The Silent Gap in FP&A: What Happens After Implementation?

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” — Alvin Toffler

Are Companies Falling Behind on Their Own FP&A Investments?

Being immersed in the technology and software ecosystem, I sometimes take for granted that my team is at the forefront of what’s current and what’s coming next. Our best-in-class budgeting solutions are built on platforms that are pushing the envelope—leveraging AI, automation, and advanced modeling to deliver deeper insights and greater agility.

What happens after implementation?

That question hit me hard after talking with high-level FP&A leaders at major, well-known organizations. What became clear is that many of them aren’t fully aware of what’s possible with today’s technology—and, even more surprising, they don’t have a structured way to keep up.

These are companies that have already made significant investments in budgeting solutions. And yet, they admitted they were still trying to figure out how to fully use them, optimize their processes, and evolve with the technology.

That raised some bigger questions:

• Is there a major gap in FP&A where companies lose momentum after implementation?
• Are finance teams being left to figure it out on their own once the software is installed?
• Are organizations failing to maximize their technology simply because they don’t know how?

The Disconnect: Why Finance Teams Are Struggling Post-Implementation

After asking multiple Directors of FP&A, VPs, and senior finance leaders, the answers were startlingly consistent:

• “We’re focused on budgeting—we don’t have much exposure to what’s new.”
• “Once implementation was done, our support tapered off, and we were left figuring things out ourselves.”
•  “We learned so much during setup, but six months or a year later, most of it wasn’t top of mind anymore.”

The reality? Once the initial T&M (time and materials) runs out, many organizations are left with a system they don’t fully leverage.

• No structured way to stay ahead of new features.
• No one advocating for their continued growth in FP&A technology.
• No roadmap to expand capabilities as their business evolves.

They’re essentially running the same budgeting process they started with, unaware of the updates and innovations happening in the space.

For companies investing millions in financial software, that’s a staggering problem.

Is FP&A Technology Adoption Really That Rough?

Listening to these conversations, I found myself genuinely surprised at how common this issue is.

Extremely smart finance professionals—who know budgeting inside and out—admitted they weren’t sure if they were using their tools correctly, efficiently, or even to their full potential.

Some felt behind, still looking for ways to streamline, optimize, and evolve their FP&A capabilities.

Others had no external support helping them continue their technology journey.

How Do We Bridge the Gap?

✔️Dedicated FP&A Advocacy – Companies need ongoing guidance, not just during implementation but long after the software is installed.

✔️Continuous Learning & Enablement – Teams should have structured training refreshers and exposure to new capabilities.

✔️Scalability Planning – A system should evolve with the business, not stay stagnant as needs change.

✔️Technology Road-mapping – Organizations should have a clear strategy for leveraging their tools beyond year one.

At RKL eSolutions, we don’t just help companies implement budgeting software—we stay with them as their needs evolve. Because software alone doesn’t solve problems—the right strategy does.

Your Experience Matters—Let’s Talk

If you’re in FP&A, I want to hear from you:

• Has your team struggled with fully utilizing your budgeting solution?
• Do you feel like you’re leveraging everything your system can do?
• What challenges have you faced in evolving your budgeting process over time?

Connect with me on LinkedIn, or contact me—I’d love to discuss how we can turn this gap into an opportunity for finance teams to thrive.