Why financial services are investing in AI + BI in 2025

AI+BI: why it’s a calculated bet in 2025

Financial services organizations require precise, governed data insights. One misplaced zero can have massive ramifications. Every decision—from approving a loan to flagging a suspicious transaction—demands both speed and accuracy.

At the same time, FSI leaders face rising regulatory pressure, evolving compliance frameworks, and board-level mandates to modernize their analytics. 

Simply put, investing in AI-powered business intelligence is a calculated decision. 

And it's paying off: according to the 2025 Global Survey on AI-powered analytics, more than half of financial services organizations already report measurable impact from AI + BI—with one in four citing significant business outcomes. 

4 objectives driving AI + BI investment in financial services

The survey shows financial institutions adopting AI + BI across departments—automating repetitive work for data teams while giving business users direct access to insights in their daily tools and workflows.

When asked what they hope to achieve with AI + BI, FSI leaders identified four priorities:

• Improve operational efficiency (54%)
• Make better decisions (51%)
• Meet executive or board mandates (49%)
• Reduce costs (40%)

Why? Because the old approach—waiting on reports, switching tools, or manually cleaning data—no longer works.

• Customers now expect personalized service with tailored solutions
• Internal teams require reliable, governed data to surface the right insights
• Regulators and investors demand transparency across operations

AI + BI addresses all of these needs by delivering accuracy and speed—without compromising governance.

How AI + BI delivers impact across the enterprise

In the past, data analytics lived mostly in the back office. Today, it’s moving closer to the frontline.

For example, a claims adjuster in an insurance firm or a customer advisor in a bank can now access insights directly within tools like Salesforce or Microsoft 365—without requesting a report or waiting on the data team.

The survey confirms that self-service analytics is a top priority for financial services leaders.
Currently, only 3% of firms provide at least 1 in 5 employees with access to AI-powered analytics. Within the next 12 months, that figure is expected to jump to 31%.

This shift signals a broader trend: financial institutions want everyone—not just analysts—to make informed, data-driven decisions.

AI + BI: two use cases, one strategic goal

AI + BI adoption in financial services is creating two parallel benefits:

• Automation for technical users: helping data teams reduce manual work, from cleaning data to generating dashboards.
• Self-service for business users: enabling non-technical staff to ask questions in natural language and explore answers visually.

Both use cases ultimately serve the same goal: delivering faster, more trusted insights across the business.

Already, 42% of firms use AI + BI to automate tasks for data experts, while 51% have deployed self-service analytics for business teams. These capabilities don’t just optimize daily workflows—they close the gap between data and decision.

The expanding role of AI agents in financial services

AI-powered agents and bots are becoming increasingly common. Today, 40% of financial services firms use them in production—above the global average. These agents reduce time-to-insight across critical tasks such as:

• Customer service
• Fraud detection
• Real-time analysis
• Risk assessment

Another advancement is embedded AI. Financial institutions are using it to deliver insights to the right team at the right time. Instead of switching platforms, employees can surface key data points—like a customer’s risk score or claims history—directly within their daily workflows.

The result: fewer delays in data processing and more connected, governed insights.

What’s the future of AI + BI?

Financial services firms aren’t just adopting AI-powered analytics—they’re building a foundation for long-term transformation. Many are investing in universal semantic layers to ensure data remains consistent and well-governed. Others are training business users to take advantage of self-service analytics.

According to the survey, here’s what’s next for AI + BI in financial services:

• Employees will gain broader access to insights
• Investment in governance and trust will continue to increase
• Embedded AI will become standard in daily workflows

The bottom line: AI + BI is now the modern financial leader’s strategic differentiator—driving innovation, compliance, and measurable business impact for years to come.