The technology transformation reshaping global trade:
The technology industry is moving at lightening speed, but indirect tax teams are often stuck battling outdated systems, complex global regulations, and mounting compliance risks. Did you know that 62% of tech tax teams spend most of their time reacting to issues instead of planning strategically, and under-resourced departments are 72% more likely to be audited?
With digital business models, constant regulatory changes, and a shrinking talent pool, the stakes have never been higher. Discover how leading tech companies are leveraging automation and smarter data integration to turn these challenges into strategic advantages.
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New Thomson Reuters Institute research reveals unprecedented technology adoption as tariff volatility forces corporate trade teams from compliance function to strategic business partner.
The global trade landscape has fundamentally shifted. What once required periodic adjustments now demands real-time agility. With 72% of trade professionals citing U.S. tariff volatility as the most impactful regulatory change, and 76% believing these tariffs represent a permanent shift in trade policy for at least the next four years, corporate trade departments face unprecedented pressure.
But crisis breeds opportunity. Forward-thinking organizations are leveraging this moment to transform their trade functions through technology — emerging not just as compliance gatekeepers, but as strategic drivers of business value. The data tells a remarkable story of rapid transformation.
16%
Regulatory Changes
Technology adoption
The manual era is over
Current technology in use
Technology adoption accelerates at unprecedented pace
The manual era is over
43%
Current technology in use
How leading trade departments are turning crisis into competitive advantage
Multiple forces creating urgency for change
Tariff volatility
Supply chain disruption
Regulatory complexity
Cost pressures
72% cite tariff volatility as most impactful change
76% expect tariffs to remain for 4+ years
Tariff volatility
26% of exports at risk from countermeasure tariffs
26%
23% of US imports at risk from US-imposed tariffs
23%
68% say supply chain management is their top priority (nearly double the 35% from 2024)
68%
Supply chain disruption
49% impacted by Corporate Transparency Act
53% impacted by Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
54% impacted by export controls
33% cite regulations as top priority (up from 21% in 2024)
Regulatory complexity
72%
Cost pressures
Trade departments are navigating what the Thomson Reuters Institute describes as
"an avalanche of serious challenges."
The convergence of tariff volatility, supply chain fragility, escalating regulatory requirements, and margin compression is forcing a fundamental rethink of how trade functions operate. Manual processes and legacy systems can no longer keep pace with the speed and complexity of today's trade environment.
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40% of organizations now exploring AI or blockchain
Up from just 6% in 2024
2025
2024
7x
That's a
increase in one year
The shift from manual to automated trade management represents one of the fastest technology adoption curves in corporate history. Driven by the urgent need for real-time visibility, scenario planning, and compliance accuracy, organizations are moving decisively away from spreadsheets and legacy systems toward integrated, AI-powered platforms.
This isn't just about efficiency — it's about survival. As one trade professional noted in the research: "Project schedules are impacted by the complexity and delays in regulatory compliance and customs clearance." Technology is the only scalable answer to managing complexity at speed.
6%
40%
Only 1% still using manual systems significantly (down from much higher baseline)
Only 2% at early stages of technology adoption (down from 40% in 2024)
24% have established technology with no immediate changes planned
40% actively exploring emerging technologies
49%
54%
55%
56%
58%
Using transportation management systems
Using supply chain visibility tools
Using supply chain management systems
Using ERP automation
Using trade/ supply chain data analytics
Using trade compliance/ customs systems
Data Points
64% using tech for analysis of trade lanes
60% using tech for identifying risk factors and cost-saving opportunities
51% using tech for supply chain mapping
Technology is enabling trade departments to shift from reactive to proactive operations. Real-time data analytics, AI-powered classification, and scenario modeling allow teams to anticipate disruptions, evaluate alternatives, and make informed decisions before crises hit.
This capability has become essential: with tariffs changing "seemingly overnight," as the report notes, accurate and up-to-date information enables the agile, informed decision-making that modern trade requires.
From analysis to action: Technology driving strategic capabilities
Analysis & visibility
Analysis & visibility
Scenario planning
Scenario planning
Analysis & visibility
55% using tech for what-if scenario planning
Compliance & programs
Analysis & visibility
Compliance & programs
51% using tech for identifying savings through Foreign Trade Zones and special programs
49% using tech to optimize import/export processes
41% using tech for FTA compliance automation
Priority investment areas
Top technology investment priorities for next 12 months:
Better supply chain visibility
Supply chain security and data protection
Predictive analytics
Transaction compliance
Insights into tariff changes and impact
35%
26%
24%
23%
20%
Technology transformation elevates trade department influence
experiencing enhanced influence over procurement decision
43%
seeing increased budget allocation for additional headcount
43%
receiving increased budget for technology solutions
38%
reporting more frequent involvement in executive decision-making
37%
Positive changes from technology & tariff complexity
Cross-functional collaboration increasing
22% report enhanced collaboration with other departments
The data reveals a fundamental revaluation of trade's importance to organizational success. Technology transformation isn't just making trade teams more efficient — it's making them more influential. With the ability to model tariff scenarios, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure compliance at scale, trade professionals are earning their seat at the strategic table.
50%
with finance
30%
with IT
46%
with operations
30%
with procurement/ supply chain
expect even greater influence over procurement
61%
56%
55%
53%
Expected growth in next 12 months
expect higher recognition as strategic business partners
expect more visibility of their function's value
expect greater involvement in executive decision-making
As the report concludes: "Trade departments are emerging from the sometimes-unseen shadows of back-office operations into key strategic roles at the executive table."
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© 2026 Thomson Reuters TR6854638/01-26
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Thomson Reuters Institute, 2026 Global Trade Report
"The challenges of 2025 are significant and will certainly continue into 2026 and beyond... However, these challenges pale in comparison to the opportunities available to those businesses that approach trade management with strategic vision, technological sophistication, and organizational courage."
The transformation of corporate trade departments from compliance function to strategic business partner is accelerating. Technology is both the catalyst and the enabler of this change. Organizations that invest now in integrated, AI-powered trade management platforms will not only navigate today's volatility—they'll establish lasting competitive advantages.
The future of trade is technology-enabled
52%
expect increased budget for additional headcount
53%
expect increased budget for training and development
65%
expect increased budget for technology solutions in next 12 months
Building the technology-enabled trade department
The Thomson Reuters Institute emphasizes: "Forward-thinking organizations are viewing this as an opportunity to close existing technology gaps and gain competitive advantages." The time to act is now.
4 Explore emerging technologies
Pilot AI for classification and risk assessment
Evaluate blockchain for supply chain traceability
Leverage machine learning for pattern recognition
3 Enable strategic capabilities
Deploy scenario planning tools
Implement predictive analytics
Build real-time visibility dashboards
2 Automate core processes
Deploy trade compliance automation
Implement AI-powered classification
Automate FTA compliance and documentation
1 Establish data foundation
Integrate systems across trade, ERP, procurement
Implement trade/supply chain data analytics
Ensure data quality and consistency
Organizations pursuing these mitigation strategies cannot execute them effectively without technology. Classification engineering, sourcing pattern changes, and scenario planning all depend on real-time data, analytics, and automation. The gap between technology-enabled and manual organizations is growing exponentially.
The competitive gap is widening
46%
pursuing classification engineering (requires classification databases and AI)
51%
considering nearshoring/reshoring (requires total landed cost analysis)
57%
renegotiating supplier contracts (requires scenario modeling)
65%
changing sourcing patterns (requires analytics to evaluate alternatives)
The perfect storm
The technology adoption explosion
What trade departments are using technology for
The strategic elevation
The imperative
The path forward
Conclusion
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39% of companies absorbing tariff costs rather than passing to customers (up from just 13% in 2024)
