Treasury Technology
Published  9 MIN READ

Advantage Evolution

Deloitte Treasury Technology Market Intelligence Report 2019

Automation, sophisticated analytics and rich data visualisations are putting powerful new tools in the hands of treasury teams. The treasury function is moving from routine reporting to embracing predictive analysis and fundamental business forecasting. In many businesses this is already a reality and the function has become more strategic. But for most, there are still critical choices to be made. How should a business map out the treasury journey, and what is the chosen destination? Which of many competing treasury applications are relevant to business? How should businesses go about evaluating technology vendors, and implementing their services?

This article outlines the principles of successful future state treasury technology strategy and design and provides a critical review of available technologies and their providers. It is an experience-based and market-based review of current and future treasury technologies, combined with Deloitte’s current thinking on strategy formation and technology implementation for the treasury function.

The treasury technology challenge is an opportunity to deploy creative solutions that deliver simple, transparent, and efficient treasury processes. Internal and external pressures are combining to demand both cost reduction and more financial visibility from the treasury function primarily through automation. To meet these pressures companies need to conceptualise and plan their treasury transformations in three important areas:

1. Understand the technology
Effective technology implementations will enhance controls, harmonise processes, centralise and automate data handling, and extend the reach of treasury talent. Evaluation and selection is critical. Deloitte considers that some digital technology trends will play a central role in the future of treasury system architecture, including advanced analytics, cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), application programming interfaces (APIs), machine learning, process robotics, and visualisation tools. Other digital technologies (e.g. blockchain applications and virtual assistants) are evolving more slowly and appear less likely to gain traction as quickly.