On June 6, 2025, Brave CFO Gathering took place in Kyiv — the first event in the 23rd Ukrainian CFO Forum series. Since 1997, this annual gathering, unlike any other in Ukraine, has brought together CFOs and C-level economic professionals to jointly shape strategies for financial management development.
The central theme of the June conference was decision-making in the face of constant economic, political, and technological change. CFOs and tech specialists came together to discuss challenges and share practical experiences, tools, and technologies that help them stay effective even in times of instability — amid market volatility, inflation risks, supply chain disruptions, legislative shifts, digital transformation, and more.
More than 25 speakers and over 300 delegates participated in discussions on tech innovation, current market challenges, and the evolving role of the CFO in today’s business landscape. The event covered finance-relevant topics such as:
- Tax reform and risk management
- Maintaining financial and strategic resilience
- CFO–CIO collaboration
- Micro-automation, RPA, and internal audit
- Business digitalization and real-life GenAI use cases in finance
SMART business joined the event as an AI-driven IT ecosystems partner. The company hosted a booth where attendees could receive expert advice on implementing modern solutions to automate business processes.
In addition, SMART business representative Andrii Tonkonoh, Senior AX/FO Consultant, took part in the session “Driving Corporate Efficiency Through Innovation”, where he delivered a presentation on integrated approaches to improving demand forecasting processes. What was discussed during the presentation — and what other key insights were shared at Brave CFO Gathering — we invite you to explore below.
Conference Highlights: Takeaways from Key Discussions on the New Financial Reality
The Brave CFO Gathering featured over eight hours of strategic panel discussions, live interviews, and expert insights. One of the sessions, led by Andrii Tonkonoh, focused on how integrated planning tools can optimize demand forecasting. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, leveraging modern demand forecasting tools is critical for making strategic decisions and consolidating all financial processes into a single operating model.
“It’s the CFO who can set the strategic framework: define acceptable inventory levels, determine which scenarios can be funded, and align operational and financial planning. This transforms the CFO’s role from a ‘controller’ to a ‘growth driver’—provided the right tools for demand forecasting are in place, forecasts are developed collaboratively, and both technical and process integration are achieved within the company’s broader ecosystem, including ‘what-if’ modeling capabilities,” said Andrii Tonkonoh during his presentation.
The speaker’s presentation explored three key areas:
- The CFO as a growth driver: tools for making strategic decisions
- Modern approaches and tools for demand planning and forecasting
- Demand forecasting use cases integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Applications
The talk outlined the stages of integrating new tools to automate demand forecasting processes. It clearly illustrated the role of forecasting in supply chain management, highlighted common challenges in demand planning, and defined key goals for implementing advanced solutions. The speaker also shared what features a modern demand management system should offer, how to choose the right one, how to design its interaction with business processes, and how to ensure seamless integration with the existing enterprise ecosystem.
How SMART business Supports Innovation and Growth
At the Brave CFO Gathering, SMART business hosted a coffee point that welcomed all event participants. It served not only as a space for consultations on implementing innovative solutions, but also featured exciting giveaways — including books, branded bottles, and shopper bags.
In addition, attendees who asked the most thought-provoking AI-related questions during the sessions received valuable prizes from SMART business — including three certificates for free consultations with the company’s AI experts and practitioners.
Brave CFO Gathering spotlighted critical topics in financial management, fostered valuable connections, and sparked ideas for sustainable, successful business development — even amid market turbulence. SMART business actively supports this growth by helping organizations implement innovative tools and automate business processes. With a rich portfolio of solutions, SMART business empowers companies to select tools that fit their unique needs and integrate them into a powerful IT ecosystem.
While the event may be over, the SMART business team is always ready to help! If you didn’t get a chance to attend Brave CFO Gathering or visit our booth, we’re happy to consult you on digital transformation, overcoming today’s key challenges, and AI-powered innovations for your business. Submit a request — and SMART business experts will find the optimal solution for you!
