UK Businesses Are Waking Up to IPOs, M&A, and a Splash of AI
Forget the last year’s dry spell—UK companies are finally dusting off their IPO and merger & acquisition (M&A) plans. According to fresh data from Coupa’s smart‑powered research platform, 34 % of finance leaders have put capital raising top of their to‑do list for 2024, with AI investment narrowly following at 33 % and a shift toward purpose‑driven, sustainable branding at 31 %.
Why the shift is happening
- Rome wasn’t built in a day—the “IPO slump” of 2023, which saw a 49 % drop and zero listings in the last quarter, is finally behind us.
- Growth, productivity, and profits are the new safety words. Businesses are saying, “Yes, we need to grow, but smartly.”
- AI is the secret sauce. 42 % plan to grow via AI tech this year, and current spend on AI is already cutting costs in strategic sourcing (28 %), accounts payable (27 %), procurement (27 %), and supply‑chain planning (22 %).
- Lean budgets are the new hustle. 38 % of finance leaders will trim overall budgets in the next half‑year to stay profitable—talk about a tightening but victorious move.
But the road isn’t all smooth sailing
- Half of finance leaders (50 %) fear missed revenue targets in the next 6–12 months.
- 59 % worry about meeting year‑end financial goals.
In other words, while some companies are eyeing big financial events, others are busy simply making sure the boat stays afloat. What links them? A reliance on tech that offers real insights and a platform to either fish for growth or keep the ship steady.
“AI and smart financial management are the keys,” says Paul Maguire, Managing Director for EMEA & APAC at Coupa. His take? “Listening to your investors is great, but making sense of your data is even better.”
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