Dr. Rajiv Aselkar, Professor and Head, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, S.P. Jain School of Global Management Learn about the growing demand for logistics professionals and the most sought-after skill sets.
What is the awareness level of college and university level students regarding career prospects in the logistics and supply chain industry?
College and university level students are not very aware about the career prospects in the logistics and supply chain industry as it is an emerging industry where career opportunities are only emerging owing to physical infrastructure upgradation and ongoing investments in India. Vikash Bharat motion.
Why choose a career in logistics and supply chain management?
Over the past few years, the government has invested hundreds of crores of rupees to improve India's road, rail, port and airport infrastructure. IT infrastructure is also being upgraded to provide end-to-end visibility of cargo and facilitate digitization of processes and documentation. With the increased ease of doing business in India, a large number of multinational companies in manufacturing and services are now investing in India. These factors are contributing to opening up new opportunities for careers in logistics and supply chain management.
Are the courses currently offered at educational institutions in line with the latest market requirements of logistics and supply chain companies?
Logistics and supply chain management is a field that is constantly evolving. To keep up with the market demands, educational institutions have to take a dynamic and proactive approach to provide relevant curricula to students. Fortunately, there are educational institutions in India and abroad that offer cutting-edge courses aligned with the market demands.
What skills gaps do you see among current logistics professionals?
The main gap for logistics professionals today is in analytical skills. The industry demands programming skills in Python and R languages. Additionally, knowledge of AI/ML, data visualization, and analytics is also required. Cutting-edge courses can easily bridge these skill gaps.
What skills will logistics and supply chain professionals need in the next two years?
In the near future, the most sought-after skills will be in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to demand forecasting, inventory optimization, route planning, strategic sourcing, warehouse management, and process improvement. We will soon see large-scale digitization of manufacturing facilities, transportation vehicles, material handling equipment, and other physical assets. In their recently published book, Fusion Strategy, Harvard Business School professor Vijay Govindrajan and Boston University professor Venkat Venkatraman discuss how real-time data and AI will power the future of industry.
What challenges do students with a qualification in logistics and supply chain face while searching for a job?
If students are equipped with the skill sets required by the industry, they should have no trouble finding a good job in the field of logistics and supply chain management. In fact, organizations in manufacturing, services, e-commerce, and consulting are reporting a shortage of talent to meet their requirements.
