Area Development
Type “tariffs” into the news section of a search engine on any given day and you’ll come across a brand-new set of headlines from international media outlets — implementation dates, goods being taxed, countries being impacted, etc. CNBC recently reported1 one-third of executives on Q2 earnings calls cited tariffs as a potential headwind. What we’re not seeing in the headlines is how accounts payable (AP) and procurement teams are impacted.

{{RELATEDLINKS}}One of the main complaints we hear from companies in regard to the tariff rollercoaster is how they’re more disruptive than destructive to their businesses; subsequently, they struggle with the fact that there’s no clear sense of permanency. No one can predict when or what the next round of announced tariffs will be. In fact, it was recently announced that some of the tariffs will be delayed until December 15. This unpredictability creates a blind, uphill battle for CFOs, who are tasked with making sure company finances are in order, while anticipating and preparing for regulatory changes.

Taking a Look at the Supply Chain
In discussions with our partners, we’re seeing a common theme among the most financially stable companies. CFOs, AP, and procurement teams alike are able to rattle off answers to questions such as:Trade tensions brought about by the lack of permanency on tariffs are leading many companies to take a look at their supply chains and see where else they can establish operations. Beyond having a strong pulse on a company’s individual supplier base and market opportunities, we’re also seeing companies explore manufacturing operations in Central Europe. Poland and the Czech Republic are becoming hubs for manufacturing in medical devices, automotive, technology, and textiles.

We’re seeing finance teams maintaining closer levels of communication with their supply chain teams to anticipate changes and be better prepared to renegotiate, identify alternate suppliers, and approach stakeholders to discuss budget increases to offset surcharges in products or materials. Compiling Actionable Data
A harsh reality is too many Fortune 500 CFO’s don’t have access to the right kind of data to answer these questions and make informed decisions — the kinds of decisions that can greatly impact bottom lines. They need visibility into supply chains and actionable data to share with C-suites and board members.

Many companies have systems in place for extracting internal data, but they should be looking at outside data as well. Aside from being complex and time-consuming to extract, internal data often has gaps in the information CFOs need to make decisions. Whereas data received by third parties can cover everything imaginable — from company and competitor information to different demographics, weather patterns, employee sentiment, etc.

Joining at GPO
We’re also seeing a rise in the number of participants in group purchasing organizations (GPO). Think of a GPO as a wholesale club that allows thousands of companies to make purchases at scale. In addition to their significant value and buying power, they also collect third-party data. Here’s how they simplify the purchasing cycle: Taking a Macro- and Micro-Level View
Since many companies are integrated through partnerships and supply chains, they’re affected by factors outside of their enterprises. They’re impacted by those in their network as well as economic, political, and environmental factors. This is all the more reason to need macro- and micro-level views into possible opportunities their businesses could benefit from or uncover latent risks that could negatively impact company finances.

With the right level of data, communication, and transparency, businesses can anticipate price changes. We’re seeing finance teams maintaining closer levels of communication with their supply chain teams to anticipate changes and be better prepared to renegotiate, identify alternate suppliers, and approach stakeholders to discuss budget increases to offset surcharges in products or materials.All supply chain partners are in the same boat — no one knows exactly when, where. or how tariffs will be enacted and how their businesses will be affected. But if CFOs are able to answer some of the questions posed above, then the impact of tariffs on their companies and suppliers can be limited.
Leveraging Data to Mitigate Supplier Uncertainty
Better addressing tariff risks doesn’t have to mean transitioning into new supplier relationships. Here’s how advisory firms leverage data to mitigate supplier uncertainty:
  • Collaborating with incumbents — With access to the right data, an outside partner shoulders the costs of tariffs and identifies strategies for collaborating with incumbents.
  • Contract benchmarking — It’s never been riskier to sign a long-term contract. Find a partner who can benchmark all contracts (new and incumbent) against market standards and who have the resources to forecast shifts across supply bases.
  • Identifying alternates — Internal procurement teams typically lack the resources to thoroughly assess the market for alternate suppliers and materials.
  • Should-cost modeling — Should-cost models are a useful tool for determining whether or not the price of a custom-built material is fair. Taking into account labor costs, material costs, overhead costs, and profit margins, they rely on a wealth of real-time data that’s only growing more unpredictable.