Companies are starting to plan for the long-term effects of a shifting global landscape, even as they brace for continued rates volatility and potential supply chain reconfigurations in the near term, according to DBS latest global survey. The report, New Realities, New Possibilities reveals that businesses are recalibrating their long-term strategies to strengthen financial resilience over the next five years. This includes a greater emphasis on liquidity and foreign exchange (FX) management and data-driven financial intelligence to enable better organisational performance. The bank gathered insights from over 800 finance leaders, including chief financial officers and corporate treasurers, across seven sectors and 14 markets for the report. To better understand how finance leaders were steering their organisations amidst immediate-term developments, respondents were surveyed in two batches – before and after the US trade tariff announcements in April. Findings showed that leveraging data-driven financial intelligence to strengthen decision-making remained a top priority for companies over the next five years, with respondents drawn to data visualisation and security monitoring tools to enhance treasury and finance functions. These tools help leaders navigate uncertainty more effectively with sharper sense-making and better threat anticipation, enabling more accurate cash flow forecasting and proactive capital strategies. Notably, liquidity and FX management leapt from seventh place to second. This comes as companies start planning to strengthen financial stability amidst higher upfront costs and potential inventory stockpiling associated with increased market volatility. To do so effectively, over one-in-two said they were exploring more innovative solutions including integrated payments, blockchain-powered capabilities and the setting up of regional treasury centres. Strengthening working capital efficiency rounded up the list of top three priorities, as companies recognised the need to optimise financial returns while enhancing financial flexibility. Some 69% said they are exploring generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-powered solutions to optimise inventory forecasting, overcome prolonged receivables collection periods and improve cash conversion cycles. Transformation, cost optimisation and sustainability remain ongoing priorities Amid an increasingly complex business landscape, companies are seeking to enhance agility, strengthen operational resilience and advance sustainability. About 50% of finance leaders said supply chain reconfiguration continued to be a priority to diversify and strengthen their manufacturing footprint to be closer to customers. A similar proportion planned to review their capital costs by optimising the mix of equity and debt financing. One-in-two companies indicated that trade finance solutions and cross-border payment methods were key strategies for supporting their transformation agendas. In addition, enabling green initiatives and ensuring compliance with sustainability standards remained a priority for half of respondents. Companies said they were considering various approaches to advance sustainability, including using digital tools to enhance the rigour of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting (77% of respondents), partnerships with ESG ecosystem networks (64%) and sustainable trade finance solutions (63%). Han Kwee Juan, group head of institutional banking at DBS said, “We are entering a new norm marked by greater uncertainty and an accelerating pace of technological transformation. For businesses, navigating the path to resilience lies in proactive adaptation across several key dimensions, including strengthening data driven decision-making, optimising liquidity and working capital, diversifying supply chains and building new technology capabilities. These enable businesses to not just tide through immediate challenges but to achieve long-term competitive advantage.” Lim Soon Chong, group head of global transaction services at DBS, said, “As stewards of capital and risk management, treasury and finance teams have never been more critical in providing strategic leadership within their organisations. They are stepping up to help navigate fast-changing conditions, build resilience and drive sustainable value creation. To future-proof themselves in a changed world, finance leaders are turning to strategic partners for in-depth insights and a broad suite of solutions. As a leading transaction bank in Asia, DBS has been leveraging our capabilities and regional connectivity to support our clients as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with growth.” New Realities, New Possibilities is the third iteration of DBS’ ongoing thought leadership series tailored for treasury and finance professionals, building on the findings of earlier reports. Each report aims to give finance leaders a deeper understanding of the evolving demands on treasury and finance teams and how companies might capture opportunities amid these shifts. Redisseminated by The Asian Banker
