Indian corporate treasury teams are undergoing a major transformation, with nearly half of them ranking automation and AI adoption as their top investment priority, according to the EY India Corporate Treasury Survey 2025. The findings, based on inputs from 85 treasury leaders across sectors, indicate a fundamental shift from traditional cash and risk management towards tech-driven, strategic treasury operations.
From Experimentation to Execution
The survey reveals that 82% of organizations are either planning or actively implementing AI-led initiatives across treasury functions. Use cases such as cash forecasting (26%), foreign exchange risk (9%), and trade finance (8%) are gaining traction, reflecting a growing focus on reducing manual processes, improving accuracy, and supporting real-time strategic decisions.
Notably, AI is no longer a pilot initiative, but an integral part of forward-looking treasury strategies aimed at improving agility, compliance, and capital allocation.
Balancing Skills and Redefining Roles
One of the standout findings is the changing talent mix within treasury teams. Nearly 49% of respondents reported a 50:50 split between functional and technical skills, showing an increasing need for professionals who understand both finance and digital transformation. Modular and hybrid operating models are gaining popularity, with treasury teams outsourcing tech maintenance (35%), back-office functions (25%), and even some front-office dealing operations (11%).
This shift allows internal teams to focus on value-added tasks like liquidity planning and capital structure optimization.
Upskilling: The Next Challenge
While technology adoption is gaining momentum, upskilling remains a key gap. Over 50% of respondents said domain expertise is crucial, but 52% also cited technical skills—data analysis, automation, and software tools—as vital to the treasury of the future. Leadership and change management capabilities are also emerging as critical enablers of digital transformation.
However, many organizations have yet to implement structured skill-building programs, potentially limiting the impact of their digital investments.
Key Gaps Holding Back Progress
70% still rely on fragmented spreadsheets and historical data
Nearly two-thirds struggle with weak reporting and dashboarding capabilities
Talent transformation lags behind technology investments
Treasury 2030: Digital-First and Insight-Driven
Looking ahead, EY predicts that by 2030, Indian treasuries will be digitally native, operating on real-time data and staffed by cross-functional experts well-versed in finance, AI, and digital systems. Those who proactively invest in platforms, people, and processes today will be better positioned to anticipate risk, improve decision-making, and drive organizational resilience.
