The word “tariff” has defined much of the geopolitical landscape throughout the first half of 2025. Global trade has undoubtedly been disrupted by the uncertainty of what may come next, as the parameters for any proposed duties have been increased, decreased, delayed and cancelled seemingly at a moment’s notice.
Businesses across all industry sectors have had no choice but to re-evaluate their supply chain strategies. Finding new efficiencies within this volatile economic landscape is no easy task, but those that are able to optimize their supply chain have the opportunity to not just survive this turbulence but even thrive as a result of it.
RAIN technology has long been trusted by supply chain leaders to provide simple and seamless inventory tracking and management. It therefore stands to reason that this same technology— already available in billions of products— will play a crucial role in this new era of international trade.
Uncertainty Breeds Uncertainty
With each different product type from each nation all having slightly different tariff structures, keeping track of inventory data and calculating what this means for import duty presents a significant challenge. The introduction of tariffs for a specific region may even cause companies to seek imports from lower-tariff jurisdictions, diversify suppliers or shift manufacturing to different countries.
This will no doubt cause increased complexity in sourcing and international shipping. Organizations who depend on large scale global chains should look to adjust logistics planning to avoid longer lead times and prevent unnecessary delays. Though, within this volatile geo-political environment, trade agreements between countries could shift at any moment. Businesses must make sure that they are responsive to any resulting cost fluctuations or face potential disparity in their import fees that may not have been foreseen when budgets were originally created.
Businesses will therefore also need to be able to make quick, informed choices. Some may choose to pass on these costs to the purchaser, others may absorb them in hopes that they will soon revert back to previous levels. This second approach can help foster customer loyalty, however, it puts pressure on gross margins, making operational efficiency and visibility into where cuts can be made are not just a competitive advantage but a financial necessity. For either strategy, clear insight into how this may impact existing revenue projections and commitments to shareholders is essential.
How Can RAIN Technology Help?
RAIN enables businesses to uniquely identify, track, and trace every single product from manufacturing sites to store shelves. Movements can be recorded precisely, with detailed reports shared seamlessly with customs authorities, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance. These requirements are already coming into practice through regulatory initiatives such as the European Digital Product Passport (DPP), which seeks to provide comprehensive product information throughout an item’s lifecycle including its origin, raw materials and how an item can be reused or recycled. This same data can also play a critical role in enabling businesses to meet the challenge of global tariffs.
For instance, access to information around a product’s country of origin becomes critical within this context. RAIN tags can link each item to its exact source, creating a verifiable chain of custody. Brands and retailers can also monitor the flow of goods and react quickly to disruptions. With real-time RAIN data, digital twins of supply chains enable simulations of what happens when tariffs suddenly change, or routes get blocked. This supports more agile responses like pre-emptive re-routing, re-sourcing, or postponement strategies.
If a tariff is announced that will have a knock-on impact, brands and retailers can act quickly to minimize the impact felt by consumers and on the bottom line, as shielding customers from rising costs is a key priority for many brands. Beyond traceability, RAIN technology also enables margin protection by unlocking process automation, accelerated shipment processing, labor reduction, and inventory optimization across the supply chain. This level of operational excellence can help to offset tariff burdens, potentially without sacrificing profitability.
The RAIN Alliance enables organizations to improve traceability, effectiveness, and sustainability by simplifying, standardizing and accelerating the adoption of RAIN technology through global collaboration and innovation. For more information on how RAIN can help stabilize global trade uncertainty, read our paper on ‘Turning Tariff Turbulence into Transparency: How RAIN Technology Can Strengthen Global Trade Resilience’ or get in touch with our team.
