4 Inventory and Stock Control Lessons from a Year of Supply Chain Disruption

It has now been roughly one year since the United States introduced broad stroke tariffs on imported goods. This has had a significant impact across the global supply chain.  For many organisations in Australia and New Zealand, tariffs exposed existing weaknesses in inventory management and stock control. Delays, changing demand, longer lead times and margin pressure were already present, but tariffs made these issues more visible across the supply chain.

How are US-based businesses responding?

According to Netstock’s 2026 Tariff Impact Report, more than half of businesses say the impact of tariffs on their supply chains is greater now than 12 months ago. 82% of these businesses have had to pass rising costs on to customers. One of the most notable shifts is that the “wait-and-see” approach has almost disappeared. In 2025, 57% of businesses were taking a passive stance. By 2026, that figure had fallen to just 21%. Instead of hoping uncertainty passes, most businesses are now taking active steps to manage the risks created by ongoing tariff disruption.

Future disruptions to the supply chain are inevitable, whether from freight, currency, suppliers or other factors. It is important to learn from experience and build contingency into inventory planning and stock control. This way, you can position your business to better respond to disruption across the supply chain and distribution network.

1.    Cost Volatility Requires Better Planning

Extending inventory planning horizons is a common strategy to manage the volatility of supply chain disruptions. Approximately 75% of businesses implemented this strategy in the last year. They are locking in stock and supply before disruptions occur, providing greater reliability in cost and margin.

Approximately 75% of businesses affected by tariffs chose to extend their planning horizons. This is locked in stock and supply, giving reliability in cost and margin. For Australian and New Zealand businesses exporting to the United States, giving your customers greater flexibility will help you stand out from the competition.  However, this extended planning horizon can place pressure on suppliers, who are locked into longer-term deals that cannot be adjusted to unknown, future market disruption. Depending on the planning extensions, this can create additional challenges for margins and cash flow.

You should make these decisions based on accurate demand planning and forecasting. This can enable proactive adjustments over the course of the deal to create the best outcome for both parties.

2.    More Suppliers Compounds Supply Chain Complexity

Almost one-third of businesses affected by tariffs added new suppliers to their portfolios. Diversification reduces reliance on a single supplier or region that might be more adversely affected by tariffs. This gives buyers more flexibility over where you source goods, especially as prices, lead times, and quantities vary. For ANZ businesses, this can create new opportunities in new markets, especially if there are differences in tariff rates and buyers explore nearshoring options.

However, more suppliers in the pool create additional competition. While tariffs will increase prices, this may introduce complexity into previously stable competitive scenarios, against producers with lower costs or differences in shipping timelines. For purchasers, supplier diversification only reduces risk when supported by detailed tracking and analytics. They may become more demanding and insistent when it comes to supplier performance and lead time variation at the inventory or SKU level.

Additional debtors can also create conflict in your existing customer base. Stock levels need to be adjusted to meet the requirements of new markets, but at higher risk levels. If tariffs are unexpectedly reversed, you could be left with too much stock in your warehouse, unable to be sold into new markets. A scalable inventory management technology stack can overcome these challenges, especially when integrated with your ERP system.

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3. Passing on costs does not strengthen supply chain resilience

More than half of all affected businesses have decided to raise prices to protect margins. This may be necessary in the short term, but it is a reactive step. It does not improve long-term supply chain or inventory performance.

ANZ exporters need to be aware of their customers’ behaviours and manage risk accordingly. Businesses that pass on costs may suffer more in the long term than competitors who find other ways to adapt. This may lead to shrinking orders or increased pressure to lower prices.

A more effective approach is to identify which suppliers, products or categories are most exposed. Early action and applying some of the other lessons discussed support better stock control and more stable pricing decisions.

4. ERP data supports better inventory and stock control decisions

Most businesses already have the data needed to improve inventory management in their ERP systems, regardless of their position in the global supply chain. This includes inventory levels, sales history, purchase orders and supplier data. By looking at this data, you can see a clear view of past supply chain and distribution activity. What is often missing is the ability to apply this data to forward planning. Key areas of risk that are not captured by your ERP system include:

• What happens to inventory if a supplier fails to deliver
• Where excess stock is affecting cash flow

Demand Resource Planning (DRP) and inventory optimisation tools can support stock control by analysing this data. They provide forecasting and supplier performance insights that you can use to identify risks across the supply chain.

Reviewing Your Own Inventory Processes

Ask yourself these questions to begin the review process of your supply chain management strategy:

1. Which inventory items would have the biggest impact if supply or demand were disrupted?
2. How much cash is tied up in high-risk or excess stock?
3. When is the earliest point in the process at which we can confidently assess supply chain risk?

Improving supply chain and distribution planning

Tariffs have highlighted the need for better visibility across inventory, stock control and distribution. For Australian and New Zealand businesses, tariffs create a balance of opportunity and risk. Risks can be navigated with the right access to data at the right time, enabling more informed decisions.

Netstock is an add-on solution that integrates with MYOB Acumatica or MYOB Exo to make real-time use of your inventory data. It is an advanced tool that forecasts demand and analyses data in your ERP system to drive smart decisions across your business.

Contact our team for more information about how Netstock can improve efficiency in your inventory planning. Call 1300 857 464(AU) or 0800 436 774(NZ) or send an email to sales@kilimanjaro-consulting.com.