Case Study: BAE Systems achieves improved operational efficiency and payment security with Bottomline’s SWIFT Access Service

BAE Systems Improves Efficiencies with SWIFT Access Service

BAE Systems, a global defence and security company with about 100,000 employees, operates a centralized treasury that handles tens of billions in foreign-exchange turnover. While planning an IT upgrade, the treasury team identified that batched, less-secure transmission of payments from its City Financials TMS to banks exposed the group to operational and settlement risk and limited cash visibility.

BAE selected Bottomline’s SWIFT Access service (service-bureau model) to automate and secure message flows from City Financials rather than build an in‑house SWIFT connection. The solution went live for MT101 payments (MT300 added later), enabled same‑day individual payments, improved security and liquidity visibility, is forecast to lift SWIFT volumes by 110% with sterling on-boarded, and has delivered time savings (nearly one hour/day) and reduced operational risk.

BAE Systems

Keith Shapley

Treasury Manager Projects and Compliance