Adapting to New USA Government Policies: Strengthen Your Supply Chain with Planning in a Box Pi Agent by Better Inventory Positioning

Blog / Adapting to New USA Government Policies: Strengthen Your Supply Chain with Planning in a Box Pi Agent by Better Inventory Positioning

The recent shift in U.S. leadership focussed on ‘America First’ policy has sparked widespread discussions about its implications for businesses. With a focus on reshoring jobs, tightening trade policies, and revisiting tariffs, industries like Retail, CPG, Manufacturing, and Automotive are set to experience significant disruptions, including escalating operational costs and supply chain complexities.

Amid this complexity, robust scenario planning and innovative AI-powered solutions like Planning in a Box Pi Agent become essential for navigating these challenges with agility and precision. In this blog, we’ll explore the potential impacts of the new government’s policies on global supply chains and highlight how AI-powered Planning in a Box Pi Agent can empower businesses to adapt and thrive. Many companies have to revise their supply chain networks to adapt changes E.g. Tariffs and its implication on goods and services costs which mostly directly ties to your inventory positioning. 

Industries Most Likely to Be Affected

• Retail

The retail industry, which relies heavily on imported goods, is highly vulnerable to changes in trade policies and tariffs. Stricter import regulations could increase the cost of sourcing products, especially from low-cost manufacturing hubs like China. Retailers must rethink their inventory management strategies to avoid stockouts or overstocking as supply chain disruptions become more frequent.

• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

The CPG sector, which depends on a mix of domestic and international suppliers for raw materials, may face cost pressures due to tariffs on imports. For businesses in this industry, balancing demand fluctuations while optimizing inventory and minimizing waste will be a critical challenge.

• Manufacturing

Manufacturing, especially in sectors like electronics and machinery, could see significant impacts from reshoring efforts and increased costs of raw materials. Manufacturers must adopt new sourcing strategies and improve production planning to stay competitive.

• Automotive

The automotive industry relies on a globally integrated supply chain for parts and components. Tariffs on imports or restrictions on foreign sourcing could increase production costs, disrupt assembly timelines, and reduce margins. Companies will need to invest in tools that provide better visibility and agility in supply chain management.

Thriving Amid Change: Scenario Planning with Planning in a Box Pi Agent Focusing on Demand and Aligning with your Inventory Costs

In such a volatile environment, traditional supply chain management methods are no longer sufficient. Businesses need advanced tools to anticipate and adapt to disruptions effectively. This is where Planning in a Box Pi Agent becomes invaluable.

Planning in a Box Pi Agent provides a core foundation for your systems by unifying data from disparate sources like SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Netsuite, Salesforce, Google Ads and other unstructured datasets leveraging Google Cloud Cortex Framework. Pi Agent – Gen AI Assistant powered by Google Gemini 2.0 collaborates seamlessly with specialized AI Multi Agents like Ron (demand agent), Kassy (inventory agent), Bob (defect agent), Alex (finance agent) to deliver actionable insights in natural language, take appropriate actions, and automate workflows.

Pi Agent helps businesses model complex scenarios, evaluate potential outcomes, and create actionable strategies. Here’s why better scenario planning is critical:

• Tariff Impact Analysis

With the possibility of tariffs affecting imports, businesses need to evaluate how increased costs will impact their bottom line. Pi Agent can simulate multiple sourcing scenarios, enabling companies to determine the best course of action to mitigate financial risks.

• Demand Volatility Planning

Economic shifts often lead to fluctuating demand. Pi Agent uses advanced demand forecasting models to predict these changes and recommend adjustments in inventory levels, production schedules, and supplier relationships.

• Supply Chain Redesign

For industries like automotive and manufacturing, supply chains may need to be redesigned entirely to comply with new policies. Pi Agent can analyze existing supply chain networks and recommend optimized routes, alternative suppliers, or new distribution centers.

• Proactive Risk Mitigation

By running “what-if” scenarios, businesses can anticipate potential disruptions and develop contingency plans. For example, Pi Agent can model the impact of a sudden tariff increase or a regulatory change, ensuring businesses are prepared to adapt quickly.

Solving Industry-Specific Challenges with Planning in a Box Pi Agent Assisting Planners

Planning in a Box Pi Agent empowers businesses to manage costs effectively while maintaining profitability. By optimizing inventory levels, the platform reduces carrying costs and minimizes wastage. Its AI-driven insights streamline logistics operations, identifying the most cost-efficient shipping routes and methods. Improved demand forecasting enables businesses to align supply with actual demand, avoiding expensive last-minute adjustments. This capability is critical for industries like retail and manufacturing, where tight margins demand precise cost control. Planners need help in these situations

• Adapting to Demand Volatility

Planning in a Box Pi Agent uses AI-driven forecasting tools to analyze demand patterns in real-time. For retailers and CPG companies, this means maintaining the right inventory levels during periods of uncertainty. By avoiding overstocking or stockouts, businesses can reduce costs and meet customer needs effectively.

• Positioning Inventory Optimally

Tariffs and trade disruptions often lead to delayed shipments and higher logistics costs. Planning in a Box Pi Agent provides insights into optimal inventory placement, ensuring businesses position products strategically across warehouses and distribution centers. This capability is especially valuable for automotive and manufacturing sectors, where supply chain delays can halt production.

• Mitigate Risks with Scenario Planning

Pi Agent allows businesses to evaluate various scenarios, such as the impact of tariff increases, supplier disruptions, or demand spikes. These insights enable proactive decision-making and help companies stay ahead of potential risks. For example, a manufacturing company can simulate the cost of switching to domestic suppliers versus paying higher tariffs on imported raw materials.

• Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience

Planning in a Box provides end-to-end visibility into the supply chain, helping businesses identify vulnerabilities and build resilience. By leveraging real-time data and predictive analytics, companies can develop flexible supply chains that adapt to changing conditions, such as shifting trade policies or labor shortages.

Conclusion

The reshoring push, trade restrictions, and tariffs are transforming the supply chain landscape, creating challenges like rising costs, demand volatility, and disruptions for industries such as retail, CPG, manufacturing, and automotive. Make your planners superheros with Pi Agent on Planning in a Box.

Planning in a Box Pi Agent equips businesses with the agility, visibility, and strategic planning needed to thrive in this environment. With advanced scenario planning, real-time analytics, and demand forecasting, it empowers companies to tackle challenges, optimize inventory, and build resilient supply chains. With our strategic google partnership, we are here to bring in the best innovation for you together. 

Stay ahead of disruptions — request a demo of Planning in a Box Pi Agent today!