CFOs Lerena Olivier of Pick n Pay and Sayurie Naidoo of Valterra Platinum share how automation and AI are transforming finance from transaction-driven to insight-led, with technology reshaping not only processes, but also culture and strategy.
For Pick n Pay CFO Lerena Olivier, technology is not just an enabler of efficiency but a driver of accuracy and foresight in finance. Reflecting on the growing role of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) within the finance function, she notes how these tools are reshaping the way teams operate.
“Automation allows us to remove repetitive, low-value tasks from the workload, freeing people to focus on analysis, decision-making and business partnering,” she says.
“AI, on the other hand, opens up entirely new possibilities for predictive insights, anomaly detection and real-time reporting. It is not about replacing people, but about giving finance professionals the tools to work smarter and deliver more value.”
Lerena emphasised that adoption is not only a matter of systems but of mindset. “We need to build a culture where people are comfortable with change, where they see technology as something that supports them rather than threatens them. In my experience, once teams understand the benefits, they quickly embrace these innovations.”
Looking ahead, she expects automation and AI to become embedded in every aspect of financial management. “The finance function of the future will be highly digital, but it will still be deeply human. Our ability to interpret, challenge and apply the insights generated by these systems will be what differentiates great finance teams.”
Valterra Platinum CFO Sayurie Naidoo echoed these views, stressing that future finance leaders will need to harness new skills to adapt. She believes technology, automation and AI are reshaping finance beyond its traditional role.
“Historically, finance has always been about reviewing backward results. Now with analytics and AI, it’s really about real-time data, predictability, understanding how you use data to give meaningful insight. It’s spending less time on actually manipulating data. Automating transactional activities gives the team more time in their day to provide insightful commentary on what’s happening in the business,” she explains.
Sayurie also highlights the link between technology and sustainability in Valterra Platinum’s strategy. “Sustainability for Valterra Platinum is integrated in everything that we do. It’s not just an add-on, but something that we look at when we analyse risk,” she says.
“We bring in sustainability. When we look at any investments that we make, environmental is key, social is key for us, especially as a mining company. And that for us creates trust in the communities that we operate in and then it creates long-term value as well.”
