Global supply chains have been unpredictable for years, and the recent shifts in tariffs have added another layer of complexity. For manufacturers, distributors, and supply chain leaders, this uncertainty makes it harder to forecast costs and protect margins.
At QOC Innovations, we’ve been working closely with our customers to build creative, practical solutions inside Odoo that help them stay agile as tariffs fluctuate.
Tackling Tariffs with ERP Tools
One approach we’ve implemented with several customers is a tariff recovery fee. Built directly into Odoo, this configuration allows companies to recover unexpected tariff costs transparently, without disrupting day-to-day operations or creating complicated manual workarounds.
Here are some more specific details on how Odoo offers multiple ways to handle tariff volatility more effectively.
1. Tariff Recovery Fees
When tariffs are imposed suddenly, businesses often get caught absorbing the cost. A recovery fee within Odoo allows you to:
- Automatically apply a surcharge to certain products or categories.
- Clearly display the fee on invoices, making it transparent for customers.
- Adjust the fee quickly if tariffs increase, decrease, or expire.
This keeps your margins intact without creating extra work for your team or confusion for your customers.
2. Configurable Surcharges
Beyond tariffs, many companies face fluctuating costs in freight, fuel, or raw materials. Odoo makes it possible to:
- Configure surcharges that trigger under specific conditions (e.g., shipping to certain regions or importing from specific countries).
- Apply them selectively so you’re not penalizing all customers—only where needed.
- Automate the calculation so your team isn’t manually adjusting pricing every time costs shift.
This approach builds flexibility into your pricing model, so you can adapt without slowing down operations.
3. Scenario-Based Reporting
Tariff policy often changes overnight, leaving businesses scrambling to model the impact. With Odoo’s reporting and analytics tools, we help customers:
- Create “what if” models to simulate tariff hikes or new categories being added.
- Compare multiple scenarios side by side to understand best- and worst-case outcomes.
- Make more informed decisions about sourcing, pricing, and customer communications.
Having these insights before tariffs hit allows you to make proactive, strategic moves instead of reactive ones.
By embedding these tools in your ERP, you can respond faster to policy changes and keep your supply chain running smoothly.
Turning Uncertainty Into Resilience
While tariffs may be outside of your control, how you respond doesn’t have to be. With the right ERP strategies, you can turn today’s uncertainty into an opportunity to strengthen your operations and forecast more accurately.
If you’d like to learn more about how customers are approaching these challenges in Odoo- or explore what might work for your business- we’d be glad to share ideas.
Contact us to start the conversation
About the authors
Larry is a Delivery Manager at QOC who brings extensive manufacturing experience and a deep understanding of business processes to help clients achieve success through effective ERP implementations.
Quentin is a Business Consultant at QOC with in-depth expertise in Odoo and is fluent in French. He helps clients streamline their operations and get the most out of their ERP systems.