Kinaxis: Empowering You to Tackle Tariffs and Turbulence

Trade tensions are back and global supply chains are feeling the strain. 

Kinaxis is stepping into the conversation with a live virtual event bringing together industry leaders to explore the state of global trade and offer practical strategies for businesses navigating today’s volatility.

The shifting tariff landscape 

Supply chains are already stretched thin as labour shortages, geopolitical instability and cost pressures take their toll. Add new and unpredictable tariffs into the mix and businesses find themselves in urgent need of reassessment. 

Andrew Bell, Chief Product Officer at Kinaxis, joins forces with Andrew Busch, economist and futurist, alongside senior executives from Qualcomm, Viant Medical and Thermo Fisher Scientific to break down where trade is heading and how organisations should respond.

The panel delves into how shifts in trade policy are playing out across major markets. From industrial policy changes to the rise of nearshoring - bringing production closer to home - companies are seeing a global reordering of supply chains.

Businesses need to stay agile and prepare for different outcomes as we look beyond 2025, particularly as government regulations and policy directions become harder to predict.

Industry impact

Fred Bauman, Senior Industry Principal at Kinaxis, offers a clear-eyed view of how tariffs are hitting the consumer products sector. 

He highlights four areas where companies are under pressure—and where Kinaxis Maestro, Kinaxis’s supply chain planning platform, is stepping in.

First, tariffs on raw materials and finished goods are pushing costs up. These increases ripple through to consumers, affecting demand and cutting into sales. 

“Even companies that source ingredients domestically aren't immune,” Fred notes. Packaging materials like aluminium, steel and glass - much of which is imported - are also subject to new charges, adding complexity to supply chain budgeting.

Second, global sourcing becomes harder to manage. Tariff-related disruptions cause delays and push companies to find new suppliers, which takes time and resources. In a world where fast delivery and reliability are crucial, this kind of friction can erode competitiveness.

Third, navigating regulations across multiple markets adds another layer of difficulty.

As Fred explains, it’s not just about the money: “Consumer product companies must find ways to manage these pressures while maintaining competitiveness and meeting consumer expectations.”

Lastly, there's consumer behaviour. Price-sensitive customers may back away from non-essential or premium products when prices go up. This makes transparency and communication more important than ever. Brands must justify changes, reassure customers and preserve loyalty—even as they struggle to maintain margins.

Technology’s role in turning the tide

This is where Kinaxis Maestro steps in. The platform is designed to give global organisations the tools to understand and react to disruption—tariffs included. 

Maestro can instantly model the effects of new trade policies on cost, lead time and inventory. "It enables you to make immediate adjustments to your sourcing, development of material and overarching supply chain strategies,” explains Fred.

With Maestro’s AI tools and live demand signals, companies can forecast with greater accuracy. It helps simulate pricing scenarios, anticipate changes in buying patterns and keep inventory levels aligned with customer needs.

When new tariffs hit, Maestro offers balanced scorecards and supports rapid decision-making, helping businesses stay on track with production and delivery. The aim isn’t just to cope, but to lead—transforming supply chain operations from reactive to proactive using real-time insights.

The message from Kinaxis is clear. Turbulence is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With the right technology, supply chains can remain flexible and resilient. 

You can catch up on the webinar here: https://supplychain.kinaxis.com/tariffs-webinar

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