Global currents rewriting finance leaders’ priorities to focus on data-driven financial intelligence, liquidity and FX management over the next five years: DBS global survey

New Realities, New Possibilities^[1]data-driven financial intelligenceliquidity and foreign exchange (FX) managementworking capital efficiency

Figure 1 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 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.

Read the full report here: go.dbs.com/NewRealitiesReport^[1] Sectors: Automotives, consumer products, energy and renewables, food and agribusiness, health and pharmaceuticals, industrials, technology. Markets: Australia, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

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