Trade Conflicts Drive Rapid Adoption of AI Software

 

The persistent trade conflicts and erratic tariff declarations from the US, Europe, and China have thrown financial markets and global trade systems into turmoil.

Many businesses are grappling with the fallout of this shifting economic landscape, facing delays in transactions, rising costs for goods and bilateral trade, and heightened demands for trade compliance.

In response, the World Trade Organization has revised its trade forecasts for 2025. The global trade entity anticipates a significant drop in merchandise trade and a slight downturn in services trade, largely influenced by North America's updated prediction of a 12.6% decrease in exports and 9.6% in imports for 2025.

The evolving trade landscape is creating opportunities for technology firms to introduce innovative AI solutions aimed at enhancing business operations in areas such as awareness, monitoring, calculation, compliance, risk management, and customs documentation and payments.

These solutions vary widely, with numerous AI companies concentrating on automating the classification of goods and associated tariff calculations, thereby streamlining trade compliance. This intricate process has historically posed significant challenges in international trade. A notable example is Avalara, a software company based in the United States, which has launched its Avalara Automated Tariff Code Classification. This AI-powered system is specifically designed to simplify and expedite the tariff classification process.

In a bid to enhance the monitoring and management of customs and tariffs, governments are increasingly turning to advanced AI technologies. One notable innovation comes from ScanTech AI Systems, a tech firm based in Georgia, which has launched CustomsTrace AI. This cutting-edge tool assists state agencies in identifying and verifying goods sensitive to tariffs at national borders, effectively curbing the unauthorized or illegal importation of restricted items.

As trade wars compel businesses to rethink their supply chains, inventory management, and manufacturing locations to maximize free trade and minimize shipping costs, the need for robust data management systems becomes paramount. In response, various companies are developing AI-driven solutions aimed at streamlining shipping and customs operations to tackle labor and shipping challenges. Among them is Avathon, an industrial AI company from California, which has unveiled AI software designed to offer comprehensive risk management solutions throughout the entire shipping process. 

With global discussions surrounding trade wars easing, providing a boost to financial markets, AI technology firms are tasked with the challenge of sustaining a viable business model to ensure their growth persists, irrespective of market fluctuations.