Financial Services Lead in AI Adoption, Says Acuity COO
Financial services stand out as one of the sectors most suited for AI integration. Banks and financial institutions are adopting AI to improve valuations, lending decisions, and research efficiency. According to Jon O’Donnell, Chief Operating Officer at Acuity Knowledge Partners, 95% of lenders have already implemented AI solutions, moving beyond basic Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to advanced platforms that reduce workloads by over half while freeing employees to focus on higher-value tasks.
Cloud and AI: The New Norm for Banks
Cloud technology plays a critical role by enabling flexible access to applications and delivering economies of scale. While RPA automates specific repetitive tasks, it only addresses fragments of workflows, limiting its effectiveness. AI, however, covers a wider range of complex and high-value use cases, making a more significant impact on operations.
Acuity’s Shift to People-Plus-Technology
Acuity Knowledge Partners has transformed from a purely people-led service provider to a business that blends human expertise with AI-driven technology. This approach allows the company to develop scalable AI solutions applicable to its 650 global clients. The result is a workload reduction exceeding 50%, with human oversight maintained for critical decision-making.
The AI platform supports various banking functions, including company research, valuations, acquisition benchmarking, target account comparisons, and credit reviews. While many institutions are testing AI through multiple proofs of concept, only a fraction scale successfully. Acuity has helped clients scale AI effectively, achieving over 20% automation in complex tasks and up to 70% in repeatable workflows, creating clear business value.
Global Presence and Talent Focus
Acuity operates across Asia, the US, and other markets, serving both public and private sector clients, including sovereign wealth funds. India is a major talent hub for Acuity, housing over 4,500 of its 6,500 employees and nearly 1,000 data and technology specialists. The company continues to expand its workforce, hiring about 1,600 people annually, with more than 500 recruited in the last two and a half years to support its growing AI and technology business.
To meet recruitment needs, Acuity is increasing its capacity in Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Pune, with plans to explore additional locations as the business grows.
Why Finance Professionals Should Care
- AI adoption is shifting financial services workflows from manual to automated, freeing teams to focus on strategic tasks.
- Scaling AI beyond pilots requires proven platforms and partnerships that deliver measurable efficiency gains.
- Cloud-based AI solutions offer flexibility and cost advantages, making technology investments more accessible.
For finance professionals looking to build or enhance AI skills relevant to these industry changes, exploring practical AI training can be a valuable step. Resources like AI tools tailored for finance professionals provide focused learning paths that align with these evolving demands.
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