6 Careers You Can Pursue In The Logistics Industry

Logistics is one of those overlooked industries that people often don’t think twice about, but the truth is all of us have a touchpoint with it in our everyday lives.

From the clothes you’re wearing to the devices you’re using, everything that you have today is a result of logistics and the supply chain. Think of your smartphone – it’s made up of different materials which have been assembled to form a working device. Suppliers provide the raw materials, manufacturers build the products, and distributors hand the finished goods to retailers.

Apart from ensuring that our needs are met, the logistics industry is also a crucial enabler of our country’s economy. According to the Singapore Economic Development Board, the industry contributed more than 7% to Singapore’s GDP and employed over 8% of the total workforce in 2015.

With the launch of the Logistics Industry Transformation Map last year, the industry is also projected to grow with the introduction of 2,000 new jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technicians by 2020.

This booming industry has tons of career opportunities for you to choose from:

As one of the first links in the supply chain, buying is an important function that can account for up to 70 per cent of a company’s cost of doing business. E-Commerce companies, such as Zalora and Qoo10, recruit buyers to source and select goods, meet and maintain rapport with suppliers, place orders, and recommend new products. This role requires you to stay plugged into emerging trends and gives you the exciting opportunity to positively influence the masses.

Customer care associates play a valuable role in the logistics industry, where quality and efficiency are key to running a smooth business. As they interact with clients on a regular basis, these employees act as ambassadors and demonstrate the strengths and values of an organisation. Their key function is to ensure client satisfaction, which can entail handling rate requests and quotations, shipment arrangements and customer feedback.

This hands-on role involves overseeing the movement of goods at distribution facilities and warehouses. On a typical day, operations executives ensure that incoming supplies are accounted for and properly stored, and that outgoing products leave the facility in the right numbers and condition.

Operations executives with experience can then progress to lead a team in middle management positions. Operations managers have a much more diverse scope, which includes implementing operational changes, refining safety procedures, and managing resources.

Logistics analysts work with different departments to improve the efficiency, productivity and processes within an organisation. Their main role is to assess product delivery or supply chain processes to identify and recommend effective changes. Their dynamic job scope can also include traffic monitoring, shipment and inventory planning, master scheduling, and forecasting.

The logistics industry has evolved through the years with the adoption of advanced technologies. Businesses today are information-driven; tapping into Big Data analytics to improve operational efficiency, business models, and customer experience. For this reason, data analysts are some of the most sought-after professionals in the industry.

They typically assess the applicability of new technologies and collaborate with various stakeholders on the implementation of fresh solutions to improve operations. They are also heavily involved in user testing processes, in which they gather feedback from consumers and systems to enhance logistics operations.

If you are passionate about sustainability and the environment, this career field might be for you. Employees in this unique field focus on an organisation’s efficiency, sustainability, and environmental and social impact. Whether it’s reducing fuel reliance or gas emissions, sustainability specialists devise solutions to ensure that an organisation leaves little to no carbon footprint.

Eager to join this exciting and growing industry? Kickstart your journey with a Logistics & Supply Chain Management programme at LSBF in Singapore.