AI and the future of financial management mark Cegid on Tour.

AI and the future of financial management mark Cegid on Tour at the Braga Economy Weeks 2026.

INCENTEA was present at the Braga Economy Weeks 2026, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and digital transformation by taking part in the Braga Business Showcase (Mostra Empresarial de Braga) and holding the conference Cegid On Tour: “The Future of the Finance Department with AI”, which took place on May 29 at the Business Center Ideia Atlântico Auditorium in Braga.

Organized jointly with InvestBraga, AEMinho and Cegid, the conference brought together finance managers, managers and business leaders to discuss the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on financial management and the strategic role of finance departments in transforming organizations.

The Conference opened with a talk by Carlos Vaz, Director of INCENTEA, who highlighted the organization’s growth path and strategic expansion. In his presentation, he highlighted the recent acquisitions made in the Angolan market through F3M, as well as the stepped-up focus on productivity and operational efficiency with the entry into the capital of Kaizen Tech.

Starting on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, he presented some of the main indicators that are shaping organizations’ strategy globally. Among the data shared, it was notable that 73% of CEOs are redirecting budget to AI-based transformation initiatives, with the allocation of resources to these areas expected to be twice as high in 2026 as in 2025. It was also noted that 94% of CEOs intend to continue investing in Artificial Intelligence regardless of immediate returns, reflecting the growing conviction that this technology will be decisive for the empowerment and sustainability of companies.

In the talk by Nuno Mota, Vice President of AEMinho, the new CFO landscape was discussed, marked by the growing need to adapt to increasingly dynamic, data-driven business environments driven by digital transformation. He also addressed the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on the evolution of business and financial processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities this transformation represents for financial leadership.

Among the data presented, the global scale of this transformation stood out, with reference to an average return on investment (ROI) of 3.7 over three years for companies that implement AI solutions in finance, as well as an estimated 25% to 35% reduction in operating costs in finance departments. These indicators reinforce the trend of AI as a strategic factor in creating value and business competitiveness through 2030.

In the technology component, presented by Eugénio Veiga of Cegid, the latest Artificial Intelligence capabilities applied to CFOs’ day-to-day work were demonstrated, integrated into the Cegid Pulse solutions and Cegid Evolution ERP.

The highlights included Smart Actions, AI agents embedded in the daily workflow, able to act, suggest actions and issue alerts proactively or at the user’s request. Also presented were the features of Smart Assistants, conversational agents developed for areas such as Finance, Sales, Human Resources or Operations, allowing users to interact with the organization’s data, generate insights and support decision-making, and Smart Reports, a feature that provides, in a few seconds, a consistent, contextualized view of customers or suppliers, making it easier to prepare for meetings and make faster, better-informed decisions.

The session also included the round table: “The role of the CFO in the age of AI”, dedicated to the impact of Artificial Intelligence on how we learn, work and interact with technology, moderated by Rui Paupério, Director of INCENTEA, with speakers Paulo Pereira, Consulting Team Leader at INCENTEA, Eugénio Veiga, Customer Transformation Manager at Cegid, and guest client José Carvalho, CFO of Grupo E Correia de Brito.

The debate explored the implications of AI in the context of learning and knowledge acquisition, extending to the business reality, with a focus on data security and the transformation of work models.

Following on from this, José Carvalho shared the experience of Grupo ECB and stressed the importance of prior analysis and structuring of internal needs and processes before implementing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. The discussion showed that the success of digital transformation depends not only on technology, but also on organizational maturity and operational readiness.

Finally, Eugénio Veiga added that building people’s skills internally is an essential element for working with AI.

The closing of the initiative was led by Gil Carvalho of InvestBraga, who underlined the relevance of these initiatives in the context of the Braga Economy Weeks, emphasizing their contribution to empowering companies, accelerating digital transformation and strengthening the competitiveness of the region’s business fabric.

About INCENTEA

INCENTEA is a multinational headquartered in Portugal, specializing in the implementation, integration and support of information systems for management and IT infrastructure. With an established presence in eight markets and a strategic goal of Iberian preponderance, the group stands out for its innovative approach and its ability to provide technology solutions tailored to its customers’ specific needs.

Its highly qualified, certified team combines technical knowledge with a strategic business vision, ensuring the optimization of business processes. INCENTEA maintains an ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence, promoting sustainable growth and the digital transformation of the organizations it supports.