Question: What do treasury practitioners really want?

Answer: Automated cash flow forecasting.

How do we know? We recently interviewed dozens of treasury practitioners, and they shared the same sentiment over and over: If they could ask for one thing, it would be cash flow forecasting that’s less manual and more integrated with data from across the company.

And that makes a lot of sense, because while cash flow forecasting is a vital part of managing your business’s finances, it can be a major challenge for many teams that has a significant impact on the company’s strategic business decisions. 

If your forecasts aren’t accurate, you risk missing opportunities, losing stakeholder trust, or even facing a cash flow crunch. Automated cash flow forecasting takes the guesswork out of the equation, improving both accuracy and reliability. 

Here are three key ways automated forecasting can make a real difference for your business:

1. Real-Time Data = Accurate Cash Insights

One of the biggest hurdles finance teams face is ensuring that forecasts match up with actual cash positions. When you rely on manual processes or outdated data, discrepancies can easily creep in, leaving you unprepared for cash flow shortages.

Automation tackles this by integrating directly with your bank accounts to pull in real-time balances and transaction data. This means your forecasts are always based on what’s really going on, not outdated numbers.

Why it matters:

• Gives you a current, accurate picture of your liquidity, helping you meet financial obligations without the guesswork.
• Eliminates the time-consuming task of reconciling forecasts with bank statements.
• Prevents unexpected cash flow gaps, so you're not scrambling to cover expenses.

2. Predict Payment Behaviors, Not Just Dates

If you're relying solely on due dates for payables and receivables, your forecasts might not reflect the reality of cash movement. Customers could delay payments, or you may strategically defer payables to optimize cash flow. These real-world behaviors are often missed by traditional forecasting methods.

Automated forecasting tools, however, learn from historical payment patterns and integrate them into your predictions, giving you more accurate, reliable insights into future cash flow.

Why it matters:

• Improves forecast reliability by reflecting actual payment behaviors, not just theoretical schedules.
• Helps you plan more effectively for short-term financing needs, reducing the chances of having to scramble for cash.
• Makes working capital management easier and more accurate, so you can optimize cash flow.

3. Plan for Every Scenario - Easily

As your business grows or faces market changes, you often need to plan for different scenarios—whether it’s a surge in revenue, cost-cutting measures, or significant investments. Traditional forecasting processes can’t keep up with the need to quickly model these different possibilities.

With automation, you can pull data from your ERPs, CRMs, and other systems, allowing you to create and compare multiple scenarios effortlessly. This flexibility helps you be prepared for any financial outcome.

Why it matters:

• Enhances your ability to respond quickly to changes in the market or your business operations.
• Provides the confidence to pursue strategic opportunities, knowing you have a clear financial outlook.
• Prevents financial surprises during periods of expansion or contraction.

Why automating cash flow forecasting matters to your business

Automating cash flow forecasting isn’t just about reducing errors—it’s about unlocking new opportunities for your business. By using real-time data, incorporating actual payment behaviors, and planning for multiple scenarios, automated forecasting helps you:

• Optimize liquidity by timing your inflows and outflows more precisely, ensuring you’re always in a good position to meet obligations.
• Stay ahead of potential cash shortages, so you’re not caught off guard by unexpected financial gaps.
• Build trust with your stakeholders through transparent, reliable financial insights that support decision-making.

Automation gives you the tools to manage your cash flow with greater precision, agility, and confidence, empowering you to scale your business and avoid the financial stress that comes with outdated or inaccurate forecasts.

Ready to see how Nilus can automate your cash flow forecasting and boost financial accuracy? Book a demo and discover the difference firsthand.