The latest advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping solve the complex challenges corporate treasurers face by providing real-time visibility of cash and liquidity positions, rich data insights and precision forecasting.
These enhanced capabilities are increasingly shifting the focus from time-consuming number crunching on legacy systems to more valuable strategic decision-making, says NAB’s head of liquidity management advisory Brett Healy.
Cash management innovations are gaining traction in government finance, a complex operating environment which involves multi-billions of dollars in cash flows. iStock
“Data quality, fragmentation and velocity have been fundamental barriers to cash flow optimisation for many clients,” Healy says. “Now, cash management innovation has accelerated to where next generation technologies are able to provide tangible solutions.”
At NAB, this innovation comes through the Liquidity+ platform which works to enrich and structure data, automate low value repetitive tasks, and leverage machine learning to enhance forecasting and modelling processes.
Healy says before using the platform, NAB’s foundational Liquidity+ client would only forecast two weeks ahead because of data quality issues.
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“By analysing three years of historical data, the Liquidity+ AI is now generating predictive forecasts that have halved forecast variance from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, as well as extending visibility to six months,” he says.
NAB’s head of liquidity management advisory Brett Healy.
“This sort of impact really is profound.”
Consolidating data
One important area where these liquidity and cash management innovations are gaining traction is in government finance, a complex operating environment which involves multi-billions of dollars in cash flows at a state level.
Healy says piecing together a full picture of liquidity using fragmented, time-consuming manual systems to track data from multiple departments and finance partners is a legacy challenge.
Today Liquidity+ can consolidate this data into a single platform, with treasury teams able to reconstruct statements dynamically and track transactions at a granular level.
The real value, however, lies in forecasting. For governments managing major liquidity events - like tax intake, grant disbursements and payroll – accuracy here is critical.
“Being off by even 1 per cent, is a huge number,” Healy says. “Liquidity+ helps anticipate cash movements instead of just reacting to them.”
Faster scenario planning
For REA Group, a leading digital property business operating realestate.com.au, the shift to automation has had a dramatic impact on efficiency and visibility.
“What used to take us five or six hours a week in Excel - often with formula errors - now takes about 20 minutes,” says Liz Wong, senior group treasury manager at REA Group. “That’s freed up our team to focus on more value-add work instead of just crunching and reconciling numbers.”
Managing more than 60 bank accounts globally, REA had previously relied on downloading statements from multiple portals and manually tagging transactions to build a view of cash. Liquidity+ has transformed that process - and enabled much deeper insight into working capital flows.
“Working capital for us is quite lumpy and seasonal,” Wong says. “Just getting visibility within the month, especially across our offshore accounts, has been a game changer.”
Crucially, this technological shift isn’t about replacing human expertise but acts as a treasury co-pilot. Wong is clear: “GenAI won’t replace my job. But it’s another tool in the toolbox.”
For her it means, users will be able to ask questions in natural language like, “What are my top 10 working capital drivers this month?” and receive instant, accurate insights.
NAB’s Healy also emphasises this potential: “Gone are the days where modelling or scenario planning will require hours or days of effort re-crunching numbers manually. Treasurers will be able to conversationally interact with data through natural language, creating true leverage for treasury.”
Healy says platforms like Liquidity+ are more than just a technological upgrade: they signal a fundamental shift in how organisations approach cash, not simply as a resource to be managed, but to help support business insights, strategy, and opportunity.
“Data is the new currency of treasury,” Healy says. “These platforms are about giving treasurers insights to make better decisions faster, which is key to long-term financial resilience.”
For more about how NAB Liquidity+ can help enhance liquidity and cash management for strategic success please visit NAB Cash Management.
