Article
The future of French accounting
Business insights
February 4, 2026

Article
The future of French accounting
Business insights
February 4, 2026
Article
The future of French accounting

4/2/2026
min read
Business insights
Why France is unique
If an outsider tried to enter the French market tomorrow, they would likely stumble. French accounting isn't just about numbers; it’s about culture and complexity.
The local regulatory burden is among the highest in Europe. French accounting is known for being unique and significantly more complex than in other jurisdictions.
“To be honest, I experienced these frustrations firsthand through les immobilisés (fixed assets) earlier in my career, long before joining Visma,” says Olivier Constant.
With over 30 years of experience spanning accounting software management, sales, and fintech, Olivier has worked side by side with finance teams to navigate the complexities of fixed-asset accounting across diverse regulatory and operational environments. His career has given him first-hand insight into the challenges posed by highly specific local requirements, fragmented processes, and tools that fail to reflect on-the-ground realities.
Since 2022, Visma has built a presence in France by partnering with nine "pépites" (local gems) – French companies built by entrepreneurs who master the local nuances – and empowered them with global AI resources. This is a strategy that has proven itself to become one of Visma’s many advantages: not imposing global templates.
Choosing the right company
Since 2022, Visma’s goal has been to offer accounting firms the most complete, modular and sovereign platform in Europe and Latin America.
"Looking at the French market, we made the strategic decision to build our ecosystem around Inqom,” Olivier Constant says. “Integrating the best tools available to meet every professional need.”
This depth, combined with the support from Visma in core areas such as security and AI, has established Inqom as the reference for mid-to-large accounting firms.
It unites integral production management to handle the heavy lifting of accounting with a collaborative portal that puts the best tools directly into the hands of end-clients, ensuring they are ready for the electronic invoicing reform.
Portfolio synergy
With the arrival of mandatory electronic invoicing, the synergy within Visma’s portfolio becomes a massive competitive advantage. Chaintrust will serve as the Accredited Platform (PA) for Visma in France, driving a complete rationalisation of accounting.
By automating compliance checks on every invoice and ensuring a seamless flow of data, the system enhances traceability and reduces errors. This shift allows financial experts to detach from administrative routines and finally focus on what matters: financial optimisation and strategic advice.
Global power, French soul
“Visma’s success lies in the ability to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs,” says Olivier Constant. “These nine pépites (local gems), are not just acquisitions. They are the heart of our strategy.”
That strategy creates the best of both worlds. The French teams operate with autonomy, meaning every product is developed, tested and marketed locally to fit the market perfectly. Yet, they are supercharged by the group’s AI accelerator. With access to over 500 Visma AI initiatives globally, these local teams can innovate at a pace that standalone competitors simply cannot match.
Entering the Age of Orchestration
Will AI replace the accountant? Absolutely not, according to Constant, who thinks it’s more of a level up.
“Within the next two to three years, we will enter what we can call the ‘Age of orchestration’, says Olivier Constant. “It means that accountants will evolve to become pilots or orchestrators of AI agents within an interconnected modular platform.”
This evolution will reinforce the client relationship. Human expertise remains crucial for interpreting data, of course, and formulating the strategic recommendations that AI can’t replicate.
A vision for France and the world
The French roadmap favours strong strategic partnerships with key local players, extending Visma’s influence and ability to innovate. By aligning AI initiatives with the specific regulatory and cultural needs of France, Visma is aligning with its ambition to become the global leader in AI-augmented accounting.
“The transformation is happening now,” Olivier Constant says in conclusion. “The question is no longer if companies should adapt, but how fast they can start orchestrating.”
About the episode
Olivier Constant
local spotlight, entrepreneur, accounting
Voice of Visma
Welcome to the Voice of Visma podcast, where we sit down with the business builders, entrepreneurs, and innovators across Visma, sharing their perspectives on how they scale companies, reshape industries, and create real customer value across markets.
Olivier Constant
local spotlight, entrepreneur, accounting




















































































































































































































