Nothing brings people together like a well-planned Fourth of July BBQ – grill fired up, drinks chilled, and everyone enjoying the moment. But behind the burgers and fireworks there is a surprising amount of strategy, timing, and preparation. Turns out, preparing for a successful treasury automation project has more in common with your backyard cookout than you might think.
Here’s how:
1. Start with a Clear Game Plan
- Define your goals (faster reporting? better visibility?)
- Know your audience (finance, IT, compliance stakeholders)
- Map out current processes and pain points
BBQ Parallel: You don’t want to realize you’re out of propane after the guests arrive.
2. Assign Roles (and Don’t Skip Prep Work)
Someone’s on grill duty. Someone’s in charge of sides. And someone’s making sure Uncle Bob doesn’t start lighting fireworks too early. In treasury projects, cross-functional alignment is essential. From IT to operations to leadership, everyone plays a role in making automation stick. Prep work – like cleansing data and documenting workflows – sets the table for success.
BBQ Parallel: You can’t marinate the chicken after it’s on the grill. Prep ahead.
3. Timing Is Everything
You want the burgers hot and the corn ready. Treasury automation requires similar timing – phased rollouts, testing, and stakeholder communication all need to be coordinated.
Don’t rush. And don’t let momentum die. Keep the project warm, even if it’s not sizzling at first.
BBQ Parallel: Serve everything at the right time or risk a cold reception.
4. Have the Right Tools and Ingredients
Tongs. Coolers. Condiments. These may not seem flashy, but they’re critical to a smooth BBQ. The same goes for treasury automation – APIs, dashboards, real-time data, and controls may not be glamorous, but they’re essential.
BBQ Parallel: Fancy sparklers can’t save the party if the grill doesn’t light.
5. Get Feedback and Keep Improving
At the end of a BBQ, people will tell you what they loved – and what needed work. Listen and learn.
With treasury automation, continuous feedback from end users, audit teams, and finance leadership can help refine workflows, add new capabilities, and build momentum.
BBQ Parallel: Want people to come back next year? Don’t burn the ribs twice.
Final Thought
Whether you’re serving up hot dogs or dashboards, success comes down to planning, collaboration, and execution. Treasury automation isn’t just about technology – it’s about creating an environment where your team can thrive, and your cash can work harder. So, this July 4th, as you flip a burger and watch the fireworks, think about how your treasury team can fire up something even bigger.
