Empowering Financial Change-Makers in 2025: Insights from Pleo's CFO Playbook

In today’s fast-paced business environment, financial leaders face increasing pressure to drive efficiency, maintain control, and make data-driven decisions. That’s where the collaboration between NoBlue2 and Pleo comes in.

Pleo is a leading business spend management platform, trusted by thousands of companies to streamline expenses, automate financial processes, and gain real-time visibility into spending. By integrating Pleo’s innovative capabilities with NetSuite’s robust ERP system, NoBlue2 is empowering CFOs and finance teams to enhance financial clarity and build strategic resilience. 

 

Introducing Pleo’s CFO’s Playbook for 2025… Hear from 3,000+ business leaders across Europe on the evolving role of CFOs in driving financial innovation and resilience. You can download the full report here: Pleo CFO’s Playbook 2025. 

Together, we’re equipping financial leaders with the tools and insights needed to navigate uncertainty, optimise spending, and take proactive control of their business finances. This partnership represents more than just efficiency—it’s about redefining financial leadership in 2025 and beyond. 

In today’s volatile financial landscape, CFOs are navigating a perfect storm of economic uncertainty, technological change, and increasing stakeholder expectations.  

They are being called upon to lead beyond traditional financial stewardship, taking on roles as strategists, innovators, and key decision-makers. The ability to adapt, pivot, and drive transformation is no longer optional—it’s essential. 

This is where the collaboration between NoBlue2 and Pleo becomes a game-changer.  

Together, we empower NetSuite users to navigate complexity, enhance operational agility, and build long-term financial resilience. By integrating Pleo’s advanced spend management capabilities with NetSuite’s robust ERP systems, we offer a comprehensive financial solution that equips CFOs with the insights, tools, and strategies they need to lead confidently in 2025 and beyond. 

The Power of Partnership: NoBlue2 and Pleo

NoBlue2 understands the increasing complexities of modern financial management. With NetSuite at the core of business operations, integrating Pleo’s intelligent spend management tools provides customers with: 

  • Real-Time Visibility: Access to immediate insights into spending patterns and cash flow. 
  • Simplified Processes: Automation that reduces manual admin, improves efficiency, and speeds up decision-making. 
  • Smarter Decision-Making: Unified data systems that support dynamic forecasting and budgeting. 
  • Agility and Resilience: Tools to respond proactively to market changes and operational risks. 
  • Cost Optimisation: Identify inefficiencies and eliminate unnecessary spending. 
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure businesses comply with evolving financial regulations and industry standards. 

This partnership is about more than operational efficiency; it’s about enabling CFOs to become strategic change-makers, guiding their organisations towards better stability, profitability, and sustainable growth. 

1. Optimism Meets Challenge in 2025

While 70% of UK businesses express optimism about their 2025 performance, this optimism is balanced by caution. 56% expect 2025 to be tougher than 2024, citing rising inflation, talent shortages, and escalating HR and supply chain costs as major concerns. The challenges are complex and multifaceted, requiring strategic planning, financial foresight, and operational resilience. 

Key Pressures Facing CFOs:  

  • Rising Operational Costs: Inflation, tax increases, and recruitment costs tighten margins. 
  • Market Volatility: Supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions are increasing unpredictability. 
  • Sustainability and ESG Pressures: Investors and stakeholders demand more transparent ESG practices. 
  • Rapid Technological Shifts: Staying competitive means investing in new technologies and AI-led solutions. 
  • Talent Acquisition and Retention: Rising wages and competitive markets add to financial pressures. 

 How NoBlue2 and Pleo Help CFOs Overcome These Challenges: 

  • Real-Time Spend Analysis: Identify cost-drivers and overspending patterns early. 
  • Automated Spend Controls: Set parameters to prevent budget overshoot and reduce risk. 
  • Dynamic Forecasting: Adapt strategies with real-time data insights and scenario analysis. 
  • Operational Efficiency: Streamline complex processes, freeing up time for strategic growth. 
  • ESG Compliance and Reporting: Simplify regulatory tracking and reporting for sustainability goals. 

By leveraging automated spend management and real-time insights, CFOs can shift from reactive decisions to proactive strategies, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle 2025’s uncertainties with confidence. 

2. The Rise of AI and the Need for Tech Integration

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a business imperative. 68% of CFOs rate AI’s value as high, recognising its potential to transform how financial strategies are executed. Yet, many businesses are hampered by fragmented systems. Finance teams juggle 6.6 tools on average, with 2.5 suffering from poor integration, resulting in inefficiencies, duplicated data, and delays in critical decisions.  

Why Integrated AI Solutions Are Essential:  

  • Real-Time Insights: Integrated systems reduce reporting delays, enabling CFOs to make timely, data-driven decisions. 
  • Eliminate Data Silos: Create a single source of truth to improve reporting accuracy and forecasting. 
  • Faster Decision-Making: Unified dashboards and AI-powered tools reduce friction in financial processes. 
  • Operational Resilience: Automated systems adapt faster to shifting market dynamics and external pressures. 

How NoBlue2 and Pleo Strengthen AI-Driven Financial Control:  

  • Predictive Analytics: Identify risk areas, detect anomalies, and make proactive decisions. 
  • Unified Reporting Systems: Integrate financial data across departments for a consolidated view. 
  • Automated Workflows: Reduce manual intervention and accelerate approval processes. 
  • Custom AI Dashboards: Provide bespoke, real-time views of financial health and spending trends. 
  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Enable seamless communication and strategy alignment between teams. 

This level of integration enhances processes—it transforms the way CFOs lead. It ensures they have the insights, flexibility, and confidence to navigate a fast-changing business environment. 

3. Transforming Treasury for Greater Visibility and Control

Treasury teams are under growing pressure to deliver better financial visibility and control. 70% of businesses identify visibility as their biggest challenge, and many are still trapped in manual processes that slow decision-making and increase the risk of financial errors.  

Key Treasury Challenges for 2025: 

  • Fragmented Data Systems: Inhibiting clear cash flow visibility and liquidity management. 
  • Delayed Reporting Cycles: Slowing decision-making and exposing businesses to risk. 
  • Global Complexity: Managing multi-currency operations and navigating international regulations. 
  • Poor Forecasting Accuracy: Manual processes that lead to errors in risk analysis and future planning. 

How NoBlue2 and Pleo Reinvent Treasury Operations: 

  • AI-Powered Cash Flow Management: Automate visibility into multi-currency cash positions. 
  • Real-Time Forecasting: Ensure treasury teams can plan accurately based on live data. 
  • Automated Risk Alerts: Receive instant warnings about liquidity risks or unexpected financial shifts. 
  • Global Tax Compliance: Automate reporting and ensure alignment with international financial regulations. 
  • Enhanced Scenario Planning: Use predictive models to assess potential market challenges and opportunities. 
  • Faster Financial Reporting: Reduce reporting cycles and provide immediate insights to stakeholders. 

By transforming treasury functions, businesses can strengthen their ability to react proactively to financial risks, safeguard cash flow, and enhance liquidity visibility. 

4. Alleviating Decision-Fatigue for CFOs

Modern CFOs shoulder more responsibility than ever before. 55% report experiencing decision fatigue, struggling to balance their roles as financial stewards, strategic advisors, and operational leaders. 

Top Causes of Decision Fatigue: 

  • Increased Workload: Juggling multiple roles from HR oversight to cybersecurity and ESG reporting. 
  • Inefficient Processes: Time-consuming manual tasks, reducing capacity for strategic thinking. 
  • Information Overload: Fragmented data sources delaying confident decision-making. 

How NoBlue2 and Pleo Lighten the Load for CFOs:  

  • Automate Non-Strategic Tasks: Free up CFO time for high-level strategic oversight. 
  • Real-Time Collaborative Tools: Enable fast, seamless communication across departments. 
  • Simplified Compliance: Automate processes for faster reporting and reduced risk of error. 
  • Future-Proof Leadership: Empower CFOs with predictive insights that improve long-term planning. 
  • Resource Optimisation: Align internal resources to improve decision-making outcomes. 

This approach ensures CFOs have the clarity and capacity to focus on what truly drives business growth and resilience. 

5. Building a Roadmap for Financial Resilience

CFOs need a clear, actionable roadmap aligning with operational and strategic priorities to ensure long-term resilience.  

The NoBlue2 and Pleo Approach to Building Resilience: 

  • Enhance Liquidity Visibility: Use AI-driven forecasting to improve cash flow management. 
  • Strategic Forecasting: Align financial forecasting with broader business objectives. 
  • Proactive Risk Mitigation: Build risk models that anticipate threats and identify opportunities. 
  • Strengthen Financial Infrastructure: Ensure seamless integration of finance systems for scalability. 
  • Drive ESG Compliance: Embed sustainability into financial strategy with automated compliance tools. 
  • Enable Agile Decision-Making: Foster a culture of quick, informed decisions based on real-time insights. 

This roadmap isn’t about surviving uncertainty but building a stronger, more agile organisation equipped to thrive. 

Conclusion

In an era of economic volatility, technological disruption, and evolving stakeholder expectations, the partnership between NoBlue2 and Pleo stands as a pillar of resilience and strategic foresight. 

We help businesses: 

  • Empower CFOs to Lead Confidently: Automate processes and provide real-time insights. 
  • Strengthen Business Resilience: Through integrated systems that offer control and visibility. 
  • Simplify Strategic Decision-Making: By enabling CFOs to focus on growth and transformation. 

Ready to Transform Your Financial Strategy? 

At NoBlue2, in partnership with Pleo, we empower CFOs and financial leaders to simplify operations, gain real-time visibility, and drive smarter, data-led decisions. 

If you’re looking to strengthen resilience, streamline spend management, and future-proof your financial operations, let’s start the journey together. 

Connect with our team today to explore how NoBlue2 and Pleo can transform your financial strategy for 2025 and beyond. 

Your future of smarter, stronger financial management starts now. 

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