AI and automation transform corporate treasury management

The corporate treasury landscape is undergoing a significant technological shift driven by artificial intelligence and automation. Research from Integral indicates that manual and voice-based foreign exchange (FX) execution is expected to drop from current levels to just 10% within five years. In its place, embedded FX integrated into ERP systems and API-driven workflows are projected to grow, potentially accounting for 42% of corporate FX execution.

Simultaneously, agentic artificial intelligence is beginning to perform core treasury functions autonomously. A working paper by the Bank for International Settlements and the Bank of Canada tested generative AI agents in simulated cash management scenarios. Using reasoning models, the AI was able to replicate prudent intraday liquidity management practices, such as prioritizing urgent payments to preserve liquidity, similar to experienced human managers.

Experts suggest that moving away from static spreadsheets toward dynamic, AI-driven liquidity management allows treasurers to transition from reactive roles to strategic ones. By automating routine transactional tasks and FX workflows, treasury teams can redirect resources toward broader risk management, liquidity optimization, and strategic funding decisions.