Tariffs are a common topic in conversations with many of our NetSuite customers and prospects. Regardless of how tariffs are viewed, businesses must adapt and shore up their resources and processes to prepare for the unexpected.
There are multiple potential challenges associated with tariffs, as well as growth opportunities. Plus, instances like these occasionally prompt businesses to take action on something they have been delaying. For example, a flat tire on your car might force you to get your brakes inspected.
As a result, we wanted to provide a NetSuite Tariff Management Checklist for NetSuite customers to help initiate discussions and make operational changes to protect their businesses.
Common Tariff-Related Challenges
Tariffs aren’t just a manufacturing or import/export issue; they are a reality that businesses of all sizes and industries must navigate. While the most immediate effects often impact sectors such as retail, distribution, and manufacturing, the ripple effects can quickly reach service-based sectors like software, professional services, and even plumbing.
These impacts often manifest in less obvious, yet equally disruptive ways, ranging from supply delays to margin pressure and cash flow uncertainty.
Here are a few common challenges businesses may face when tariff conditions shift:
- Hidden costs can undermine margin visibility
- Procurement teams may be reactive instead of proactive and strategic
- Fragmented supplier strategies can increase vulnerability
- Manual, disconnected reporting could slow down leadership decisions
- Cash flow surprises can create planning disruptions
Whether you're proactively managing risk or reacting to new trade changes, having the right tools in place can make all the difference. Our NetSuite Tariff Management Checklist outlines clear, ERP-driven steps you can take to protect margins, streamline operations, and stay ready for whatever comes next.
NetSuite Tariff Management Checklist
Is your ERP ready for tariff-related disruption?
- Identify At-Risk Items
- Run item-based and transaction searches to tag SKUs exposed to tariffs.
- Add country-of-origin and tariff classification fields in item records.
- Understand Sourcing Rules
- Use custom fields for regional value content tracking.
- Create dashboards by vendor geography to monitor trade zone exposure.
- Evaluate Strategic Options in NetSuite
- Set up saved searches to evaluate vendor diversification options.
- You can model the impact of landed cost using alternative sourcing scenarios in NetSuite.
- Model Financial Risk
- Use Cash 360 and SuiteAnalytics to simulate tariff-inflated inventory cycles.
- Layer landed cost estimates into demand plans and inventory forecasts.
- Build margin scenarios using item profitability dashboards.
- Forecast cash flow under multiple cost/load timing scenarios.
- Communicate Risks and Response Options Internally
- Build executive dashboards showing real-time tariff exposure. For example, you could create a SuiteAnalytics dashboard showing tariff impact across SKUs, vendors, and locations.
- Create and use KPI scorecards to share executive-level takeaways.
- Centralize updates across teams with shared NetSuite reports and alerts.
This checklist serves as a starting point. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every business faces unique pressures when it comes to tariffs, supply chains, and system configuration.
The best next step is often to complete an initial run-through of your NetSuite environment, then connect with an expert who can help translate these best practices into action. Ideally, it will be a NetSuite partner with a solid understanding of OneWorld, multiple subsidiaries, and potentially complex implementations and integrations.
At GSI, we specialize in helping businesses get the most out of NetSuite, whether that’s through ERP optimization, system configuration, or ongoing managed services. We’ll walk through the checklist with you, assess your current setup, review your integrations, and ensure your system is ready for whatever lies ahead.
Contact us today, we'd love to hear from you.