AvidXchange Inc, a provider of accounts payable automation software and payment solutions for middle market businesses and their suppliers, announced key findings from its 2026 Trends Survey of middle market finance professionals. The data reveals that economic pressures are now said to be accelerating investment in AI as well as automation as finance teams look to enhance overall efficiency, resilience, and scalability.
The outlook for 2026 remains somewhat constrained, with the majority or 86% of respondents—from CFOs to AP managers—expressing some level of concern about the “current state of the economy.”
- 64% are “very concerned” about inflation
- 56% are “very concerned” about tariffs
- 1 in 3 are already feeling the economic impact
This so-called uncertainty is now said to be reshaping operations, with finance professionals reportedly balancing not simply budgets but also bandwidth. The majority or 56% say they have now changed their business plans “considerably” or “significantly.”
In response, many organizations are adjusting their approach by:
- Cutting discretionary spending (55%)
- Implementing hiring freezes or slowing recruitment (38%)
- Building up cash reserves (31%)
The push to “do more with less” has become nearly “universal, climbing eight points to 96% in just five months” since AvidXchange’s April 2025 Economic Sentiment Survey.
Dan Drees, President of AvidXchange said that finance leaders are being pushed “to do more with less.” Drees added that atomation is the lever that changes the equation – by “taking manual AP and payments work off their plate, it frees up time, reduces cost, and gives teams the space to focus on strategy.”
Finance teams are accelerating tech adoption, with priorities for 2026 centered on “operational efficiency and maximizing ROI from technology investments.”
Nearly half plan to increase their investment in AI – the “top area for new spending – and almost 80% express confidence in achieving strong ROI.”
This shift isn’t just about “new tools; it’s also transforming how finance leaders build” their teams:
- Over 50% place greater emphasis on technology proficiency when hiring – mirroring a broader trend, as 59% of AP professionals are actively learning automation and AI skills.
- 76% say technology proficiency is more important than in previous years.
- Teams are prioritizing adaptability and continuous learning to keep pace with innovation.
Payments acceleration is a priority, with “66% planning to expand ePayment options or move primarily to digital payments over the next two years, driven in part by the federal phase-out of paper checks.”
As tech adoption accelerates, companies seemingly face a paradox: the same innovations “driving growth also heighten security risks.”
And 43% cite security concerns as the top barrier “to adoption even as many adopt them to strengthen fraud prevention.”
In fact, 63% are ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ concerned “about AI being used to enhance phishing or fraud attempts.”
Even with these concerns, many finance teams are “proving that modernization and security” can go hand in hand:
- Successful check fraud attacks have dropped to 25%, down from 63% in 2024.
- Detection of attempted check fraud has doubled, rising from 19% to 37%.
- Reports of no check fraud attempts are up to 36%, compared to just 10% last year.
Finance teams are turning that concern into confidence by “increasing investment and education.”
Security priorities for 2026:
- Employee training and awareness programs (53%)
- Enhancing cybersecurity tools and monitoring (50%)
- Strengthening payment security and fraud prevention controls (43%)
AvidXchange conducted a survey, via Pollfish, of over 500 finance professionals at middle market companies “across the following industries: Advertising, banking/financial services, construction, government/public sector, health care and social assistance, nonprofit/social services, and real estate.”