In today’s fast-changing economic environment, Indian businesses are facing growing cost pressures and rising expectations for efficiency. In this byline, Mac Weaver, SVP and General Manager APAC, explores how organisations in India can strengthen their financial resilience by embracing automation, improving operational agility, reducing costs, and building long-term sustainability.
Across India, companies are feeling the squeeze, from unpredictable currency swings and sudden cost hikes to the rising cost of energy and imported goods. Finance leaders are under pressure to keep the numbers in check while still moving the business forward.
Recent policy changes affecting a broad range of exports in sectors such as automobiles, steel, and aluminium have introduced added complexity to the global cross-border trade environment
While initiatives like Make in India and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme have spurred domestic manufacturing, these gains are increasingly threatened by external shocks and rising domestic inflation. In this kind of climate, Indian finance teams need to be faster, sharper, and more adaptable than ever.
Feeling the Squeeze
According to PwC India’s latest Pulse Survey, more than 65% of finance leaders say external cost shocks are one of their biggest concerns this year. And the pressure is translating into tough choices, whether to increase prices, cut back on hiring, or hit pause on investment plans.
The problem is, many finance operations are still stuck using outdated tools and processes. Spreadsheets, legacy software, and manual workflows just can’t keep up. Month-end closes drag on longer than they should. Reconciliations get messy. And by the time financial insights make it to the boardroom, the market has already moved on.
Global policy changes are only part of the story. Currency swings, rising logistics costs, and shifting supplier agreements further disrupt financial planning. Finance teams often find themselves constantly shifting resources just to keep the lights on, leaving little room for strategic thinking.
Why Automation Is a Game Changer
This is exactly why many forward-thinking CFOs are embracing automation. By digitalising core finance processes like financial close, intercompany transactions, and reconciliations, teams gain real-time visibility and the confidence to act quickly.
BlackLine’s solutions help businesses move away from clunky, end-of-month processes towards what’s known as a continuous close, a system where financial data is constantly updated, validated, and ready to go. That means no more waiting until month’s end to see where things stand. You get accurate, up-to-date information, all the time.
The benefits speak for themselves. Around the world, BlackLine customers have seen up to 70% faster close cycles and a 99% drop in manual journal entries. That’s less time spent double-checking spreadsheets and more time focused on steering strategy, like optimising pricing, hedging currency exposure, or re-evaluating supplier networks.
Why This Matters in India
As companies in India scale and expand into new markets, the need for real-time, transparent, and reliable financial data becomes increasingly vital not only for compliance and reporting but also for strategic decision-making. At the core of this shift lies automation, which is reshaping how finance teams operate.
India is witnessing a notable acceleration in the adoption of modern finance technologies, particularly among mid- to large-sized enterprises. According to research, the India ERP software market generated almost USD 2.8 billion in revenue in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 7.8 billion by 2030. This strong growth reflects a broader movement toward digitizing core financial processes moving away from manual workflows and legacy systems to more streamlined, integrated solutions.
The trend suggests that Indian finance functions are evolving beyond traditional roles to become technology-enabled business partners, capable of delivering deeper insights, improving operational efficiency, and supporting faster decision-making. As this shift continues, automation fuelled by cloud-based financial solutions will serve as a foundational pillar in building a resilient, future-ready finance ecosystem.
Building Financial Resilience That Lasts
India’s accounting and finance sector is on a strong upward path, with growth expected to top 5% year on year through 2030. Driving this expansion are rising compliance requirements, increasingly complex reporting standards, and closer ties to international markets.
With the right tools in place, finance teams can move from reactive firefighting to forward planning. They can detect risks earlier, collaborate more effectively across functions and geographies, and deliver the insights that help leaders make better calls.
More importantly, they can build systems that support business growth, ensure compliance, and protect profitability, no matter what tomorrow brings.