In an increasingly digital and cost-conscious environment, the alliance between Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) is no longer a luxury—it is a strategic imperative. According to Han-Tiong Law, Regional CTO for ASEAN and Greater China at Rimini Street, this growing synergy is shaping the future of enterprise investment strategies, driving smarter IT decisions and enhancing long-term business resilience.
The Rise of the CFO–CIO Partnership
The digital economy demands that technology not only supports operations but propels growth. In this landscape, CFOs and CIOs are aligning more closely than ever before. A Rimini Street 2024 global survey revealed that 86% of CFOs and CIOs say their relationship has strengthened, with CFOs playing a more influential role in IT decision-making. This mirrors findings from Deloitte’s 2023 Global CIO Survey, which highlighted that increased collaboration between CIOs and other C-suite executives is among the top three enablers of digital transformation (Deloitte, 2023).
Han-Tiong attributes this trend to increasing scrutiny on IT spend, the rising complexity of digital ecosystems, and the growing need to demonstrate measurable returns. “By working together,” he explains, “CFOs and CIOs can ensure that technology initiatives not only meet budgetary targets but also deliver outcomes that drive enterprise value.”
Case Studies: Where Finance Meets IT Innovation
Han-Tiong points to clients like Malaysia’s Sunway Group, which shifted to Rimini Street’s third-party support model and reallocated savings from software maintenance into AI development initiatives. According to the Rimini Street survey, 49% of CFOs reported that closer partnerships with CIOs led to improved business results.
These findings reflect a broader shift in enterprise strategy. A Gartner report noted that CIOs are increasingly expected to act as business leaders, not just technology stewards, and to drive cost optimisation and revenue growth simultaneously (Gartner, 2023).
What’s Driving CFOs to Take the Lead on IT?
Rimini Street’s survey also found that 66% of CFOs feel directly responsible for setting their organisation’s technology investment budgets. This marks a notable shift in internal dynamics. A McKinsey & Company report from 2023 observed that CFOs are becoming central figures in technology decision-making by leveraging real-time analytics and performance measurement tools (McKinsey, 2023).
“CFOs are increasingly using financial data to track ROI and ensure IT projects contribute directly to strategic business goals,” says Han-Tiong. This includes cost predictability, scalability, and alignment with long-term transformation agendas.
Rimini Street’s Value Proposition: Innovation Through Efficiency
Rimini Street offers third-party enterprise software support for platforms such as Oracle, SAP, VMware, and Workday. The model enables clients to reduce software maintenance costs by up to 90%, according to internal customer data, and avoid vendor lock-in or forced upgrades. This in turn frees up capital for innovation.
But Rimini Street’s model goes beyond basic cost reduction. “Our support includes custom code support, performance tuning, root cause analysis, and proactive security guidance,” Han-Tiong explains. This holistic model aligns with trends noted in Forrester’s 2024 IT Spending Outlook, which highlighted a sharp increase in companies moving away from traditional vendor support to regain control over IT budgets (Forrester, 2024).
Unlocking the Value of AI and Data
Artificial intelligence and real-time analytics are now central to digital competitiveness. Yet many companies aren’t ready for large-scale AI deployment. Rimini Street’s survey shows that 94% of CIOs believe their data still requires significant cleanup and restructuring before it can support AI effectively.
This aligns with findings from PwC’s 2024 AI Business Survey, which revealed that while 73% of executives plan to implement AI at scale, only 27% feel their data infrastructure is AI-ready (PwC, 2024).
Han-Tiong advises companies to prioritise data orchestration and focus on use cases that yield measurable outcomes, such as process automation, enhanced customer service, and smarter decision-making. “Without a strong data foundation, AI initiatives are likely to stall or underperform,” he cautions.
Managing the Complexities of Application Outsourcing
Application outsourcing remains a challenging proposition, especially for companies with deeply customised ERP environments. “A common concern is the risk of knowledge loss and disruptions during transition,” Han-Tiong explains.
Rimini Street addresses this by offering dedicated support engineers and a proactive service model focused on long-term system health. Their approach includes patented monitoring and alerting tools designed to reduce downtime and eliminate unnecessary upgrades—capabilities cited in IDC’s 2023 research on third-party support as key to improving IT resilience (IDC, 2023).
Transitioning to Third-Party Support: What to Consider
For organisations considering alternatives to traditional vendor support, Han-Tiong recommends evaluating three main criteria:
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Proven Expertise: Select a provider with extensive experience in your ERP ecosystem.
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Cost Transparency: Fixed, predictable pricing models help manage long-term budgets.
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Innovation Alignment: Ensure the provider can support strategic objectives, not just legacy maintenance.
As digital transformation accelerates across Asia, companies are recognising the need for greater flexibility and smarter spending. Rimini Street’s model offers a path toward both, enabling CIOs and CFOs to invest in tomorrow while managing the realities of today.
Collaboration is the New Currency
Han-Tiong Law believes that in today’s enterprise environment, collaboration—not just technology—is the real differentiator. “With tighter budgets and increasing complexity, every dollar and decision counts. That’s why CFO–CIO collaboration isn’t just important—it’s essential.”
The message is clear: by breaking down silos and jointly leading the technology agenda, CFOs and CIOs can drive better ROI, reduce risk, and prepare the enterprise for a digital-first future.
