Griffiths says much of this momentum comes from a new level of confidence in executing internationally.
This recalibration reflects both competitive pressure and new opportunity. Businesses that once launched locally and expanded years later are now entering multiple jurisdictions in parallel. They are also adopting digital-first approaches to test demand, localise offerings and build early customer momentum.
Operational and commercial efficiency sit at the centre of these decisions. Griffiths says enterprises increasingly evaluate where global operations can be simplified, accelerated or automated. In particular, cross-border financial workflows are under scrutiny as companies realise they cannot scale if payments, treasury and settlement systems are slow or inconsistent.
Finance operations under pressure
The infrastructure that moves money across borders was not designed for the speed of today’s global commerce. Many enterprises still depend on legacy systems that were built for domestic operations. These systems struggle with the demands of multi-currency settlement, local regulatory requirements and international customer expectations.
Finance leaders are now reassessing how much of their operational drag comes from legacy financial rails rather than market complexity. Griffiths says companies are discovering far greater efficiency than they previously thought possible. “The barriers that once made global expansion feel risky, such as fragmented payment rails, regulatory complexity or high FX costs, are no longer insurmountable,” he says. “With the right infrastructure in place, global growth can shift from a long-term ambition to a near-term operating reality.”
This new capability is reshaping how enterprises structure offshore operations. Faster settlement is improving liquidity and forecasting. Multi-currency visibility is supporting sharper pricing and budgeting. And automation is reducing the manual overhead once required to handle higher transaction volumes. For many organisations, modernising the finance layer is becoming a foundation for expanding into multiple markets at speed.
The rise of global customer expectations
Australian businesses expanding offshore are not only responding to their own operational needs. They are adapting to customers who expect fast, frictionless transactions regardless of geography.
For Stake, the global retail investing platform, this expectation was evident from the beginning. Co-founder and co-CFO Dan Silver says the company’s growth overseas was driven by a simple question. “When we first started Stake, it was really about why people outside the US could not access the US markets,” he says. “The reality is that is a global problem. There are customers all over the world who want to invest where the opportunities really are.”
As Stake scaled into new markets, the limitations of traditional banking became obvious. Silver says the earliest operational challenge emerged from the gap between customer behaviour and the underlying payments infrastructure. “The main pain point really is around marrying up the customer expectation, where at the push of a button I want to get my money straight away, and the underlying banking rails where ultimately things just take a bit of time to move,” he says.
For a platform moving tens of millions of dollars across jurisdictions, the stakes are high. Silver describes the movement of money as fundamental to the company’s operating model. “Payments and banking and the movement of money is the lifeblood of any business, especially one where you have got tens of millions of dollars moving through the platform,” he says. Ensuring speed, reliability and efficiency in these flows is critical to delivering the investing experience customers expect.
The same pattern is unfolding across other sectors. Global online retailers need immediate settlement to manage inventory and pricing. Software companies need predictable cash flows from multiple countries to support ongoing development. Education providers need to process international tuition payments without delay. As customer expectations sharpen, the finance layer becomes integral to service delivery.
South-East Asia emerges as the next growth corridor
Australian enterprises accelerating offshore are converging on one region in particular.
Griffiths says South-East Asia is becoming a central engine of growth for companies scaling globally. “A lot of the future growth we’re tracking is shifting toward South-East Asia,” says Griffiths.
“Markets like the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam are moving quickly, supported by digital-first consumers and increasingly sophisticated local payment ecosystems.
“For Australian businesses, these markets are becoming core engines of expansion, especially for companies in eCommerce, SaaS and the creator economy.”
This pivot reflects rapidly expanding consumer markets, strong digital adoption, favourable demographics and rising regional trade. But South-East Asia is also complex. Regulatory frameworks vary widely. Currency fluctuations are common. Payments systems differ across jurisdictions.
For Australian companies targeting the region, modern finance operations provide a way to navigate these differences without costly on-the-ground infrastructure. The ability to receive payments instantly, settle in local currencies, meet compliance standards and maintain visibility across multiple markets has become essential.
Why the financial engine room matters
Australia’s economic momentum increasingly depends on the ability of its businesses to expand internationally. Offshore revenue streams reduce exposure to domestic cycles, improve resilience and help Australian enterprises compete in global markets.
But the ability to succeed overseas is closely tied to finance operations. Companies that can manage capital flows quickly and transparently, reduce the cost of international transactions and localise financial processes are more likely to scale sustainably.
The modernisation underway is not simply a matter of efficiency. It changes the shape of global strategy. Faster settlement allows companies to reinvest capital sooner. Real-time visibility improves forecasting and risk management. Streamlined account creation accelerates market entry. Consistent customer experience strengthens brand trust.
For many enterprises, updating the financial engine room is no longer a technical upgrade. It is central to long-term international competitiveness.
Australian businesses are entering global markets with renewed ambition, and the opportunities are significant. But the next phase of growth depends on whether finance operations can keep pace. Companies modernising these systems will find it easier to expand, compete and perform at scale. Those that do not will find it harder to sustain momentum in increasingly dynamic international markets.
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