How tariffs and geopolitical shifts forced QSC to rethink sourcing
Karon manages the global functions of logistics, procurement, sourcing, global planning — both supply and demand — and trade compliance. She says that the current pressures, such as geopolitical influences and materials shortages, have meant her day-to-day looks different from what it would in "normal" times as the business navigates new challenges. She says, “It’s a lot more tactical than it would normally be, but we still have the strategic side to focus on, one area of which is digital transformation.”
Karon is expanding the e2open connected supply chain platform to support QSC’s broader supply chain digital transformation. Recent additions include long-tail Supplier Collaboration and Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO) capabilities, with Global Trade Management and Duty Management underway. Together, these capabilities help QSC improve supplier collaboration, inventory optimization, and demand and supply planning across a more complex sourcing environment.
For QSC, tariff disruption has become a significant challenge. Shifting trade policies have pushed the company toward multi-sourcing strategies, even for products that were historically single-sourced. In the AV/IT industry, where QSC operates, tariff exposure is acute, and policy changes directly affect sourcing and procurement decisions. Without centralized supply chain data, QSC faced greater risk and less agility — the kinds of conditions that can slow any company trying to navigate a rapidly changing trade environment.
A connected supply chain platform for real-time visibility
The agility that e2open provides to QSC cannot be underestimated, Karon says. A collaborative platform helps teams move from a reactive approach — waiting for information manually and digesting reports — to a more proactive way of working. It also allows the business to capitalize on a connected trading partner ecosystem and view the supply chain holistically. “It’s the buzzword that everyone is talking about, but I believe everybody on this planet does something that touches somebody. People in the past used to think of supply chain as purchasing. Now, with these collaborative tools, you don’t have to stay in four walls.”
“This real-time supply chain visibility gives us flexibility, which means the ability to increase revenue,” Karon explains. “We’re able to use the data on the platform to understand forecast bias and forecast accuracy. It also allows us to better understand inventory needs and optimize levels and locations — which is helpful to external stakeholders, too.”
“Then, my team is able to create different scenarios and see how it affects the overall business, allowing us the insight to increase revenue in areas where we currently have inventory, while we’re waiting to replenish other items.”
An agent of change: Why supply chain leaders need external expertise
“People need to get out of the old-fashioned mentality that ERP can do everything and educate themselves about what they need, look at their processes, and get help. I think the reason why technology innovations fail at companies is that they think they know everything and feel no outside expertise in business process excellence is required.”
She’s speaking from experience. Karon has led two successful technology implementations, and she’s of the opinion that whenever a rollout has not worked as planned, it’s been because people didn’t want to get outside help from experts on process development before implementing a tool or technology. It’s no surprise that Karon has been named one of supply chain’s most influential women. She says this is because she’s always had great people to learn from and recognizes that people now say the same about her.
With headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, QSC has regional offices throughout Europe and Asia, serving its customers with audio products, including power amplifiers, loudspeakers, digital mixers, and digital signal processors.
It also offers the Q-SYS cloud-based audio, video, and control platform, delivering reliable, scalable, and flexible solutions for corporate, education, hospitality, venues and events, cinema, government, healthcare, and transportation customers worldwide.
Business impact: From crisis to confidence
Within weeks of implementing Supplier Collaboration, QSC achieved immediate, measurable improvements:
Reduced overdue purchase orders from more than a hundred to just two
Freed buyers from transactional work to focus on lead times, supplier engagement, and customer communication
Gained visibility to confidently evaluate multi-source alternatives in hours, not weeks
Nishith Mohnot, Senior Manager of Business Systems on Karon’s team at QSC, adds:
"E2open has become our core supply chain platform, giving us all our critical information in one place and enabling true collaboration. Within weeks of implementing long tail [Supplier Collaboration], we reduced overdue POs from over a hundred to just two—freeing our buyers from transactional work so they can focus on improving lead times, supplier engagement, and delivering more reliable dates to our customers."
Watch the full video, How QSC Centralized Supply Chain Data and Adapted to Tariff Disruption with e2open, to hear more from Nishith Mohnot about how tariffs are reshaping sourcing strategies — and how QSC is improving supply chain visibility in response.
Building supply chain resilience in a changing trade environment
As tariffs continue to reshape global supply chains, QSC is focused on building supply chain resilience in a changing trade environment. With e2open as its core supply chain platform, QSC is better equipped to respond to trade challenges, support its AV/IT platform strategy, and keep evolving in an increasingly complex global market. The partnership with e2open helps QSC stay ahead of disruption, not just react to it.
Download the case study to learn how QSC is using the e2open connected supply chain platform to centralize data, improve supplier collaboration, respond to tariff disruption, and build the agility needed for a multi-source supply chain strategy. Or contact us to schedule a demo and see how e2open supports supply chain digital transformation in action.
Frequently asked questions
What is supply chain digital transformation?
Supply chain digital transformation is the use of connected platforms, shared data, and automation to improve visibility, collaboration, and decision-making across supply chain operations.
How does centralized supply chain data help companies respond to tariff disruption?
Centralized supply chain data gives teams a clearer view of trade impacts, sourcing options, supplier performance, and inventory needs so they can make faster, more confident decisions when tariffs change.
Why is real-time supply chain visibility important for multi-sourcing strategies?
Real-time supply chain visibility helps companies compare suppliers, evaluate lead times, manage risk, and adjust sourcing strategies before disruption affects customer commitments.
How does supplier collaboration improve supply chain performance?
Supplier collaboration improves performance by helping buyers and suppliers share updates, resolve issues earlier, reduce overdue purchase orders, and deliver more reliable dates to customers.
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