FAP’s Role in the Wake of Tariff Disruption, with Insights from Bart De Muynck
Tariff policy shifts aren’t just headlines—they’re high-stakes variables that can reshape budgets, sourcing strategies, and carrier decisions overnight. As new trade agreements form and retaliatory tariffs loom, logistics professionals are left navigating unpredictable waters. Bart De Muynck, supply chain thought leader and industry analyst, describes it best: we’re in the middle of a “tariff tornado.”
In his recent article on Better Supply Chains—Navigating the Tariff Tornado: How Modern FAP Platforms Become Supply Chain’s Agile Anchor—Bart explains why modern freight audit and payment (FAP) platforms are no longer back-office utilities—they’re strategic anchors that empower shippers to make faster, smarter decisions in the face of market chaos.
The Tariff Tornado is Real—and It’s Costly
Bart calls today’s trade environment a “complex and unpredictable storm of trade policies that is significantly impacting every facet of transportation.” And he’s right.
Rapidly enacted tariffs, shifting duties, and uncertain timelines create ripple effects across procurement, budgeting, and carrier contracts.
For shippers, the result is clear: traditional processes can’t keep up. Cost forecasting becomes guesswork. Sourcing strategies become outdated before they’re even implemented.
Freight Audit & Payment: From Cost Control to Strategic Command
Modern FAP platforms are uniquely positioned to bring order to the chaos. According to Bart:
“FAP platforms emerge as a critical anchor, with modern, technologically advanced vendors…providing the precision and insight needed to navigate the storm.”
These platforms don’t just check invoices—they help identify overcharges, normalize cross-carrier data, and reveal hidden cost drivers in real time. When tariffs shift, shippers with a modern FAP platform can better understand the impact, adjust quickly, and mitigate costly surprises.
Visibility, Accuracy, and Agility: What Shippers Need Now
Bart emphasizes that shippers need more than just audit logs—they need dynamic, intelligent systems that fuel cross-functional decision-making. He notes the following as core capabilities to consider:
- Automation & AI integration
- Enhanced data analytics and business intelligence
- Freight audit and visibility
- Real-time insights and spend management
In short: FAP isn’t just about invoice auditing and accuracy, it’s about data that fuels intelligent decisions making—the core requirement for an agile supply chain strategy.
Hear More From Bart De Muynck: Webinar on August 19, 2025
If you want more insights from Bart and the team at IA, catch our upcoming webinar:
Essential Insights for Shippers with Bart De Muynck: Q3 2025
August 19, 2025 | 2:00 PM ET
We’ll be diving into:
- What's new in parcel shipping and the moves you need to be making to control costs
- Global trade & tariffs
- AI's impact on the logistics industry
- Final checkpoints before peak season
