Digital reporting is moving fast. AI, accessibility and new audience habits are reshaping how companies tell their story online.
The Digital Shift: What it means for corporate reporting
Written by -
Black Sun Global
Black Sun Global
Reporting is changing - again
The way people read and search for corporate information is shifting. Stakeholders want clearer stories. AI tools are deciding what gets surfaced. And accessibility rules are raising expectations for everyone.
In a recent webinar, Black Sun's Chief Digital Officer, Richard Dixon, and Global Client Services Director, Sue Lawrence Jones, broke down the biggest changes - and what companies need to pay attention to next.
A landscape shaped by your audience
Companies now speak to more audiences than ever: investors, regulators, employees, communities and increasingly, machines. They all expect reporting that is clear, consistent and easy to navigate.
This is pushing organisations to rethink how they balance compliance with storytelling - and how they keep internal and external messages aligned.
AI is changing how information is found
Search is no longer guaranteed. With around 60% of search now clickless, many users get answers directly from AI summaries instead of visiting websites.
To stay visible, reporting must be easy for AI tools to read and understand. Structured data, clean metadata and clear summaries help content surface accurately and help companies stay part of the conversation.
AI is also showing up in reporting workflows: speeding up analysis, translation and content creation.
New habits need new formats
How people consume corporate information is changing. By 2030, up to 70% of website interactions could happen through AI-powered chat.
Short videos, audio explainers and simple visual formats are becoming more popular, especially with retail investors and general audiences.
Technology now makes it easy to publish consistent content across formats — from full reports to websites and social media. Companies like ABF and Santander are already using digital-first models to offer different levels of depth depending on what people need.
Visibility depends on clarity
Whether someone reads your report or an AI model scans it, clarity matters. Consistent numbers. Clean layouts. Structured data. Clear timestamps.
This helps people find what they need quickly - and helps AI tools understand and surface your content accurately.
Short-form content is also extending reach. One social campaign generated 86,000 impressions, over 50% engagement and a 30% download rate for the full report - showing how simple formats can move people towards deeper content.
Accessibility is becoming non-negotiable
New rules such as the EU Accessibility Act are pushing companies to make digital content easier to use. This includes adding accessibility statements, improving navigation tools, and fixing issues flagged by web scanners.
Beyond compliance, accessibility strengthens inclusion and widens reach. Santander's audio and video versions of executive messages illustrate how small changes can make reporting more accessible, without extra complexity.
What's next
Reporting is moving towards continuous, digital-first communication that works for both humans and AI systems. Companies that invest in clearer storytelling, better structure, and more accessible formats will be better placed to meet rising expectations.
You can watch the full webinar discussion here: Corporate Reporting – The Shift to Digital.
Got any questions?
If you'd like to explore how digital reporting and AI could shape your communication strategy, we'd be happy to connect you with the team at Black Sun.