“80% of U.S. businesses anticipate major sourcing disruptions. This isn’t just a policy change—it’s a wake-up call.”
— Robert Kramer, Analyst, Moor Insights
Global trade continues to be marked by deep-seated volatility, as uncertainty around tariffs and shifting regulations remains a constant pressure on supply chains. Even as some tariffs are rolled back, the underlying volatility in global trade remains deeply entrenched. When costs swing unpredictably and supplier pricing feels like a moving target, manufacturers can’t afford to rely on outdated data or delayed insights. From tariff whiplash to inflation-driven spikes, sourcing and procurement teams are under pressure to make smarter, faster decisions—regardless of whether this quarter brings relief or renewed risk.
At SourceDay, we help manufacturers stay agile, not reactive. Our platform delivers real-time visibility, predictive analytics, and actionable intelligence to navigate a supply chain landscape where change is the only constant.
Historical Insight Isn’t Enough: Why Real-Time Visibility Is Critical
“Multi-tier risk is not enough when every supplier and part is flashing red due to universal tariffs. You need visibility into how that impacts your COGS and unit prices,”
— Coleman Newell, Head of AI and Data, SourceDay.
It’s clear that the practice of relying on general inflation data or backward-looking reports to make adjustments is no longer enough in today’s volatile environment. Manufacturers need visibility into the exact items, SKUs, and suppliers that are driving price risk today.
Here’s what they’re asking:
- Which items have seen the highest unit cost increases in the last 90 days?
- Which suppliers are responsible for the greatest price variance?
- Are we using outdated pricing assumptions in our ERP?
- How can we prepare for the next price spike before it hits?
SourceDay Intelligence and Item Hub provide these answers—and more.
From Risk Detection to Real-Time Response
SourceDay proactively identifies potential issues and empowers teams to solve them in real time.
Item Hub gives you full visibility into every SKU in your supply chain, including country of origin, cost history, lead time trends, and SourceDay Intelligence uses AI to identify risk flags such as:
- Price Increasing: Alerts on substantial changes in unit cost.
- Master Price Issue: Flags inconsistencies between real-world pricing and what’s listed in your ERP.
With this clarity, teams can immediately:
- Identify which parts are tariff-sensitive
- Prioritize alternate sourcing for high-risk items
- Evaluate supplier reliability with scorecard metrics
SourceDay detected increased price risk in March—weeks before official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data reflected the shift. This early warning enabled customers to evaluate exposure, adjust sourcing plans, and in some cases, stockpile key materials before tariffs took effect.
With this insight, SourceDay then empowers your team with workflows to:
- Switch to alternative suppliers with confidence and speed
- Automate PO changes when price thresholds are triggered
- Inform product redesign decisions with real-world cost data
- Forecast COGS for CFOs and board-level reporting
Indexes That See Around Corners
In April 2025, SourceDay introduced two game-changing indexes: the Supplier Reliability Index (SRI) and Supply Volatility Index (SVI).
The SRI tracks supplier responsiveness, delivery performance, pricing stability, and willingness to accommodate changes. It’s designed to show which suppliers will help you ride out disruptions—and which ones won’t.
The SVI measures national and sector-level volatility based on PO changes, pricing shifts, shortages, and delivery failures. These signals help you forecast instability 1–2 quarters ahead of time.
Notable findings from Q1 FY25:
- Supplier reliability has improved slightly, from 61.9% to 62.7%, due to better communication and OTD performance.
- But volatility surged to 67%, the highest level since 2022. That’s a 22% YoY increase.
- Price volatility alone jumped 36%, driven in part by tariff-driven stockpiling and sharp input price hikes.
These aren’t abstract figures. They’re drawn from SourceDay’s proprietary data across 101,000 suppliers, 100 million PO updates, 75 million supplier messages, and $70 billion in annual direct materials spend. This is real intelligence based on real activity.
“The indexes have predictive power that enables both manufacturers and distributors to see what’s around corners, which is invaluable given that volatility levels are increasing dramatically by the day,” explained Michael Miller, CEO of SourceDay.
Tools for the Front Line—and the Boardroom
SourceDay’s insights don’t just support buyers and planners. They give finance and executive leaders the confidence to plan proactively.
With accurate COGS forecasting, volatility trend data, and supplier benchmarks, SourceDay equips CFOs to:
- Present board-level updates grounded in actual pricing shifts
- Justify cost mitigation strategies (like supplier switching or product redesign)
- Project future material costs with greater precision
Meanwhile, your procurement and operations teams get:
- PO automation tools that trigger updates when pricing thresholds are met—so your team can respond to risk without manual intervention
- Alternative supplier recommendations based on current risk
- A full audit trail of cost variances and supplier responsiveness
Building a More Resilient Supply Chain—For Today and Tomorrow
This volatility means it is critical to not just survive the current crisis but to prepare for the future with a foundation for long-term resilience. SourceDay CEO Michael Miller and Moor Insights analyst Robert Kramer break down how AI, automation, and supplier intelligence are helping procurement teams adapt fast—and stay ready for what’s next.
- Strategies for mitigating the impact of rising tariffs
- The role of automation in monitoring supplier performance
- How to tackle root causes—not just symptoms—of disruption
- Actionable guidance to future-proof your supply chain over the next 6–12 months
Uncertainty Is Inevitable. Disruption Doesn’t Have to Be.
You can’t predict the next tariff policy or inflation spike—but you can be ready for it. Whether you’re stockpiling ahead of a potential Q3 shock or trying to reduce operational spend, SourceDay gives you the visibility and speed to act with confidence.
