Treasury technology 2026-2030: Data, real-time systems, and the future of digital treasury
Treasury technology is entering a new era, defined by speed, intelligence, and interoperability. As we move toward 2030, innovations like real-time data exchange, AI-driven forecasting, and digital asset adoption are reshaping how treasurers manage risk, liquidity, and governance. In this report, we explore the key trends transforming treasury operations and how to select the right tools and partners to stay ahead.
Treasury technology is entering its most transformative decade, with treasurers rethinking cash, liquidity, and risk management. As we look beyond 2025 toward 2030, corporate treasuries face a landscape defined by real-time payments, digital assets, and AI-powered decision-making. The treasurer’s role is shifting from back-office custodian to strategic business partner, driving enterprise liquidity, funding, and growth.
Recent Citi research highlights this transformation: “It’s the data, stupid”. Data has become the keystone of every treasury ambition, from forecasting to liquidity optimisation. Meanwhile, the Citi GPS Treasury 2030 vision frames the future as modernise or risk irrelevance, calling on treasurers to embrace 24/7, always-on systems and bold partnerships with banks and fintechs.
A sentiment echoed in EY’s 2025 Global Treasurer Survey, which highlights that treasurers are expected to embrace a more strategic role. By building their capabilities in risk management, data analytics, and collaboration, they can become key contributors to organisational success.
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Data: The bedrock of treasury innovation
Treasury priorities are converging on a single truth: data drives everything. Without clean, accessible, and standardised data, forecasts falter, automation fails, and digitalisation stalls.
Citi identifies three layers of a modern treasury data strategy:
Connectivity – API-driven, real-time data exchange with banks and providers.
Systems – Treasury management systems (TMS) capable of ingesting and processing high-velocity data.
Data – Clean storage, usability, and accessibility across the organisation.
According to EY, 65% of treasurers do not have highly accurate 12-month cash flow forecasts, primarily due to poor data quality, a fragmented IT stack, and limited forecasting tools. Meanwhile, PwC reports that 38–52% of organisations still collect forecasting data manually, contributing to inconsistent insights.
To bridge the gap, treasurers must demand data openness from banks and technology partners, align with global standards like ISO 20022, and build foundational governance around data flows.
Always-on, real-time treasury
The batch-driven treasury of yesterday is being replaced by always-on, 24/7 liquidity visibility, which is turning into a real competitive advantage. Citi GPS predicts that by 2030, banking days and cut-off times will be relics of the past.
Real-time treasury requires:
API connectivity with multiple banks for intraday cash positions.
Real-time forecasting and value-timing rather than value-dating.
Global liquidity structures, such as in-house banks (IHB) and virtual accounts.
Real-time access to cash, forecasts, and risk data is the top tech focus for treasurers in 2025–2026, according to EACT’s latest survey, with “real-time reporting and dashboarding” ranked #1, followed closely by real-time liquidity and real-time payments.
EY found that treasurers who collaborate with the C-suite are four times more likely to be involved in major decisions, including technology investment in real-time systems.
Forward-looking treasuries are already piloting Regulated Liability Network (RLN) initiatives, creating interoperable, tokenised networks for cash and liquidity.
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AI as the new treasury operating system
Artificial intelligence is no longer hype. It’s quickly becoming a core operating system for treasury management, from forecasting to fraud prevention. According to Citi, automation and AI will free treasurers from “the daily morning drudge” of manual processes, allowing them to act as chief returns and risk officers.
Key applications include:
Forecasting and analytics – AI models deliver more accurate, scenario-driven forecasts.
Fraud prevention – ML detects anomalies in payments and flags suspicious activity in real time.
Process automation – Natural language interfaces and embedded AI reduce reliance on manual workflows.
PwC’s 2025 Global Treasury Survey confirms this shift: 74% of treasury teams are expanding their use of AI, with strong focus on machine learning and predictive analytics.
CFOs remain cautious. According to Kyriba’s 2025 CFO AI Survey, 76% of CFOs cite security and privacy as their top concerns when adopting AI, and only 26% rate their AI maturity as high. Still, 96% say AI is a strategic priority for their treasury operations.
EY reports a 7% improvement in forecast accuracy when machine learning is adopted, reinforcing its impact on treasury planning and agility.
As Pearson’s Group Treasurer James Kelly notes: “Automation can make your life better. It takes away the grunt work and gives you more time to think about the value add”.
Digital assets and programmable money
Stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenisation are reshaping how treasurers manage cross-border payments and liquidity. Citi highlights blockchain as a complementary rail to banking infrastructure, borderless, programmable, and immutable.
Potential use cases for treasurers:
Cross-border settlement with stablecoins or CBDCs, reducing costs and delays.
Programmable treasury workflows through smart contracts (e.g. automating intercompany loans).
Tokenised deposits to optimise liquidity across subsidiaries.
Despite the hype, EACT notes low adoption of crypto and DLT among treasurers due to a lack of standardisation, fragmented systems, and regulatory uncertainty.
By 2030, leading treasuries may operate in a hybrid ecosystem of fiat, tokenised money, and digital currencies.
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ESG, cybersecurity, and partnerships: The rising treasury priorities
ESG integration
Treasury is increasingly at the centre of corporate sustainability, via green bonds, ESG-linked loans, and sustainable supply chain finance. 59% of transformative treasurers support ESG reporting, compared to just 24% of all treasurers, according to EY.
Cybersecurity
With faster money movement comes faster fraud. Citi and PwC warn of AI-powered fraud attacks, including deepfakes and payment redirection scams. 81% of PwC survey respondents are implementing or planning to implement cybersecurity enhancements.
Partnerships
The Citi GPS framework adds a fifth “P”: Partnerships. Treasurers must collaborate with banks, fintechs, and technology providers to create integrated ecosystems. EY reinforces this view, noting that treasurers with C-suite alignment are four times more likely to drive strategic value.
Best Treasury Management Systems (TMS) and treasury software solutions in 2026
As treasurers modernise, choosing the right software providers is critical. Leading solutions include:
Forecasting & Data Analytics
Kyriba – Cloud-native TMS with robust AI-driven forecasting and API connectivity. Ideal for real-time insights and predictive analytics.
Treasury4 – Built for high-speed data analytics and visualisation. Suited to teams prioritising scenario planning and dashboards.
Nilus – AI-powered treasury platform focused on real-time cash visibility and performance optimisation.
Global Cash, Liquidity & Risk Management
ION Treasury – Enterprise-grade solution for multinationals managing global liquidity, FX, interest rate risk, and trading.
FIS Treasury (Quantum & Integrity) – Designed for complex treasury operations with deep functionality in payments, risk, and compliance.
ERP Integration & Workflow Automation
SAP Treasury (S/4HANA) – Best suited for organisations already using SAP ERP, with strong integration and automation across finance functions.
Payments & Bank Connectivity
TIS (Treasury Intelligence Solutions) – Specialises in centralised payments and liquidity visibility. Strong API connectivity makes it ideal for multi-bank environments.
Mandate & Signatory Management
Cygnetise – Digitises the management of authorised signatories and bank mandates, reducing admin time by up to 95%. A niche but critical solution for governance and compliance.
When selecting treasury software, best practice is to adopt a modular approach, combining core TMS platforms with niche providers for specialised needs (e.g. fraud prevention, bank mandate management).
Comparison of top Treasury Management Systems (TMS)
| Vendor | Strengths | Weaknesses / Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Kyriba | Strong enterprise capabilities, multi-bank/multi-currency, good forecasting, rich feature set. Users considering it for complex environments. | Can be expensive; steep learning curve; UI/complexity can be a barrier for smaller teams. Some posts say unclear ROI vs cost. |
| GTreasury | Well-known, solid reputation, good for large/complex cash management, risk and hedge functionality. | Same as Kyriba: cost is high; features may be more than needed; integration/setup complexity can delay deployment. |
| Agicap | Very positive for usability, especially for smaller/mid-market companies. Clean UI, ease of deployment. | May lag behind in advanced features for risk/hedging or large global cash needs. |
| Trovata | Modern, cloud-oriented, good forecasting & liquidity visibility, flexible. | May require integrations for full functionality; enterprise pricing can grow quickly. |
| TreasuryView | Good onboarding for SMBs; affordable, fast to implement. | Lighter feature set; not ideal for complex or large-scale treasury operations. |
| FIS | Highly capable for large organisations; strong across cash, payments, risk, and derivatives. | High cost; long implementation cycles; reported complexity and overhead. |
| SAP / Oracle | Strong ERP integration; mature, feature-rich modules. | Expensive; heavy customisation often needed; UI and agility issues reported. |
References: G2, Reddit and Kosh
5 key takeaways from what treasury software users say that aren’t always in analyst reports
From software comparison web discussions on Reddit and G2, some practical “grassroots” concerns often don’t make it into formal comparison reports, but are very important:
Total cost vs hidden costs
Licensing is just part of the cost; implementation, training, customisation, and ongoing vendor support all add up.
Some users found that features they thought were “included” turned out to be additional modules.
Support, change requests, and roadmap transparency
How responsive is vendor support when integrating with banks or ERPs?
Users often want to know how fast bug fixes or enhancements are done.
Ease of use & learning curve
Especially for mid-market / smaller teams, intuitive UI and minimal setup are valued.
Overly complex vendors with many configuration options are sometimes seen as burdens.
Integration depth
Bank connectivity (APIs), real-time bank balance feeds, currency handling, and multi-entity accounting.
Feature necessity vs overkill
Sometimes it's better to have a lean tool, well-adapted to needed workflows, rather than a powerful “kitchen sink” that has many features never used.
Best practices for treasurers preparing for 2030
To succeed and keep up with the industry’s technological evolution, treasurers should:
Invest in data first – without a data strategy, digitalisation will fail.
Push for real-time – prioritise API adoption and connectivity with banks.
Pilot AI responsibly – automate repetitive tasks but retain human oversight.
Engage in partnerships – collaborate with fintechs and providers for innovation.
Adopt a strategic role – treasury must position itself as a growth enabler, not just a risk manager.
Conclusion
The message is clear: Treasury must modernise or risk irrelevance.
Between now and 2030, successful corporate treasurers will:
Harness real-time systems
Embed AI at the core
Embrace digital assets and ESG finance
Partner across ecosystems to build resilience
For corporations, the stakes are high. Treasuries that fail to evolve risk being left behind in a 24/7, programmable world. But for those ready to lead, the next five years offer a rare opportunity to reshape finance from the inside out.
EY concludes that transformative treasurers are distinguished by their ability to blend digital innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic foresight, setting a new standard for treasury excellence.