Tariffs, Fiscal Policies and Geopolitical Tensions Amplify the Urgent Need for N-Tier Supply Chain Transparency
CHICAGO, IL, April 3, 2025 – Sphera, a leading provider of integrated sustainability and operational risk management software, data and consulting services, today announced the launch of its new N-Tier solution within its Supply Chain Transparency product line. This innovative solution addresses critical gaps in supply chain risk management by providing real-time visibility into Tier-N suppliers, enabling organizations to proactively mitigate risks before they escalate.
Lack of visibility beyond Tier 1 creates vulnerability
The need for deeper supply chain transparency has never been more pressing. In an environment where widening tariffs, stringent fiscal policies and complex geopolitical dynamics create ongoing disruptions, supply chain leaders are under immense pressure to enhance visibility beyond Tier 1. Without clear insights into upstream suppliers, organizations remain vulnerable to financial instability, regulatory non-compliance and operational disruptions. Soon to be released research from Sphera underscores this urgency, revealing that a majority of chief procurement officers and chief supply chain officers struggle to map their supply chains beyond Tier 1. In fact, 34.8% of organizations cite supplier cooperation as a major hurdle, while 32.4% point to poor data quality as a significant barrier to achieving true N-Tier visibility.
“More than ever before, the lack of upstream visibility is contributing to the uncertainty that supply chain leaders must navigate daily,” said Naved Siddique, chief product officer of Sphera. “Limited visibility into Tier-N suppliers exposes organizations to both operational, regulatory and financial risks. If organizations are unable to map and track suppliers beyond Tier 1, they will remain prone to shocks occurring in the upstream supply network.”
“Traditional N-Tier solutions often fall short, exacerbating confusion rather than providing clarity. Most N-Tier solutions on the market are adding to the complexity rather than solving it, which is why Sphera ensured that our solution is not purely driven by AI, which often inundates users with unintelligible noise stemming from a complex web of tens of thousands of potential sub-tier suppliers, hindering actionable insights,” Siddique added. “Sphera’s N-Tier solution supports corporate objectives to build strategic and holistic resilience across supply networks, empowering organizations to maintain control over supplier selection and monitor risk in critical areas of their supply chains.”
Introducing Sphera’s N-Tier solution: a unified approach to supply chain risk management
N-Tier, which is part of Sphera’s wider Supply Chain Transparency solution, delivers a comprehensive, data-driven approach to supply chain risk management by integrating:
- Artificial Intelligence: Automates risk detection and data aggregation for real-time insights.
- Human Intelligence: Empowers organizations with an intuitive validation system to accurately map their supplier network.
- Supplier Intelligence: Facilitates direct engagement and enhanced collaboration with suppliers to improve data accuracy and compliance monitoring through assessments.
Key Benefits of Sphera’s N-Tier Solution
With these capabilities, organizations can anticipate and mitigate risks before they escalate. Sphera’s N-Tier solution enables early risk detection by identifying potential disruptions within the extended supply chain, ensuring proactive risk management. Additionally, it strengthens compliance monitoring, helping companies navigate evolving regulatory and sustainability requirements with confidence.
Beyond compliance, disruption intelligence is another critical advantage. Organizations gain real-time insights into supplier, geopolitical and environmental risks, allowing them to respond quickly to emerging challenges. This, in turn, supports cost avoidance by addressing vulnerabilities before they impact operations. Moreover, the solution enhances alternative supplier visibility, granting businesses access to a global network of suppliers and supporting multi-sourcing strategies that bolster supply chain agility.
A Game-Changer for Resilient, Sustainable Supply Chains
As companies prioritize sustainability and risk resilience, achieving upstream and midstream supply chain visibility has become essential. By equipping organizations with real-time supplier insights, Sphera’s N-Tier solution enables businesses to transition from reactive crisis management to proactive risk mitigation. In an increasingly complex global environment, this capability ensures robust, sustainable and future-proof supply networks.
For more information about the N-Tier solution, click here.
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About Sphera
Sphera is the leading provider of integrated sustainability and operational risk management software, data and consulting services focusing on Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability, Process Safety, Product Stewardship and Supply Chain Transparency. For more than 30 years, we have served 8,500 customers and a million-plus users in 100 countries to help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive. Learn more about Sphera at https://sphera.com/. Follow Sphera on LinkedIn.
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