2025 Finance Vision: Turning Challenges into Competitive Advantages

As we approach 2025, businesses everywhere are preparing for a new year filled with opportunities and challenges. For finance departments, one question looms large: how will you leverage the tools and strategies needed to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape?

How Effective Accounting and Finance Tools Drive Business Success

Did you know that approximately 60% of finance departments are still using legacy software in the UK? In essence, 60% of Brits working in finance are using expired technology, including spreadsheets and ERP systems, in 2024.

Finding Balance and Efficiency in 2025 and Accepting Artificial Intelligence As A Tool For Success

As the year draws to a close, you’re probably reviewing your plans for the company in 2025 and making decisions that will have an influence on the future in some way, shape or form. Now more than ever, it’s crucial as a business owner to take the wellbeing of your staff, both professionally and personally, seriously.

VIDEO: Aqilla Customer Testimonials

VIDEO: Andrew Craig gives his perspective of Aqilla as an early adaptor.

VIDEO: David Smeath on the implementation and reporting processes in Aqilla

VIDEO: Rami Hassouna talks about the impressive evolution of Aqilla

VIDEO: Rami Hassouna discusses improvements to Publish What You Pay’s finance department

VIDEO: Rami Hassouna talks about the importance of free time for accountants

VIDEO: Nick Baker talks about a gap in the market that Aqilla fills

VIDEO: Nick Baker discusses the benefits of communicating with Aqilla

VIDEO: Jeniffer Mwangi discusses how Aqilla exceeded her expectations

VIDEO: Edel Smith on the transition from basic software to upgrading to Aqilla

VIDEO: David Smeath on Aqilla’s multi-currency feature

VIDEO: Edel Smith from BW Charity talks about her experience with our consultants

VIDEO: David Smeath speaks about the adaptability of Aqilla for charities

VIDEO: Colin Arundell talks about having good customer service in a busy sector

VIDEO: Colin Arundell from Good Enough College on The reliability of Aqilla as a Product and Company

VIDEO: Andrew Craig from Traffic on the automation and affordability of Aqilla

VIDEO: Andrew Craig from Traffic on why he chose Aqilla

VIDEO: Aqilla Customer Conference 2024 Highlights

Virtual Welcome and Opening Keynote: Mapping Automation & AI in Finance

In this session, you will learn about the current state of Automation and AI in Finance, uncovering industry trends and challenges.

You will also discover insights from our GrowCFO Finance Function Effectiveness survey, illuminating how modern finance leaders are using Automation and AI to transform their functions.

Aqilla Customer Conference 2024

Navigating the Landscape of Scams and Fraud in 2024: How to Protect Yourself

The digital age has brought convenience and accessibility, but it has also opened the door to a myriad of scams and fraudulent activities. As we step into 2024, it’s crucial to arm ourselves with knowledge and awareness to safeguard against these ever-evolving threats.

What does 2024 have in store for the financial sector?

If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that the future is hard to predict! But now a few weeks into 2024, we can identify some of the key trends which finance teams should be keeping an eye on.

A Deep Dive  into Contemporary Data Privacy Challenges

Data privacy has now ascended to a top priority, with companies striving to strike a balance between leveraging data for business growth and ensuring the protection of individuals’ privacy rights. In light of Data Privacy and Protection Day, this blog takes an insightful look into modern data privacy challenges and explores how firms can navigate these emerging issues.

How can getting to know your customers on a personal level can give you a competitive advantage?

Understanding and connecting with customers on a personal level can be a game-changer for your business. It’s not always just about transactions and business affairs; it’s about building relationships and getting to know your customers on a deeper level.

The Importance of Regular Updates and Customer Feedback

Unlike many accounting systems that rely on annual updates, Aqilla actively listens to customer feedback and rolls out regular releases throughout the year. This approach allows us the flexibility to stay current without being constrained by a specific timeframe, enabling us to release updates whenever deemed necessary.

Do you wish your finance system was always in balance?

Did you know that there are some finance systems that can never be out of balance? One revolutionary idea that has changed the landscape of accounting software is the unified ledger. A single combined (unified) ledger refers to a comprehensive and integrated system that consolidates various financial transactions and information into a single, cohesive platform.

VIDEO: 5 Tips For a Speedier Month-End

Why is a diverse workforce important in the finance industry?

In this blog, we look into the advantages that a diverse workforce can offer to organisations. Finance is an industry traditionally perceived as male-dominated and lacking diversity; therefore, this blog aims to explore just a few of the many reasons why diversity is crucial in the financial sector.

Carbon Footprint: Analysis of Transport Emissions

In this blog, we look into a world of CO2 emissions, and how a forward-thinking client used the expense feature in Aqilla to monitor and manage their transportation-related carbon footprint. Anders Valum, from the Aqilla team aimed to build a web report outlining their emissions across various transport types.

VIDEO: Budgeting 101 with Aqilla

Is Artificial Intelligence a more significant advance than the Internet?

The internet was certainly a huge technological breakthrough; however, with the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the question is raised as to whether AI represents a more significant advancement than the internet itself.

VIDEO: Open Banking: The Fundamentals

IN THE NEWS: What skills should finance teams develop during 2023?

What skills and areas of knowledge should finance teams develop during 2023? Aqilla CEO, Hugh Scantlebury, reveals to Finance Digest the key skills and latest knowledge that finance teams should be getting to grips with in 2023.

VIDEO: Designed for Cloud Software: The Benefits

ChatGPT: This changes everything!

VIDEO: Cloud-hosted vs. Cloud-native Software

Aqilla Conference 2023

New Year Predictions: Kickstart your finance and accounting in 2023

IN THE NEWS: How can SMEs protect their finances in the year ahead?

How can SMEs protect their finances in the year ahead? From tackling inflationary pressures to improving process efficiencies and automation, discover the latest business and tech insights for 2023, featuring our CEO, Hugh Scantlebury.

New Year, New Budget: The benefits of managing your budgeting and forecasting with ‘Designed for Cloud’ accounting software

The Essential ERP Gift Guide 2022

WEBINAR: How to review the software market.

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR: How to review the software market.

We will look into how you should go about reviewing the software market, the resources available to support you and how to ensure you select a robust system not just for today but more importantly the future.

IN THE NEWS: Fintech Herald publishes Aqilla customer case study

The Fintech Herald discusses how Aqilla has helped family-run, sustainable plastic printing business, Ryedale Group, to counter the disruption caused by the pandemic and gain a competitive edge.

DIY: How to select the perfect Cloud accounting software for your organisation

PUBLISHED: Aqilla’s CEO features in Money and Finance Book

With contributions from some of the world’s sharpest personal finance and investment experts, including our CEO, Hugh Scantelbury, The Book of Money and Finance is the essential guide for anyone, businesses or individuals, looking to gain control of their finances.

VIDEO: Top 10 Most Asked Questions About Aqilla

Process Efficiency Checklist: A guide to enhancing your accounting

WEBINAR: Get it right – Do’s and Don’ts / Procurement Checklist.

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Get it right – Do’s and Don’ts / Procurement Checklist.

Learning from people who have been there and done it is invaluable. In this session, we will explore what people found to be their biggest learnings having gone through change. We will also look at creating a checklist of things you must ensure you do to help you ‘get it right’!

How Cloud-based accounting and business software could help your organisation to navigate the cost of living crisis

IN THE NEWS: WeAreTheCity World Mental Health Day 2022

World Mental Health Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on what is troubling us, both within and outside the workplace and offers a chance for us to discuss positive ways to build our mental resiliency in dealing with challenges that 2023 might present. Our CEO, Hugh, discusses how organisations can support their employees’ mental health.

WEBINAR: Improve your Month-end close.

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Improve your Month-end close.

With many finance leaders suggesting it takes them at least a week to complete month-end close (some as many as 4 weeks!), we will look at ways teams can bring this down to within a day.

IN THE NEWS: Finance Derivative Future of Web3

Web3 is a concept for the next generation of the World Wide Web based on blockchain technology. There’s talk too that Web3 has the potential to create a much more equitable and frictionless global trading environment. Our CEO, Hugh Scantlebury, discusses Web3’s mainstream crossover and what it could mean for our everyday lives, featuring in Finance Derivative’s Business News.

IN THE NEWS: September PCR Magazine Future-proof Talent

Around 3 in 4 young people lack skills needed for employment, reveals a new report published by the Education Commission and UNICEF. PCR Magazine spoke with key industry representatives to find out how the channel can best attract untapped youth culture to bridge widening skills divide.

5 reasons why true-Cloud is the best at delivering secure accounting software

WEBINAR: What Should I Expect From Reporting?

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
What Should I Expect From Reporting?

A common conversation within the finance community. We’ll discuss how you can spend less time collating the data and more time analysing it! Ultimately, reporting is the key reason we implement any finance system.

How the latest technology is transforming employee support, benefits and female workplace experiences

The top 5 MTD capabilities that your accounting software should be delivering

From meeting MTD requirements to a complete digital transformation

WEBINAR: The value of Integration

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
The value of Integration.
In this session, we will look at what integration is, where its value lies and what options are available to you to adopt.

Aqilla investigates: Is decentralisation the future of finance?

Four reasons why a four day week could benefit your organisation

WEBINAR: Automation in Finance

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Automation in Finance

This session will cover why automation is important, how will it add value to your department and what automation you should be considering?

How to prepare your organisation for a post-COVID era

WEBINAR: Ensure you are able to scale alongside your growth ambitions

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Is now the right time to change?
Finance leaders are often aware that change will be necessary but uncertain when is the right time. In this session, we will help you identify the right time for change by evaluating your current systems, people, and processes. We’ll look at the importance of considering your growth aspirations and look at the fear of change.

Our customers review the Plaid plug-in experience

Introvert ideal: Why hiring introverts isn’t bad for business

What you need to know about open banking

WEBINAR: What is True Cloud Accounting?

What is True Cloud Accounting?
Through several surveys we have conducted within GrowCFO, it is clear there is a misunderstanding as to what true cloud technology is. This session will address that, whilst highlighting why it is important to know the difference.

WEBINAR: Why Strong Foundations are key to your departments’ success

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Why Strong Foundations are key to your departments’ success
During this session, we will help you identify how strong your foundations are to include your processes, people, (both team and stakeholders), culture as well as your available technology.

WEBINAR – Is now the right time to change?

FUTURE OF FINANCE FUNCTIONS WEBINAR
Is now the right time to change?
Finance leaders are often aware that change will be necessary but uncertain when is the right time. In this session, we will help you identify the right time for change by evaluating your current systems, people, and processes. We’ll look at the importance of considering your growth aspirations and look at the fear of change.

Podcast: The Demonstrable Value of Purchase Ledger Automation with Smart Docs

In this Podcast we are joined by Noel Fraser – Senior Account Manager at Aqilla – to discuss the value that an automated approach to Purchase Ledgers brings to the business and how Smart Docs from Aqilla supports this process.

Event: World Finance Forum, London 2022

Aqilla will be attending the World Finance Forum to meet finance leaders from a variety of industries and discuss their changing needs as in this new era.

IN THE NEWS: CXO Magazine Editorial – Planning for the Year Ahead

Data Protection Day seeks to raise awareness and promote best practices around keeping data safe and secure. In this article, eleven experts in the technology industry give advice on how to best protect your data and maintain trust from your customers.

IN THE NEWS: Protect what’s yours – How to Safeguard your Data this Data Protection Day

Data Protection Day seeks to raise awareness and promote best practices around keeping data safe and secure. In this article, eleven experts in the technology industry give advice on how to best protect your data and maintain trust from your customers.

Blog: Do We Need to Make Accounting More Appealing to Younger Generations?

Is accounting and finance keeping up with expectations of the workforce of tomorrow? Do things need to change? In our latest blog we explore this topic…

IN THE NEWS: The technologies set to boost the finance sector in 2022

As we look towards a new year, there is much to feel positive about – especially when it comes to the technology that businesses can use to boost their productivity and profitability. Finance Digest spoke to eight industry experts to discuss what they predict will be the biggest trends of 2022.

IN THE NEWS: PCR’s Top Predictions for 2022

Aqilla contributed to the “Top 20 Predictions for 2022” article – covering everything from reinforcing hybrid/remote infrastructures to handling cybersecurity challenges – in the latest issue of PCR Magazine.

IN THE NEWS: How Data and Intelligent Software Can Shape a Greener Economy

COVID-19 and those infamous lockdown press conferences (next slide please) have brought home the importance of data in understanding and responding to an unprecedented global threat. It also illustrated the vital role that data plays in measuring how government policy and changes in public behaviour helped turn the tide of the pandemic. Aqilla feature in TechUK.

IN THE NEWS: Issue 32 of Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine

This issue is filled with exclusive insights from financial leaders across the globe and features Aqilla in a survey that focuses on how the last 18 months have shaped adoption and use of accounting and financial software.

IN THE NEWS: Take Stock of Your Cybersecurity This Computer Security Day

It’s no secret that cyber threats are increasing, with the National Cyber Security Centre having tackled a record number of cyber incidents in the UK over the last year. eWeek UK spoke to seven security experts to get their advice on how organisations can stay safe and secure.

IN THE NEWS: Opportunity knocks: How can retailers take advantage this Black Friday?

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days on the calendar. This year is looking like no exception, with shoppers expected to splurge £3.38m per minute, and weekend sales set to hit a record £9.148bn. Ecommerce Age spoke to seven industry experts, including our CEO Hugh Scantlebury, about how retailers can bolster their offerings, and take full advantage of all the opportunities that Black Friday presents.

IN THE NEWS: Black Friday/Cyber Monday: How technology can offer retailers a helping hand

Intelligent CXO spoke to 10 industry experts to gain their knowledge and advice on what businesses should be doing to bolster their offerings and avoid looming online threats this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

IN THE NEWS: Education, Integration, Cloud Adoption and COVID – How the Last 18 Months Have Shaped Adoption and Use of Accounting and Financial Software

This article, in Global Banking & Finance Review, features results from a survey that gathered the thoughts and opinions of finance leaders across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

IN THE NEWS: #BeCyberSmart This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Eighteen years ago, Cybersecurity Awareness Month was first launched by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance. Hugh Scantlebury, our Founder and CEO features in this article.

Podcast: Why “True Cloud” Finance Software is the sensible choice for Enterprise Organizations

In this Podcast we are joined by Chris Tredwell – Enterprise Business Manager at Aqilla – and discuss the challenges and best-practice approaches/considerations for finance professionals within Enterprise organizations.

IN THE NEWS: WMH Day 2021 – better mental wellbeing despite inequality

World Mental Health Day is an important day to mark, as we celebrate how far we have come and consider what more we can be doing to improve mental health around the world. Our Founder and CEO features in this article.

IN THE NEWS: TMV features Aqilla and Payen

TechMarketView features one of our latest customers, Payen, in UKHotViews.

IN THE NEWS: IT Pro Day 2021: Adapting to an evolving landscape

Our Founder and Director, Hugh Scantlebury was asked to share his thoughts for IT Pro Day 2021.

Podcast: The Value of Automation to Finance and Accounting

In this Podcast we are joined by Simon Bull, Senior Account Manager, Aqilla

Simon talks to us about opportunities  and potential in automation in accountancy.

Webinar: Aqilla Customer Virtual Update

Update to existing customer sharing new features and functionsand plans for the future.

UPDATE: Aqilla shortlisted for the 2021 Accounting Solutions Providers

CFO Tech Outlook evaluation panel has shortlisted Aqilla to be featured among the “Top 5 Accounting Solutions Providers in UK 2021” in their European annual edition of Accounting.

INSIGHT: Ecommerce Accounting – A Guide to Growth

Online retail has never been so competitive. In this guide we look at some tips where accountancy can help beyond just simple bookkeeping.

Webinar: Is finance visibility, access, and control important to your healthcare organisation?

Blog: Offices at the Crossroads

In our latest blog we discuss how organisations and individuals may approach a return to the office, as well as some of the benefits and problems that may occur as we navigate this new territory.

Event: TechMarketView Breakfast Webinars – 7th October 2021

Aqilla are delighted to be sponsoring this breakfast webinar with our friends at TechMarketView

IN THE NEWS: The charity, which accepts online donations, is already seeing the benefit.

Delighted to see one of our valued customers feature in The Times on Sunday’s feature focusing on finance teams and the challenges a modern organization faces.