Automation and AI top finance leaders’ investment agenda amid tariff uncertainty

Finance leaders are accelerating investment in automation and AI tools as manual processes leave firms exposed to tariff shocks and operational risks, according to new research from Lucanet. The survey of senior finance professionals at Lucanet World 2025 found that a lack of automation is now the most significant operational challenge, cited by 32% of respondents. One in five named automation as their top investment priority over the next 12–18 months, reflecting a focus on efficiency and resilience in a volatile economic environment.

Despite the shift in priorities, more than a quarter of finance teams still rely heavily on manual processes, while only 10% expressed full confidence in the accuracy of their financial data. This lack of real-time visibility is particularly acute in scenario planning and forecasting, which 34% of respondents identified as their biggest financial planning challenge.

The findings highlight a clear gap between digital ambition and execution. Most firms reported having some digital initiatives underway, yet only 4% described their finance functions as fully digital. Investment priorities reflect this maturity gap, with AI and machine learning ranking highest, followed by cloud-based finance platforms. However, internal resistance to change was seen as the biggest barrier to technology adoption, cited by 30% of respondents, ahead of integration issues with legacy systems and budget constraints.

The survey also suggests that finance leaders are maintaining their focus on environmental, social and governance reporting, despite regulatory uncertainty. Over a quarter are actively developing ESG reporting capabilities and a similar proportion are starting to integrate ESG metrics. This indicates that ESG is being treated not just as a compliance requirement but as part of long-term resilience planning.

When asked about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on their roles, most finance professionals saw AI as an opportunity rather than a threat. More than two-thirds said they do not believe AI will replace their jobs, compared with only 8% who think it will. Instead, respondents expect AI to help eliminate manual tasks and free up resources for more strategic work.

The findings underline a growing recognition that technology is essential to weather ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, including the effects of shifting tariffs. Finance leaders are moving away from relying on manual processes and static reporting towards adopting automated, AI-enabled tools that support real-time decision-making.

This trend is reinforced by broader digital maturity data from the survey. Although 66% of respondents reported some level of digital transformation underway, only 4% classified their finance function as fully digital. Barriers remain, including resistance to change, complex legacy systems and cost concerns, but the overall direction points towards a steadily accelerating adoption of automation.

The research concludes that finance teams are pragmatic in the face of volatility. Rather than focusing solely on cost cutting, leaders are prioritising efficiency, agility and resilience, viewing digital transformation as a strategic requirement. In doing so, finance functions aim to improve their ability to model risk, respond quickly to changing conditions and free up resources for value-added decision-making.

 

Lloyds and Maersk deliver 100% accuracy with structured data trade trial

Lloyds Bank and Maersk have completed a digital trade transaction demonstrating how structured data can speed up processing and improve accuracy in trade documentation. The pilot, completed in partnership with technology providers Enigio and Cleareye.ai, achieved 100% data extraction accuracy and significantly reduced processing time.

The transaction used Enigio’s trace:original product to create a digital Sea Waybill containing embedded structured data aligned with the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) framework. The KTDDE framework harmonises key data elements across 36 of the most widely used trade documents, supporting improved machine readability and enabling straight-through digital processing.

The digital Sea Waybill supported a tea shipment from Kenya to the UK and was processed via Cleareye.ai’s ClearTrade platform, which extracted the structured data automatically without manual intervention. This eliminated the errors and delays often associated with paper-based or unstructured digital documentation.

Lloyds, Enigio and Cleareye.ai now plan to collaborate with the ICC’s Digital Standards Initiative to expand the framework’s use across more document types. The organisations see this as a step toward accelerating wider industry adoption of structured data in trade documentation, improving operational efficiency and customer experience while supporting global efforts to standardise trade data exchange.

The trial highlights how structured data could help banks and corporates reduce manual workloads, lower risk, and prepare for the increasingly digital nature of global trade finance.

“The KTDDE framework was developed to connect different data and digital document standards to enable a seamless flow of trade data across the entire supply chain,” commented Pamela Mar, Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative at the International Chamber of Commerce. “Frameworks only gain real value through implementation, and we need to develop, test, and refine in order to see it applied widely. This proof of concept does exactly that – by putting KTDDE in operation. It’s an important step forward, not just in validating the framework, but in proving that seamless, data-driven trade is no longer a future aspiration but a real enabler of digitalisation today.” 

 

EY upgrades UK GDP forecast but warns on weak outlook

The UK economy is now expected to grow slightly faster than previously forecast, with EY ITEM Club upgrading its GDP growth outlook for 2025 from 0.8% to 1%. The revision follows a stronger-than-expected start to the year, driven largely by a surge in business investment ahead of new US tariffs introduced in April.

Business investment rose by 3.9% in the first quarter, prompting EY to lift its forecast for full-year investment growth to 1.3%, up from 0.3%. However, the firm expects this to be short-lived, predicting growth will flatten to 0% in 2026 before rebounding to 1.8% in 2027.

Despite the early-year momentum, global uncertainty, tighter fiscal policy and a weaker labour market are expected to weigh on growth. GDP is projected to slow to 0.9% in 2026 before picking up to 1.5% in 2027, unchanged from earlier forecasts.

“After a strong start to the year, uncertainty in the global economy and international trade policy has continued to slow momentum,” said Anna Anthony, EY UK & Ireland Regional Managing Partner. “While the agreement struck with the US offers welcome relief to certain sectors and boosts the trading outlook, the UK’s access to a key export market is still reduced from where it was at the start of 2025, which is likely to weigh on growth.

“Business investment is expected to remain modest until 2027 and while interest rate cuts should reduce debt service costs and make financing cheaper, this will take time to materialise. Until then, businesses face a period of international uncertainty, alongside elevated labour and energy costs. Stimulating greater economic growth through business investment will require policy measures that actively incentivise companies to spend, even under challenging conditions.”

Inflation is expected to average 3.4% this year, driven by higher energy bills and increased employer costs, before easing to 2.6% in 2026 and reaching the Bank of England’s 2% target later that year. Unemployment is forecast to edge up to 5% by the end of 2025 before falling back to around 4.5% by 2027, while pay growth is predicted to slow to 3.5% by the end of 2025.

With growth weak and labour market conditions softening, EY expects two more Bank of England rate cuts in 2025, in August and November, followed by another early in 2026. Bank Rate is forecast to settle at 3.5% in 2026, supporting a gradual recovery in investment but leaving borrowing costs higher than pre-pandemic norms.

 

MTN SA completes first transaction using J.P. Morgan’s Electronic Bill of Exchange

Mobile Technology Network South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (MTN SA) has successfully completed the first transaction using J.P. Morgan’s new Electronic Bill of Exchange (eBoE) solution, marking a step forward in the digitisation of trade finance. The transaction supported a shipment of goods from Asia to the UK.

Much of global trade finance still relies on paper documentation and wet ink signatures, leaving processes slow and error-prone. The UK’s Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA), introduced in 2023, has helped remove legal barriers by giving electronic negotiable instruments – such as Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes – the same legal standing as their physical equivalents.

Dineo Molefe, Chief Finance Officer at MTN SA, commented: “MTN South Africa has been a leader in developing our working capital strategy as it pertains to our procurement of devices. J.P. Morgan and MTN SA have collaborated closely to unlock additional liquidity through innovative solutions, making us the ideal collaborator to pioneer this digital tool.”

J.P. Morgan’s eBoE solution uses Enigio’s trace:original technology to create, manage and store fully digital instruments on a secure blockchain. This enables electronic signatures, automatic data transfer and secure updates throughout an instrument’s lifecycle, reducing risk and improving transparency while supporting faster access to working capital. The solution is initially available for companies transacting under English law.

“By collaborating with Enigio, we are able to further the digitisation of trade, ultimately helping corporations access working capital benefits in a much more streamlined way, how and when they need it,” added Natasha Condon, Global Head of Trade Sales and Head of EMEA Trade at J.P. Morgan.

 

BNY and Goldman Sachs launch tokenised money market fund solution

BNY and Goldman Sachs have partnered to launch a tokenised money market fund (MMF) solution, enabling subscription and redemption of MMF shares through blockchain technology. The initiative is the first in the US to allow subscriptions for shares via BNY’s LiquidityDirect platform and Digital Asset platform, with tokenised records managed through Goldman Sachs’ GS DAP.

The launch initially involves several major asset managers, including BlackRock, BNY Investments Dreyfus, Federated Hermes, Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Investors using LiquidityDirect can now access GS DAP®, where mirror tokens representing MMF shares are created, intended to improve transparency and offer potential for faster and more efficient settlement processes.

Tokenising MMF shares is designed to enhance their transferability and support future use cases, including potential eligibility as collateral in financial transactions. While BNY will continue to maintain the official books and records for the funds, mirror tokens on GS DAP represent a step towards a more digital and real-time financial infrastructure.

The collaboration reflects increasing interest in tokenisation as a means of improving liquidity and operational efficiency within traditional finance. The mirrored token model enables existing regulated products, such as MMFs, to interact with emerging digital finance ecosystems while maintaining the security and oversight of conventional settlement frameworks. BNY and Goldman Sachs said the initiative could pave the way for further tokenised fund solutions across global markets.

 

Investors demand real-time US Treasury volatility data

Volatility in the US Treasury market has remained elevated since the US Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022, lasting longer than the turbulence seen after the 2007–2008 financial crisis. This sustained uncertainty has driven investors to monitor Treasury volatility more closely, with a new Crisil Coalition Greenwich study showing that more than 80% of interest rate market participants track volatility daily.

Around 60% of those surveyed actively trade volatility, primarily to manage portfolio risk, while 44% use it to speculate on the direction of volatility itself. The study highlights how reliable volatility benchmarks have become a core tool in modern risk management and trading strategies.

Historically, volatility indices for US Treasuries were updated only at the end of the day, limiting their usefulness in rapidly shifting markets. Advances in data availability and computing power now allow for real-time metrics, enabling investors to implement more precise hedging strategies and react faster to market events.

Kevin McPartland, head of research at Crisil Coalition Greenwich Market Structure & Technology, noted that “the best hedging strategy or insight into the market’s direction could be for naught if the benchmark used to implement those strategies is flawed.”

Investors are demanding volatility indices that deliver two key capabilities: real-time updates and the ability to measure volatility at multiple points along the yield curve. More liquid options markets, combined with improvements in computing and analytics, have enhanced volatility calculations significantly. As artificial intelligence and other technologies expand these capabilities further, demand for high-quality, real-time Treasury volatility data is expected to increase.

 

Deutsche Bank and Bolt launch card acquiring across Europe and UK

Deutsche Bank has launched card acquiring services for Bolt, a major mobility platform operating across European markets and the UK. The service is delivered through Silverflow’s cloud-based payment infrastructure, following a partnership between Deutsche Bank and Silverflow announced in June. Under the arrangement, Deutsche Bank acts as the card acquirer for Bolt, providing the regulatory framework to process card payments via Visa and Mastercard. Payments are routed through Silverflow using Deutsche Bank’s membership with the card schemes, with funds from card transactions settled by the schemes and then paid out to Bolt by Deutsche Bank.

The service has been live since April 2025 and is designed to provide a scalable infrastructure for Bolt’s payments operations as it continues to expand. It reflects an industry-wide trend towards modernised card processing, combining regulatory compliance with operational efficiency for platform-based businesses.

The partnership forms part of Deutsche Bank’s broader strategy to extend its payment services offering for corporate clients. For Bolt, the arrangement is intended to simplify its payment processes across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining transaction stability and speed for customers.

This development highlights how cloud-based payment infrastructures are increasingly being adopted as digital platforms look to improve operational efficiency and user experience while ensuring compliance across Europe and the UK.

 

Bank of Africa rolls out Kyriba working capital platform across 20 markets

Bank of Africa Group has implemented Kyriba’s working capital platform to expand its supply chain finance capabilities across its network in 20 African countries. The first phase of the roll‑out is focused on Morocco, where the bank has already onboarded its first corporate client. Additional customers are expected to join during 2025, with further expansion planned across other markets in the group’s network.

The platform provides digital tools for receivables and payables finance, dynamic discounting and supplier onboarding. These features are designed to help corporates improve cash flow, strengthen supplier relationships and manage liquidity risk in volatile market conditions.

According to Kyriba, the volume of working capital financing processed through its systems has grown nearly fivefold since 2020, while the number of invoices uploaded has more than doubled. This reflects increasing demand from corporates and financial institutions to release trapped liquidity and mitigate market volatility through working capital optimisation.

Bank of Africa Group, which employs more than 6,500 people and operates in 20 countries, has positioned the initiative as part of its wider strategy to support clients with digital transaction banking solutions and regional trade finance growth.

The collaboration highlights the accelerating adoption of digitised supply chain finance across Africa, where businesses are seeking solutions that can support working capital resilience and improve access to finance. It also signals rising competition among banks and fintech providers to offer scalable, data‑driven platforms that deliver visibility and flexibility in supplier and buyer financing. By integrating Kyriba’s platform, Bank of Africa aims to enhance financial transparency for its clients, provide faster onboarding for suppliers and create opportunities to unlock working capital at scale.

 

Standard Chartered launches sustainable escrow and account bank solution

Standard Chartered has introduced a Sustainable Escrow and Account Bank solution, allowing clients to hold funds in escrow or secured accounts linked to the bank’s portfolio of sustainable loans and projects. The portfolio is aligned with the bank’s Green and Sustainable Product Framework, which sets out the criteria for qualifying green and sustainable finance activities.

The solution is available in the UAE, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the UK. It is designed to support clients seeking to integrate sustainability considerations into their cash management, providing an additional option for aligning short‑term liquidity with long‑term environmental and social objectives.

As an independent escrow agent and account bank, Standard Chartered will hold and manage deposits while ensuring that the associated funds are referenced against its portfolio of green and sustainable loans and projects. This approach is intended to offer clients transparency and assurance that their deposits are linked to activities considered sustainable under the framework.

The solution adds to Standard Chartered’s existing range of sustainability‑linked transaction banking products, including ESG‑linked cash accounts, sustainable accounts, sustainable trade finance and sustainable trade loans for financial institutions.

By combining escrow and account bank services with sustainability criteria, the initiative provides a mechanism for clients to channel funds towards projects with positive environmental and social impact while meeting their operational and financial risk management needs.

 

Trovata acquires ATOM to expand treasury capabilities

Trovata has acquired ATOM, the enterprise Treasury Management System (TMS) developed by Financial Sciences Corporation, in a move aimed at creating a fully integrated, cloud-native treasury platform. The acquisition is intended to combine ATOM’s established TMS functionality with Trovata’s multibank cash and liquidity management technology, creating what the company describes as a comprehensive alternative to legacy treasury systems.

ATOM’s functionality includes support for debt and investment instruments, intercompany transactions, in-house banking, credit facilities, FX hedging, bank fee analysis and full domestic and international payments workflow. Integrating these features with Trovata’s API-driven data platform is designed to give corporate finance teams greater scale and flexibility in managing cash, risk and operational processes.

The deal coincides with a US$9mn strategic extension to Trovata’s Series B funding round from State Street and PNC, taking total funding to US$80mn.

“There hasn’t been a new TMS built in nearly three decades,” said Brett Turner, founder and CEO of Trovata. “We pioneered corporate banking APIs and the only true cloud-native treasury platform in the market with meaningful scale. Now, with ATOM, we have the firepower to compete directly with the legacy incumbents—and replace them. This isn’t just expansion. It’s a generational shift in treasury tech.”

The combined platform is built on serverless, microservices-based infrastructure designed for rapid deployment and scalability. Trovata says the addition of ATOM enhances its ability to support both direct enterprise users and banking partners, as demand grows for integrated, digital-first treasury solutions.

 

PNC Bank partners with Coinbase on digital asset services

PNC Bank has announced a strategic partnership with Coinbase to expand access to digital asset solutions for its clients and institutional investors. The collaboration will also see PNC provide selected banking services to Coinbase, supporting the broader development of a more resilient digital financial ecosystem.

The partnership combines PNC’s banking infrastructure with Coinbase’s Crypto‑as‑a‑Service platform, designed to enable secure and scalable cryptocurrency services. The initial phase will focus on delivering an integrated solution that allows PNC clients to buy, hold and sell digital assets within the bank’s platform.

The initiative reflects growing demand for regulated and trusted access to digital currencies. By leveraging Coinbase’s technology and PNC’s financial services expertise, the partnership aims to create a platform capable of supporting future expansion as adoption of cryptocurrencies among institutional and corporate clients increases.

The collaboration underscores the continuing integration of digital assets into traditional banking and highlights the trend toward developing combined offerings that meet both security and compliance requirements while opening access to emerging financial products.

 

Planixs launches next-generation treasury platform

Planixs has announced the launch of Realiti RT, a next-generation platform designed to enhance real-time treasury and liquidity management capabilities for financial institutions. Realiti RT has been developed to deliver significant improvements in performance, scalability and operational resilience. It has been tested under conditions simulating extreme market stress, including high transaction volumes and peak load environments, to ensure stability and speed for institutions of varying size and complexity.

The platform supports real-time processing across key treasury functions and offers enhanced infrastructure scaling to handle increased volumes. It also includes near real-time data replication into a parallel insights platform and improved user interface performance, designed to maintain operational consistency even during periods of heightened market activity.

Planixs has also established a Technology Benchmark Lab to accelerate innovation, including the development and validation of AI-driven features. Realiti RT is fully aligned with regulatory requirements such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and meets ISO and PRA outsourcing standards.

 

Mynt partners with Nordea to launch SME spend management solution

Swedish fintech Mynt has partnered with Nordea to deliver a combined business credit card and spend management platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The solution is scheduled to launch in 2026.

The platform integrates Mynt’s digital expense management technology with Nordea’s regional banking infrastructure, providing SMEs with an all-in-one toolset for managing business cards, reimbursements and reporting. Features include automated receipt handling, real-time spend controls, accounting automation, ERP integration and compliance onboarding.

The companies say the system can reduce the time spent processing expense reports by up to 95%, freeing SMEs to focus on core operations. This partnership aims to improve financial visibility and control for SMEs while expanding Mynt’s reach across the Nordics and supporting Nordea’s goal of becoming a leading digital bank for small businesses.