In certain instances, we may earn revenue when a reader makes a purchase or completes a form through our pages or on a partner’s website. We adhere to a strict 
Global trade tariff wars and a growing preference for “friendshoring” are contributing to a new round of supply chain volatility. This time, technology is front and center in the response.
As tariffs fluctuate, sometimes by the day, bottlenecks in transport capacity can form as businesses rush to import or export their products on favorable terms. In this environment, advance planning is key to avoiding delays or high shipping charges.
For instance, shipping giant Maersk noted that a rise in ocean volumes from China to the US following a recent tariff adjustment has put added pressure on US West Coast terminals and inland networks. The firm advises customers to use off-peak appointments at terminals, including third shift and weekends, “to help maintain fluid operations and reduce wait times.”
From tech-driven scenario planning to real-time portfolio optimization, forward-thinking companies are using technology to stay agile, make smarter decisions, and avoid the disruptions that paralyzed supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Techopedia spoke with Vic Chynoweth, CEO of Tempo, about what digital-first companies are doing to stay ahead of tariff and trade shifts.
Key Takeaways
- Traditional supply chain systems are often fragmented, but a shift toward connected planning enables real-time data sharing and integrated decision-making.
- Strategic portfolio management (SPM) helps businesses quickly reassess and align their resources and priorities to align with shifting trade policies.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools help businesses analyze large datasets to anticipate potential supply chain disruptions, optimize inventory levels, and improve demand forecasting accuracy.
- Businesses should invest in modular platforms that enable teams to have control over their strategy while providing the flexibility to adapt quickly.
About Vic Chynoweth
Vic Chynoweth is the Chief Executive Officer at Tempo Software, where he drives the company’s vision to help organizations achieve digital maturity and strategic agility through modern portfolio management. Vic’s journey with portfolio and project management began over a decade ago, giving him a long-view perspective on how the space has evolved – and where it’s headed.
Prior to joining Tempo, he served as CEO of Otelier, the fastest-growing hotel data platform, and as Managing Director and Operating Partner at Cove Hill Partners, working closely with leadership teams across high-growth technology companies.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning CEO, CFO, and COO roles, Vic offers valuable insight into how C-suites can leverage SPM to unlock visibility, improve planning, and drive strategic advantage.
The Tech Shift Powering Agile Supply Chains
A: Traditional supply chain systems often operate in silos, with limited visibility across teams and functions. That makes it incredibly hard to respond to product changes in particular, whether those changes are driven by a shifting competitive landscape, governance requirements, geopolitical implications, or raw material shortages.
What we see in digital-first companies is a shift toward connected planning: real-time data sharing, cross-functional alignment, and integrated decision-making.
Their tech stacks are modular, cloud-based, and built to adapt. They combine tools for predictive analytics, project management, and financial modeling into one ecosystem. That convergence is the game-changer.
A: Strategic portfolio management (SPM) gives companies a structured way to align their resources, projects, and investments to shifting priorities.
When a new tariff is introduced or trade policy changes, companies using SPM can quickly reassess their initiatives, model the impact, and pivot resources or investments without disrupting the whole system.
It’s about turning strategy into execution, faster and with more confidence.
The Role of AI
A: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming scenario planning from a static exercise into a living, continuous process. Companies can simulate dozens of potential outcomes – based on real data – and immediately see how choices impact cost, timelines, teams, and risk.
AI helps surface options that humans might not consider, and it accelerates the time from insight to action. And they can do all of this on a continuous basis. That combination of speed and agility is a huge advantage in uncertain environments.
A: One of our customers in the manufacturing sector used our SPM platform to model the impact of a sudden tariff change on a key supplier.
Because they had real-time project and cost data, they could quickly identify alternative vendors and shift timelines without missing key milestones.
What would’ve taken weeks of meetings and rework was resolved in days. That’s the power of visibility and proactive planning.
A: SPM helps companies balance short-term pressures with long-term priorities, including ESG. By making trade-offs visible, leaders can assess how sustainability goals fit into their broader strategy.
For example, if a company wants to introduce a greener packaging process, SPM tools can help assess whether the team has the right capacity and resources to take it on without derailing other critical initiatives. It’s about aligning sustainability efforts with what’s realistic, and making those choices with clarity and confidence.
Agility Is Key
A: Agility wins. Scale is important, but only if it doesn’t slow you down.
The most resilient companies aren’t necessarily the biggest; they’re the ones that can change direction quickly, reprioritize investments, and adapt to new constraints.
Agility is the muscle you need to keep moving when the ground shifts beneath you.
A: Similar to leading experts, we would advise leaders to invest in platforms that are modular and extensible.
You want control over your strategy, but flexibility in how you execute. That means choosing tech that integrates easily with what you already use, can evolve with your needs, and empowers teams to move fast without sacrificing governance.
The future isn’t one-size-fits-all – it’s adaptive by design.
A: I think we’ll see supply chains become more decentralized, data-driven, and strategy-led.
Emerging technologies like AI and digital twins are already enabling continuous optimization at the most forward-thinking companies, not just reactive adjustments. Companies will also put more emphasis on transparency and collaboration, both internally and across partners.
Strategic portfolio management will be a critical layer, connecting what’s happening on the ground with the decisions being made in the boardroom. That’s how you stay ahead in a world where change is constant.
The Bottom Line
Businesses must navigate a challenging combination of shifting competition, changing governance requirements, geopolitical uncertainty, and raw material shortages.
Modular and adaptable tech stacks that leverage strategic portfolio management help businesses gain the agility they need to respond quickly to changes in supply chain dynamics.
Emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and digital twins are enabling continuous optimization that allows businesses to lead with adaptive planning.
