How Molins optimised cash forecasting and cash visibility with Embat and SAP S/4HANA

A conversation with:

Michele Laria

Corporate Finance Director at Molins

The finance team at Molins managed cash forecasting and bank reconciliation manually, with a static view of the cash position that limited responsiveness and strategic planning. By integrating Embat with their ERP, SAP S/4HANA, they were able to automate these key processes, optimise cash pooling, and achieve real-time cash visibility, enabling more accurate and agile decision-making across financial management.

Headquarters

Spain

Sector

Construction

Employees

5.000 - 10.000

ERP

SAP S/4HANA

Before Embat

Static view of the cash position at the corporate level, making it difficult to make informed decisions in the short and medium term
Manual cash forecasting and bank reconciliation processes, which consumed time and resulted in inefficiency
Limited real-time visibility of treasury, complicating precise and agile financial management
Use of sophisticated financial products, such as cash pooling, without the necessary automation to fully leverage their strategic potential
Reliance on manual processes in treasury, limiting time available for higher-value tasks
Limited ability to integrate cash forecasting into holistic and strategic financial planning

With Embat

Automated cash flow forecasting, reducing the need for manual consolidations
Real-time visibility of the cash position, enabling effective liquidity control and agile day-to-day operations
Seamless integration with SAP S/4HANA, consolidating financial data in real time and eliminating reliance on manual processes
Optimised cash pooling management, providing greater visibility and control over debt and liquidity positions
Real-time, dynamic cash management, enhancing cash visibility and facilitating strategic decision-making
Freed up time and resources for the finance team, allowing them to focus on tasks of greater strategic value
Improved accuracy and scope of financial planning, with integrated, corporate-wide forecasting supporting growth and stability

The customer

Molins is a family-owned company with nearly a century of experience in construction materials and solutions. Operating across 11 countries with over 6,300 employees, Molins has grown from a cement producer to a leader in sustainable and innovative construction solutions, including concrete, aggregates, thermal insulation, and urban furniture, alongside circular economy initiatives. With a mission centred on driving social development through sustainable building solutions, Molins positions itself as a key player in the sector’s transition towards more efficient and sustainable models.

"A Treasury Management System makes sense if it enables the Treasury Manager and Corporate Finance to have clear visibility across three levels: the actuals (including banks and current account balances), confirmed forecasts, and an estimated forecast for strategic decisions. For us, Embat has been the solution that ensures clarity across all three levels."

The challenge

The Molins finance team, led by Michele Laria as Corporate Finance Director, tackled several key challenges with strategic vision to strengthen the company’s financial position:

‍1. Optimise visibility of the cash position‍

Despite a strong cash position, Molins sought accurate cash visibility and forecasting to support informed decision-making in the short and medium term.‍

2. Automate cash forecasting and bank consolidation

‍Moving from a manual to an automated process was essential to minimise time spent on repetitive tasks, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure real-time visibility—crucial due to the use of sophisticated financial products like cash pooling.

3. Enhance the accuracy and scope of financial planning‍

Integrating cash forecasting into corporate-level planning provided a holistic view of the group’s financial status.

4. Empower internal talent in treasury management‍

Molins aimed to optimise financial processes, enabling the team to take on a more strategic and value-added role.

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Discover more about Embat

The solution

Embat collaborated closely with Molins’ finance team to optimise their treasury and planning processes, achieving the following outcomes:

Automation of cash forecasting‍

Embat enabled Molins to automate the cash forecasting process, enhancing accuracy and reducing reliance on manual workflows. This shift facilitated more efficient liquidity management and improved responsiveness to fluctuations in the financial environment.

Real-time cash position visibility

‍Embat’s integration with SAP S/4HANA provided Molins with immediate access to bank balances and other relevant data, enabling more informed and agile decisions in liquidity management.

Robust financial planning‍

Through a three-month rolling forecast, Molins integrated cash forecasting with overall financial planning, allowing for more effective adjustments to strategy.

Optimised cash pooling management‍

Embat helped Molins enhance its cash pooling management by providing increased visibility and control over debt and liquidity positions, allowing Molins to access key information needed for more effective financial decision-making.

Development of internal talent‍

Automation freed the finance team from repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on more strategic functions. This empowered key team members to engage actively in liquidity management and financial planning.

The impact

The collaboration with Embat has significantly transformed Molins’ financial management, delivering measurable improvements across several areas:

Optimised liquidity management‍

The integration of data and enhanced visibility allowed Molins to optimise its cash position, supporting more effective resource management and contributing to financial stability.

Improved decision-making‍

Real-time treasury visibility and automated forecasting enabled quicker, better-informed decisions, increasing agility in responding to changing circumstances.

Reduced errors and increased efficiency‍

Removing manual processes reduced errors in treasury management and improved overall operational efficiency.

Higher engagement within the finance team‍

With more time available for strategic tasks, Molins’ finance team has shown stronger commitment to their roles, reinforcing a culture of liquidity-focused management within the organisation.