Supply Chain

Trump’s Tariffs: What Supply Chain and Procurement Professionals Need to Know
May 6, 2025 at 12:56 pm

Recent changes in U.S. trade policy, including the imposition of new tariffs and the suspension of the de minimis exemption, have significant implications for supply chain and procurement professionals. Understanding these impacts is crucial for navigating the evolving landscape. End of De Minimis Exemption: What it Means for Costs and Compliance The suspension of the…

Tariffs Are Disrupting Retail Supply Chains. Interconnected Product Data Can Help Stabilize Them
May 6, 2025 at 9:23 am

New U.S. tariffs have prompted brands and retailers to reassess their sourcing and supply chain strategies. While these measures haven’t triggered a broader economic downturn so far, they are contributing to increased volatility and shifts in how businesses across the retail sector source, assemble and sell. Consequently, brands and retailers now face rising supplier costs…

Turning VAT Challenges Into a Competitive Advantage
April 28, 2025 at 8:33 am

Global retailers face constant whiplash as countries adjust their value-added tax (VAT) regulations, complicating cross-border operations. Recent updates — including zero-dollar VAT thresholds in Indonesia and the Philippines and revisions to the European Union’s Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) — demand urgent attention. These unpredictable changes create more than administrative burdens. When customers encounter unexpected VAT…

Navigating Tariffs: A Playbook for Retailers
April 28, 2025 at 7:06 am

In an era of compound volatility, uncertainty is the only constant. For retailers, the latest disruption is a wave of tariff actions complicating costs and supply chains, highlighted by evolving discussions on goods from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union. How Best to Respond? Resilient retailers are taking a two-pronged approach: using data-driven decisions to…

Why Innovation is the Key to Reshaping the 3PL Industry and the Customer Journey
April 23, 2025 at 1:54 pm

In these uncertain economic times, supply chain management is increasingly complex. Consumers exert more control than ever before. With a single click, they can trigger a series of events that impact the entire logistics network, forcing third-party logistics (3PL) providers to adapt in real time. With concerns over tariffs, geopolitical tensions, labor shortages, rising prices…

How Retailers Can Navigate Rising Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruptions
April 23, 2025 at 9:17 am

The economic climate retailers face today is next level. Rising tariffs, volatile supply chains, and shifting consumer expectations are making it hard to navigate. The rapid increase in costs across retail categories — e.g., cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and sporting goods — is putting pressure on already slim margins, forcing businesses to reevaluate inventory planning and…

Retail Execs Meet With President Trump to Discuss Tariffs
April 22, 2025 at 7:24 pm

President Donald Trump on Monday met with chief executives from three of the nation’s top retailers, who came to the White House to discuss how his sweeping tariff plans could impact their import-heavy business models, reports CNBC. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Target CEO Brian Cornell, and The Home Depot CEO Ted Decker were in attendance…

A Retail Executive's Guide to Optimizing Inventory in an Era of Volatility
April 21, 2025 at 8:51 am

In today's volatile and uncertain business environment, retail supply chain executives face numerous challenges in optimizing inventory and making intelligent supply chain decisions. The ever-changing supply chain management landscape requires agility, strategic planning, and the integration of advanced technologies to stay competitive and meet evolving consumer expectations. Define Your Supply Chain Aspirations Identifying your supply…

Why Companies Shouldn’t Abandon Supply Chain Visibility
April 16, 2025 at 11:49 am

2025 has so far proven to be a year of regulatory chaos for global supply chains. From the constant whiplash around tariffs and trade exclusions to the EU’s introduction of omnibus legislation for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), it has been challenging for brands and retailers to keep abreast of all of the…

Traceability Innovations Are Transforming Supply Chain Sustainability
April 15, 2025 at 10:12 am

Amid tightening global regulations targeting forced labor and environmental abuses, companies are under growing pressure to take full responsibility for every link in their global sourcing networks. From the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to America’s Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), these laws are reshaping how businesses monitor and verify the…