Technology has overtaken sales expansion as the top growth priority for CFOs and CTOs, but 62% of US enterprise leaders expect to outgrow their current tech stacks within 12 months. Intuit’s 2026 Enterprise Technology Benchmark Report, surveying 2,000 senior executives from firms with over $2.5 million in revenue, reveals how high-growth businesses are consolidating tools, operationalising AI with human oversight, and breaking data silos to unlock faster profitability.
Tech Consolidation Emerges as Fastest Path to Profitability
73% of leaders agree that reducing “tool sprawl” delivers the quickest bottom-line impact, addressing a gap where 65% feel underserved by small-business solutions yet overwhelmed by legacy enterprise systems. 31% of finance executives cite technology and security as their top unmet need amid aggressive growth plans.
The report underscores a shift: growth now hinges on infrastructure resilience, not just revenue targets. With 86% crediting automation investments for enabling scale, leaders are prioritising unified platforms that eliminate friction across multi-entity operations.
AI Moves from Experiment to Operational Core
80% of executives report AI delivering faster ROI than any prior technology, driving 92% to redesign core workflows around it. Crucially, this operationalisation emphasises human judgment and accountability, transforming AI from record-keeping tool to strategic partner.
Intuit’s data shows AI-forward firms tripling efficiency in decision-making and process execution. For mid-market leaders, this means embedding AI intelligence directly into financial workflows, reducing manual analysis while maintaining oversight.
Data Silos Block 67% of Strategic Decisions
67% of senior executives say fragmented data hinders timely insights, with 80% of multi-entity firms facing intercompany bottlenecks. High-growth organisations are prioritising connected data ecosystems to enable real-time, decision-grade reporting across entities.
The playbook includes scalability audits, consolidation formulas, and process redesign guides—actionable steps to transition from fragmented operations to foresight-led growth.
Implications for Enterprise Finance Leaders
Intuit’s findings signal a defining moment: 2026 winners will simplify stacks and unify data, ensuring systems support velocity rather than create drag. The report offers benchmarks proving consolidation’s profitability edge and AI’s superior returns.
“High-growth businesses scale with confidence by blending AI power with human oversight,” the report concludes. Finance leaders refusing legacy constraints now have the data-backed blueprint.
