Pragmatism over panic in AI adoption with Ben Crow of iplicit

Artificial intelligence was one of the most talked about themes at Accountex Summit North 2025, with many panels exploring its potential to reshape the profession. But away from the stages and product demos, some speakers urged caution. In conversation with Accountancy Age, Ben Crow, Vice President of Partnerships at iplicit, argued that the real risk is not AI itself, but the rush to adopt it without the right systems, data and team readiness in place.

The risk of rushing in

Crow illustrated his point with a story. After adding his mother-in-law to his Kindle account, Amazon’s algorithm began recommending both crime thrillers and romance titles, creating a distorted picture of his reading habits.

For him, the lesson is simple. “When you set up technology without thinking through the consequences, you can end up with flawed outcomes. The same applies to AI in business.”

That caution resonates in finance teams already wrestling with legacy systems. Many mid-market firms, Crow argued, are stuck on outdated on-premise technology that prevents them from accessing or integrating data effectively.

“Tens of thousands of companies remain locked into systems that hold them back. Until they modernise, AI cannot deliver the benefits they are expecting.”

Research shows caution and inconsistency

iplicit’s own research underlines the uneven reality. Around two in five finance leaders remain hesitant about adopting AI, while 60 percent are diving in without a clear strategy. Fewer than half of those experimenting with AI have a formal plan, and many limit their scope to security or compliance checks rather than embedding the technology across the business.

In practice, this means firms risk either paralysis or poorly considered adoption. “The real danger is moving too quickly without the right systems, data or team confidence in place,” Crow said.

For Crow, three elements are essential before any serious AI adoption can succeed.

• Modern core systems that are scalable, cloud-based and integrated.
• Structured, accessible data that avoids “garbage in, garbage out” outcomes.
• Confident teams who understand the purpose of change and feel empowered to use new tools.

“Winners in the AI revolution will have these three elements in place,” he argued. “It is not about replacing people. It is about freeing them from repetitive work so they can focus on modelling, decision-making and strategy.”

A pragmatic roadmap

At iplicit itself, this philosophy has shaped how the company has introduced AI.

Rather than enforcing change from the top down, it appointed “AI champions” across departments, encouraged experimentation in safe environments, and used those lessons to design wider rollouts.

This approach, Crow explained, reduced resistance and built enthusiasm. “When people understand why change is happening and what it means for their daily work, they are much more willing to embrace it.”

For finance leaders, the challenge now is to balance urgency with discipline. Crow cautioned against ignoring AI altogether, but also warned against adopting tools simply to follow market trends.

“You need a pragmatic plan,” he said. “Assess your systems, clean your data, prepare your teams, and only then adopt with confidence.”

In his view, those who take the time to build firm foundations will gain the most. “AI should not be about hype or panic. It should be about enabling better data, stronger decisions and more resilient finance functions.”