That was normal back then. My first real exposure to automation came when I helped implement an ERP system at a leading life insurance company. It was a huge shift — and not an easy one. People were nervous about change, and I’ll admit, so was I. But once the system went live, things changed fast. Reports were cleaner, processes became traceable, and we finally had time to focus on what the numbers actually meant.
Later, I led a SAP implementation at a manufacturing company. That experience taught me how much structure and discipline a good system can bring.
Manufacturing data is complex — multiple cost centers, stock movements, and process interlinks — but SAP brought everything together. It made reporting not just faster, but more reliable.
Since then, I’ve stayed closely involved in process automation and ERP projects. What I’ve learned is simple: technology only works when people believe in it. Systems can guide and organize, but it’s the finance professionals who bring context, understanding, and judgment.
Looking back, I’ve seen how technology has changed financial reporting — but even more, how it’s changed the role of finance itself.
We’ve moved from just preparing reports to actually helping shape business decisions.
When I started my career, almost everything in finance was manual. Endless spreadsheets, reconciliations, and late nights checking figures line by line.
That was normal back then.
My first real exposure to automation came when I helped implement an ERP system at a leading life insurance company. It was a huge shift — and not an easy one. People were nervous about change, and I’ll admit, so was I. But once the system went live, things changed fast. Reports were cleaner, processes became traceable, and we finally had time to focus on what the numbers actually meant.
Later, I led a SAP implementation at a manufacturing company. That experience taught me how much structure and discipline a good system can bring.
Manufacturing data is complex — multiple cost centers, stock movements, and process interlinks — but SAP brought everything together. It made reporting not just faster, but more reliable.
Since then, I’ve stayed closely involved in process automation and ERP projects. What I’ve learned is simple: technology only works when people believe in it. Systems can guide and organize, but it’s the finance professionals who bring context, understanding, and judgment.
Looking back, I’ve seen how technology has changed financial reporting — but even more, how it’s changed the role of finance itself.
We’ve moved from just preparing reports to actually helping shape business decisions.
Author: Waris Waseem ACA, FCCA
