don't worry about how much each individual bottle costs, because this voucher will make your total come to $59 no matter what. Then, head to checkout, enter your voucher code, and pay the $29.95 shipping fee. We know, this sounds kind of like a lot, but each bottle still comes out to less than $9. Musician Tom Petty said it best with, "The waiting is the hardest part," as you anticipate the delivery. Make sure you or someone 21 years of age or older will be around to sign for the delivery. Celebrating Friday nights, landing new clients, or getting through Q4 will be an even bigger treat when you don't have to overspend on a bottle. Get wine delivery including 10 bottles for just $59 and $29.95 shipping (reg. $200). Choose Your Own 10 Premium Wines for Just $59 – Up to $200 value! (Shipping Not Included) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.
