Why You Need Full Supply Chain Visibility Now More Than Ever 

Supply chain disruptions are inevitable-but without full visibility, they become costly. From labour violations to cybersecurity threats and carbon regulations, why tracking your supply chain is now a business necessity.

If the past few years have taught businesses anything, it’s that you can’t manage what you can’t see. From pandemic-driven shutdowns to shipping bottlenecks and geopolitical conflicts, companies across industries have faced massive supply chain disruptions. And yet, many still lack full visibility into where their materials come from, how they move, and what risks are lurking further down the line.

Without clear oversight, organisations are exposed to delays, compliance issues, rising costs, and reputational damage. The ability to track and understand your entire end-to-end supply chain is no longer just a competitive advantage; it’s a business necessity.

The risks of poor procurement and supply chain visibility

A supply chain without transparency is like flying blind. When things go wrong, companies without visibility struggle to react fast enough. Here’s why that’s a problem:

1. Trade wars, tariffs, and geopolitical uncertainty

The rules of global trade have changed in the past decade, creating unexpected costs and bottlenecks.

• The US-China trade war has already led to billions in tariffs, forcing companies to rethink sourcing and manufacturing locations. Many businesses didn’t fully understand where their raw materials originated until costs surged.
• Brexit caused customs delays, new VAT rules, and red tape for UK-EU trade, catching many businesses off guard.
• Sanctions on Russia disrupted supply chains in energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
• In 2025, the threat of new US tariffs on key imports is putting fresh pressure on global supply chains.

2. Supply chain disruptions are the new normal

It’s not just geopolitics; natural disasters, cyberattacks, and labour shortages continue to disrupt operations:

• The Ever Given ship blocking the Suez Canal in 2021 held up $9 billion of trade per day, causing delays across industries. Companies with no alternative suppliers or shipping routes suffered the most.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exposed overreliance on single suppliers, particularly in China, leading to factory shutdowns, semiconductor shortages, and months-long delays.
• The 2023 Red Sea attacks on shipping lanes disrupted global freight, driving up costs for companies relying on imports from Asia and the Middle East.

3. Hidden costs and compliance risks

Many organisations don’t know enough about their supply chains until a problem surfaces. That’s when they find out they’re overpaying for materials, violating trade regulations, or even sourcing from unethical suppliers. Examples include:

• Labour violations and supply chain ethics: Many companies face backlash when poor working conditions in their supply chains come to light. Fast fashion brands like Boohoo and Shein have been investigated for labour violations, damaging consumer trust and brand reputation. Short-term cost-cutting may boost profits today, but it’s unsustainable given growing consumer demand for ethical sourcing.
• Environmental regulations: Governments are tightening regulations to reduce carbon emissions, and businesses that fail to track their supply chain’s environmental impact risk financial penalties and reputational damage. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposes taxes on goods produced in high-emission countries. Without full supply chain visibility, companies may unknowingly source materials from suppliers with high carbon footprints, leading to unexpected costs or supply chain disruptions.

• Cybersecurity Threats: With increasing digitalisation, supply chains have become a prime target for cyberattacks. The SolarWinds supply chain hack (2020) exposed vulnerabilities across industries, affecting US government agencies and major corporations worldwide. Cybercriminals can manipulate software updates, steal data, or disrupt operations entirely. Even a short disruption can cause significant delays and financial losses.
• Spend inefficiencies: Many businesses lack visibility into their procurement spending, leading to inflated costs and missed savings opportunities.

What does good procurement and supply chain visibility look like?

Leading organisations know that end-to-end supply chain oversight isn’t just a ‘nice to have’; it’s a business imperative. The most successful companies are taking three key steps:

1. Investing in digital insights and analytics

AI, blockchain, and real-time data tools help companies track goods, predict risks, analyse spend, and react to unexpected variations faster
Example: Unilever uses blockchain to trace the origins of its palm oil, ensuring ethical sourcing.

2. Building resilient supplier networks

Relying on a single supplier per region is risky, diversification is key.
Example: Apple is mitigating tariff risks by diversifying production beyond China—expanding manufacturing in India and Vietnam, and airlifting devices to the US to avoid import duties. While reshoring iPhone production remains economically unviable, Apple is investing in US infrastructure to strengthen its overall supply chain resilience.

3. Prioritising compliance and sustainability

Sustainability isn’t just good PR; it’s a regulatory requirement.
Example: Patagonia has mapped its entire supply chain to ensure ethical and sustainable sourcing, strengthening brand loyalty.

Why this matters for your business

• Cost reduction: predict, and prepare for tariffs, optimise logistics, and cut waste
• Agility: use real-time data to react instantly when things don’t go to plan
• Stronger brand reputation: meet consumer and investors demand for ethical, transparent supply chains. A global consumer study found that 80% of shoppers prefer ethically sourced products and are willing to pay for them.
• Regulatory compliance: Stay ahead of trade laws, sustainability mandates, and cybersecurity threats

If you would like to talk about any of the points raised in this article, email: info@fourcentric.com