This year marked a major milestone for DataSnipper Connect: our first-ever two-day event in EMEA. Held at Capital C in Amsterdam, Connect’25 brought together forward-thinking audit, finance, and technology leaders to explore the evolving world of AI, automation, and innovation.
From agentic insights from Microsoft to practical forecasting using AI, here are our top 5 takeaways from DataSnipper’s Connect’25:
1. AI Is Entering Its Agentic Era
The future of artificial intelligence is not just about prediction—it’s about reasoning. Adir Ron, Cloud and AI Director from Microsoft pulled back the curtain on the next generation of AI models and the rise of “agentic” systems. These models aren’t just reacting; they’re understanding, planning, and executing complex tasks with increasing autonomy. Ron emphasized he moved from language models to reasoning models, which understand cognition and can perform tasks more autonomously. The future Microsoft and Ron describe includes AI agents working alongside humans, automating tasks, and even innovating. For finance teams, that means fewer repetitive workflows and more intelligent decision-making built into the tools they already use.
2. Responsible Leadership Is Non-Negotiable
Our CEO, Vidya Peters, opened the event with a powerful message: the future of finance and AI depends on responsible leadership.
She shared a key finding from our 2025 AI Report: The AI Revolution in Audit and Finance:
66% of finance professionals say they’re using AI daily—but fewer than half feel supported by leadership.
That gap is slowing meaningful progress—and creating uncertainty around how to implement and govern AI tools effectively.
“There are real-world consequences when AI goes unchecked,” Peters said. “We can’t move forward without humans verifying AI outputs. This principle is core to every product we build at DataSnipper.”
After her keynote, our VP of Product and Engineering, Thilo Richter, offered an exclusive glimpse into what’s next on the DataSnipper roadmap:
Expect smarter integrations, enhanced audit trails, and an even broader platform reach—all grounded in trust, transparency, and responsible innovation.
3. Practical AI in Financial Services Is Here—and Working
In our panel discussion, "More Than Tech Hype: Practice in Scaling AI in Financial Services," panelists from Deloitte, HaysMac, and Beever and Struthers dug into what it actually takes to bring AI into the finance function. The message was clear: successful implementation hinges on trust, transparency, and compliance. Speakers shared real-world examples of how they are trying to encourage change management and adoption of new AI technologies and what the litmus test looks like for team-wide adoption and understanding.
4. Practical Tips Using Python for Finance
Nicolas Boucher, founder of the AI Finance Club, took the audience through how AI and Python can break finance teams out of spreadsheet chaos. His message was clear: stop waiting—start testing.
By embracing Python and AI, finance teams can automate time-consuming tasks like forecasting, consolidating reports, and cleaning data—freeing themselves to focus on strategic work like scenario planning and executive advising.
His session highlighted:
- The power of starting small—even automating one recurring task can unlock major ROI.
- Why Python is more scalable, accurate, and customizable than traditional tools like Excel.
- How AI copilots like ChatGPT can help non-coders write scripts and build confidence fast.
Bottom line: The tools are ready. It’s time for finance to catch up.
5. Breakout Sessions That Got Real About AI
This year’s breakout sessions didn’t just talk about AI—they put attendees in the driver’s seat.
Buy vs. Build: Making the Right Call in the Age of AI
During this session, Will Hyde, audit data analytics specialist at Moore, explored one of today’s toughest tech decisions: should you build AI in-house or buy? Through candid discussion and real-world frameworks, the session unpacked the trade-offs between cost, control, scalability, and speed—and helped teams evaluate what’s actually sustainable for long-term success.
Building a Relationship with Your Newest Colleague: AI
In this session, Simone Segnalini, digital, risk and transformation leader at RSM gave attendees practical guidance on how to build an everyday working relationship with AI—regardless of role or seniority. From boosting personal productivity to leading team adoption, it offered a roadmap for upskilling and change management in the age of automation.
Sharpening Risk Instincts Through AI-Driven Experiences
Led by Maarten Schreuder, associate director at Protiviti, this immersive cybersecurity simulation dropped attendees into a fictional crisis and challenged them to make high-stakes decisions in real time. The AI-powered experience brought risk management to life, helping leaders balance financial, operational, and reputational risk—and see how choices play out under pressure.
Bottom line: These sessions didn’t just inform—they equipped attendees with the tools, frameworks, and instincts needed to lead AI transformation with confidence.
Want to learn more? Check out our 2025 AI Report
Dive deeper into how audit and finance teams are using AI to boost efficiency, accuracy, and strategy. Download our 2025 AI Report: The AI Revolution in Audit and Finance—a must-read for professionals looking to stay ahead in an evolving landscape.
