13 hours ago
How AI can help supply chains thrive amid disruptions and tariff complexities
BY
Supply chains have faced relentless disruption. And if shutdowns, labor shortages, port congestion, and a wave of shifting tariffs and regulations have made one thing clear, it is that volatility is no longer an exception—it's the ongoing reality.
LEARNING FROM PAST SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS
'The pandemic was a wake-up call—and the industry is still responding,' says Cathy Roberson, founder and president, Logistics Trends & Insights. 'We have clearly seen that reactive supply chain strategies don't work, and the current global trade and tariff volatility is just the latest example of the need for proactive, AI-powered planning.'
Some companies learned that lesson early. TaylorMade Golf, one of the world's leading golf brands, saw demand for its equipment crash and then skyrocket in a matter of months during 2020. Having AI-powered supply chain systems in place helped the company stay nimble.
'Agility and responsiveness have been critical to our success,' says Dave Brownie, senior vice president of global operations, TaylorMade. 'When [pre-pandemic] demand returned, we were ready. We can't go back to the way we've operated in the past.'
TaylorMade used AI features in Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM) to forecast demand, run scenario planning, and provide alternate logistics strategies to fulfill record demand.
'When your demand surges and your supply chain gets stretched, you're more aware there are golfers waiting for your product,' says Brownie. 'And when you have limited inventories, better systems ensure you're moving as much of it as possible—and that it's getting into a consumer's hands quickly.'
DEPLOY SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY BEFORE YOU NEED IT
According to Roberson, global disruptions and market challenges shouldn't be the only drivers of supply chain modernization. 'Organizations that leverage AI can drive real business value to proactively get ahead in any type of market,' she says.
Clayton, one of the largest builders of attainable single-family homes in the U.S., consolidated finance and supply chain processes to improve productivity.
'Moving business processes to the cloud has enabled us to take advantage of advanced AI-powered capabilities to reduce working capital, improve customer service, increase productivity, expand insights, and improve decision-making,'saysJim Stariha, chief financial officer, Clayton.
Similarly, GE Power—a leading global energy provider for more than a third of the world— consolidated 15 forecasting tools in the cloud to improve forecast accuracy by roughly 20%, reduce reporting times by more than five days, and deliver energy to billions more efficiently.
EMBRACING AI TO NAVIGATE TRADE UNCERTAINTY
'When new supply chain disruptions surface—whether it's a new tariff, geopolitical event, or port closure—organizations don't have weeks to respond. They need answers in minutes,' says Srini Rajagopal, vice president of logistics product strategy, Oracle. 'The only way to operate at that speed is by embedding AI into every part of the supply chain.'
To help customers improve agility and responsiveness to supply chain disruptions, Oracle recently announced new AI-powered global trade management capabilities that automate compliance, track regulatory changes, and analyze tariff exposure in real time.
'Speed, agility, real-time visibility, and data-backed decision-making are key to navigating this new era of supply chain disruption,' says Rajagopal.
Companies looking to navigate volatility should leverage centralized global trade management systems to automate compliance, track evolving tariffs, and help identify cost-saving opportunities such as duty exemptions and trade incentive programs. These tools give leaders real-time visibility into risks, landed costs, and supply chain bottlenecks.
AI-powered scenario planning can also help leaders stay ahead of disruption by simulating the impact of new tariffs, geopolitical shifts, or supplier constraints—enabling leaders to make smarter, faster decisions.
In a world where global trade dynamics can shift overnight, supply chain resilience depends on foresight. And foresight today is powered by AI.
