6 min read
Key takeaways
- Today’s global treasurer must navigate diversification, digital treasury transformation and a fast-changing macroeconomic and political environment
- To maintain visibility and control at scale, they need a holistic view into global cash positions that makes it easy to make strategic, informed decisions
- To free up time for strategic work, treasurers can turn to automated solutions that can minimize manual tasks and improve operational efficiency
Introduction
Amidst economic and geopolitical uncertainty, treasurers face pressure to have better visibility and control of their global cash.1 They must also collaborate effectively with financial partners and internal stakeholders, leaving less time for manual tasks.
Strategic treasury solutions can help treasurers reach these expectations, but solutions must be flexible enough to adapt to each treasury’s unique needs without sacrificing control and security.
Enhancing visibility and control
Today’s treasurer must navigate industry diversification, rapid technology transformation and a dynamic macroeconomic and political environment, and they need to move fast.
63% of disruptive events have given companies less than a week to formulate a response.2
To react quickly, they must track and forecast cash flows and move money in real time. Liquidity solutions must offer a holistic view into global cash positions, displayed intuitively to make strategic, informed decisions easier.
Streamline cash tracking
Managing operations at scale requires balancing centralized control with adequate local liquidity levels. Treasurers need standardization and simplified tracking to understand cash levels across currencies and regions. The more physical accounts a treasurer manages, the harder it is to gain a clear picture of liquidity around the world.
To optimize liquidity and improve cash visibility, treasurers can leverage virtual accounts. This is a single, physical account that creates many virtual accounts—or subledgers—that each function as their own account in local currencies. This centralizes transaction processing for a comprehensive view of global cash positions.
Forecast accurately
Real-time data is essential for predicting and mitigating volatility and managing risk. AI and machine learning can analyze financial datasets like sales trends, economic indicators and supply chain disruptions to identify patterns that human analysts might overlook.
Effectively using AI in treasury management requires more than just a product launch. In fact, only 2% of treasury teams are ready for AI.3 Success will require overcoming challenges around data quality and prioritizing human oversight of machine intelligence. It also involves thoughtful integration with existing technologies including ERP, CRM and treasury management systems.
When done right, treasurers are seeing the benefits of AI-driven forecasting, including significant cost savings and expanded forecasting horizons.
One client leveraged AI-powered treasury insights and saw powerful business results4
3x
Tripled their forecasting horizon
50%
Decreased time spent per week on forecasting by 50%
1%
Decreased error rate to less than 1%
Increase control over funding
Even with improved predictive foresight, immediate funding needs can arise thanks to evolving risk environments. Treasurers must to be able to move payments in real time.
Virtual accounts and real-time payments can transfer money as needed, unlocking more cash value through advanced currency optimization. This encourages a payments strategy that moves liquidity intelligently and unlocks more cash value through advanced, real-time currency optimization and global connectivity.
Improve efficiency through automation
With the rise of global markets and diversified supply chains, both multinationals and small businesses are making more cross-border payments. Treasurers must uplevel their advanced global payment capabilities to increase the seamlessness of their interregional operations, especially since cross-border payments can be so complex.
Cross-currency solutions can automate parts of the process or significantly reduce manual burden—unlocking new opportunities to improve visibility and control. For example, recent client results include:
- Reduced errors and improved accuracy
- Expanded global reach with the ability to fund in 15 currencies
- More predictable payment landing dates
Automate currency conversion
Cross-currency sweeps are a vital tool to maintain agility and support strategic decision-making as treasurers aim to manage cash flows around the world in real time.
Treasurers can configure their virtual accounts to fund each other if one falls below established thresholds. That includes necessary currency conversions, which creates efficiencies.
Effective automated currency conversion can benefit treasurers in multiple ways, including:5
- Reduced currency conversion costs
- Increased completed transactions
- Reduced operational overhead
- Fewer manual processes
Just-in-time funding helps ensure that payments are funded efficiently and on time in local currencies so money arrives in an account when needed. This helps maximize yields and minimize overdrafts, borrowing and administrative costs.
Manage FX risk and exposure
Managing foreign exchange (FX) risk is especially important given the volatility of currency exchange rates. Multi-currency pricing can help treasurers mitigate their FX risk by locking in a daily average currency exchange rate.
APIs can further automate the process, integrating into a treasurer’s system and allowing for automatic FX conversion at a pre-designated FX rate.
Through these efforts, treasurers can reduce barriers to entry in new markets, minimize manual tasks and build stakeholder confidence within and outside the business.
Looking to the future
With the role of the treasurer expanding and increasingly high expectations for success, it’s more important than ever to leverage technology thoughtfully to achieve clarity and resiliency. At J.P. Morgan Payments, we recognize that treasurers are working tirelessly behind the scenes to streamline treasury. Whatever the payments challenge, navigate it with confidence—with support from the number one provider of treasury services.
For more on how we can help you thrive in your role as treasurer, check out our Treasury Solutions.
References
J.P. Morgan Payments internal data
Disclaimer
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The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of J.P. Morgan, its affiliates, or its employees. The information set forth herein has been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the author nor J.P. Morgan makes any representations or warranties as to the information’s accuracy or completeness. The information contained herein has been provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, advice or recommendation, to make any investment decisions or purchase any financial instruments, and may not be construed as such.
