Treasury Pulse Survey

In the face of a volatile business environment, corporate treasuries are tasked with delivering strategic value while managing resource constraints. HSBC's Treasury Pulse report delves into how treasuries worldwide are addressing these challenges and seizing opportunities for growth. The report underscores the pivotal role of technology, centralised operations, and innovative tools like AI in revolutionising treasury processes.

The survey also introduces new data-led benchmarking capabilities, enabling treasurers from various sectors to compare performance across industries to identify best practices, sharpen their decision-making and accelerate transformation within their own organisations.

1. Harnessing technology and digitisation to serve the complex needs of the business: Many respondents mention the importance of automation, data, up-to-date technology and analytics in enhancing efficiencies and enabling the treasury to support better decision-making. 63% of treasuries are planning to adopt, upgrade or harmonise their ERP or TMS platform in the next two years.

2. Strategically managing bank relationships to streamline and centralise treasury operations: A key lever for streamlining business processes, strengthening treasuries role as a strategic partner to the business and becoming a true centre of excellence. We found that treasuries that achieve high levels of automation and centralisation may unlock more than 140 hours of capacity a month.

3. Leveraging in-house banks (IHBs) and cash pooling to generate capital efficiencies: Treasuries leveraging IHBs and cash pooling can generate significant capital efficiencies. Firms pooling most of their balances are twenty-two times more likely to have subsidiaries invest through the treasury entity and three times more likely to fund them internally rather than through third parties. This approach strengthens liquidity control, reduces borrowing costs, and increases financial flexibility across the enterprise.

4. Tapping into payments industry innovation to futureproof the treasury and the wider business: Payment efficiency and security are top priorities for treasuries aiming to reduce errors and streamline costs. Emerging solutions like tokenisation, embedded payments, and pay-into-wallets are set to surge fivefold in adoption over the next two years. These technologies promise faster, more secure transactions, reducing fraud and operational risks while enhancing cash flow visibility.

The Treasury Pulse report highlights a transformative journey for treasuries, moving beyond transactional roles to become strategic partners in business growth and decision-making. By embracing technology, centralisation, and innovative solutions, treasuries can unlock efficiencies, reduce costs, and create greater strategic value for their organisations. Download the full report to explore actionable insights and strategies for future-proofing your treasury functions.

Further insights