A recent survey by CPA Australia highlights a rapid transformation in the accounting and finance sectors across the Chinese Mainland driven by artificial intelligence adoption. The 2025 Business Technology survey shows AI, data analytics, visualisation tools, and cybersecurity software are now the most widely used technologies among businesses.

Over the past year, 92% of surveyed firms reported using AI tools such as DeepSeek, up from 72% in 2024. Nearly one in five organisations has focused on hiring staff with AI-related skills in finance and accounting, while 32% reported reduced entry-level hiring due to automation of routine tasks.

The survey found that 21% of companies deploy AI extensively, combining third-party software, custom tools, and internal developments—a substantial increase from 9% in the previous year and the highest rate across nine Asia-Pacific markets examined. Looking forward, 65% of organisations plan to expand their AI usage over the next 12 months, reflecting a 17-percentage-point increase from last year.

Cybersecurity adoption is also growing, with 74% of respondents reporting regular use of software solutions and 35% fully incorporating cybersecurity into organisational strategies and operations, higher than the overall regional average of 28%.

Despite positive feedback on efficiency gains, roughly 40% of companies remain concerned about the ROI of AI initiatives, particularly SMEs facing limited resources and technical expertise. Nevertheless, the survey underscores the increasing importance of technology integration in driving innovation, operational efficiency, and business growth in the Chinese Mainland.

Collin Jin, president of CPA Australia East and Central China Committee, noted that firms are becoming increasingly sophisticated in embedding AI across business models, enhancing analytics capabilities, and improving financial reporting and risk management functions.

Explore the full story and see how AI is shaping accounting practices across the Chinese Mainland.