72% of surveyed CFOs anticipated the North American economy would improve this year, according to Deloitte’s fourth quarter North American CFO Signals Survey. This positive outlook translated into an increased appetite for risk taking, with 67% of CFOs believing it was a good time to take greater strategic risks. However, as geopolitical tensions continue to grow, that optimism is slowly waning with 57% of CFOs citing economic policy as a top factor impacting short-term strategy changes, according to a recent survey by PwC.
For CFOs, navigating a volatile economic landscape means balancing an optimistic growth agenda, requiring deep visibility in global supply chains, where hidden risks can quietly erode margins, stall operations and damage reputation.
The Driving Force Behind Business Stability and Growth
For decades, the supply chain has been viewed as a cost center or a purely operational concern. However, in recent years, we’ve seen that the supply chain is the backbone of stability and growth potential. Every tariff imposed, every shipment delayed, and every supplier disruption directly impacts the bottom line. This is especially true in a geopolitically charged environment, which Deloitte found was a top concern for nearly half (46%) of CFOs.
And yet, despite this uncertainty, optimism persists: 59% of CFOs said they are significantly or somewhat more confident in their organizations’ financial prospects for the year ahead, with many projecting 10.8% revenue growth and 7.6% earnings growth in 2025. These targets rest on an understanding of where bottlenecks, concentration risks and capacity constraints could surface. Without a line of sight into the full supply chain, financial forecasts risk becoming detached from operational reality.
CFOs continue to seek opportunities for increased capital and market expansion, but without deep insights into their supply chains, these opportunities often carry immense hidden risk.
As of July 2025, over 250,000 companies in the US show a high or moderate financial risk rating, according to interos.ai data. Exposing financial threats lurking in extended supply chains is vital to manage enterprise risk.
Growth Without Blindspots: Why Supply Chain Insight is a CFO Mandate
Enterprise risk management (ERM) continues to rise on the CFO agenda, driven not just by economic and geopolitical risks (cited by 56% and 46% of CFOs respectively), but also by cyber threats, regulatory shifts and talent shortages. Risk is no longer siloed, it’s felt across functions.
A modern ERM strategy starts with visibility. This means seeing beyond the balance sheet and into the operational core of the business, its supply chains. By embedding AI-powered analytics and insights, CFOs can get a holistic view into their vulnerabilities, assess potential financial impacts and make more informed decisions.
According to interos.ai data, the number of companies showcasing moderate to high financial risk postures has grown by 4x over 2 years in the US.
Empowering CFOs with Real-Time Foresight
For today’s finance leaders, it’s no longer an option to simply wait and react. They are increasingly recognizing that real-time comprehensive data is their most powerful tool for navigating today’s constantly shifting economic landscape. Yet, 51% of CFOs cite technology deployment as a top internal concern, on par with agility and resilience. If CFOs plan to truly transform their organization, they must invest in advanced solutions that provide instant insights into the global supply chain.
Modern platforms like interos.ai offer real-time, multi-tier visibility into supply chains. With this intelligence, CFOs can:
- Anticipate and model the financial impact of tariff changes, supplier disruptions or geopolitical shocks
- Adjust sourcing strategies and inventory decisions as soon as issues arise
- Monitor supplier health and ESG factors to align with regulatory standards
- Avoid hidden concentration risks that could destabilize production (and ultimately revenue)
A single supplier’s financial distress or a new trade restriction can create cascading delays and challenges. A CFO equipped with dynamic supply chain data in a centralized view can quickly assess exposure, reroute plans and maintain business continuity.
The Path to Proactive Financial Leadership
For CFOs, supply chain insights are no longer just a nice to have. It’s a foundational capability for finance leaders. As Deloitte research shows, enterprise-wide risk mitigation, digital transformation, and ambitious growth projections are top of mind for CFOs across industries. However, achieving these objectives in today’s unpredictable global environment requires strategic, proactive management across every tier of the supply chain.
By leveraging AI-powered risk intelligence, CFOs who partner with interos.ai gain real-time, multi-tier supply chain visibility to easily identify and quantify risks before they become boardroom problems.
In 2025 and beyond, resilient growth will belong to organizations that see risk early and act even faster.
Stop guessing and start knowing with interos.ai. Learn how by booking a demo today.