As trade rules keep changing, mid-sized companies across the U.S. and Canada are shifting how they manage supply chains. Instead of seeing them as just a cost, companies are now treating supply chains as a strategic part of the business—and they’re putting money into tech, data, and compliance to keep up.
What’s Related
That’s the big takeaway from a new RSM US report based on a survey of more than 300 supply chain decision-makers. The survey was completed just before the Trump administration’s April 2 announcement of sweeping new tariffs and a later 145% tariff on China.
According to the findings, 93% of respondents said they trust their supply chain data, but nearly as many (91%) said they still need to invest in technology to manage operations better. Another 88% are curious about how AI could help their supply chains.
“The pandemic forced businesses to improve supply chain data and have better information overall about where goods were coming from,” said Dr. Tu Nguyen, an economist with RSM Canada. “While things seem to be a lot better now, the current uncertainty in the trade environment could be another wake-up call for businesses that still don’t have the best transparency or visibility into their supply chain.”
Most companies (85%) said they feel prepared for trade and tariff rules changes, but there’s still some worry. Forty percent predicted a negative impact from the new tariffs, 36% expected a positive outcome, and 24% said they didn’t think it would affect them.
Many are also preparing for new rules around sustainability and compliance. Seventy-four percent of companies said they’ve already invested in technology, updated policies, and trained employees. However, Canadian firms were less likely to take action—just 58% said they’d started compared to 78% of U.S. companies.
Companies are also looking at how these changes affect taxes. More than three-quarters of the companies said they’ve taken action to prepare for changes in tax laws. For most, the main goal is boosting efficiency. Of those with a formal plan in place, the top tools include technology and data analytics (67%), structured risk processes (60%), and involving tax staff directly in supply chain planning (49%).
“Now your supply chain might need to be more resilient than optimized,” added Jon Caforio, principal and sustainability consulting leader at RSM US LLP.
