CARGOCONNECT-OCTOBER2024 - Flipbook - Page 35
LOGISTICS WORKFORCE : SPECIAL FEATURE
I
ndia’s logistics sector is currently undergoing a signi昀椀cant
transformation, fuelled by the
seamless integration of technology. However, as the sector plays
a pivotal role in orchestrating
the movement of goods and
services across the country,
it faces a critical crossroads.
The convergence of technology and logistics operations highlights the
imperative to tackle the escalating skills
gap through strategic skill enhancement.
Logistics companies have the opportunity to embark on a transformative path,
augmenting their workforce’s digital and
technological pro昀椀ciency to embrace a future
characterised by operational e昀케ciency and
technological adeptness.
The World Economic Forum (WEF)’s
2023 Future of Jobs Report echoes this
sentiment, forecasting that by 2027, six
out of ten workers will need to acquire
new skills to e昀昀ectively ful昀椀l their roles.
However, a signi昀椀cant challenge arises, as
only about half of these workers will have
access to adequate training opportunities.
As logistics companies stand on the
threshold of integrating technology seamlessly,
a customised approach to skill development
becomes imperative. These skills, intricately
aligned with the ever-expanding logistics
landscape, will be pivotal, much like the
signi昀椀cance of Supply Chain Data Analytics.
“Over the years, the logistics industry
has undergone a profound transformation,”
states Vikash Khatri, Founder of Aviral
Consulting. “Previously perceived as manual
and labour-intensive, job roles revolved
around physical tasks like moving heavy
goods and truck transportation. However,
today, the industry has evolved into a highly
specialised, dynamic, and e昀케cient landscape,
largely driven by technology.”
Vikash further elaborates, “Digitalisation has played a pivotal role in reshaping
traditional logistics roles, introducing automation, data analytics, and connectivity.
This shift has resulted in the emergence
of numerous new job roles across various
streams of logistics, each demanding a
unique set of skills.”
In order to adapt to this changing landscape, Vikash emphasises that companies
must invest in training programmes for
digital tools, promote a culture of adaptability, and encourage continuous learning among their workforce. “Additionally,
fostering collaboration between IT and
logistics teams is crucial for seamlessly
integrating digital solutions into existing
operations,” he adds.
“The logistics industry has evolved into
a highly specialised, dynamic, e昀케cient, and
tech-driven sector, thanks to digitalisation. This shift is fundamentally reshaping
traditional logistics roles by introducing
automation, data analytics, and connectivity,” notes Alpana Chaturvedi, CEO of My
Logistics Gurukul.
Alpana further highlights the emergence of numerous new job roles across all
streams of logistics, including warehousing,
freight forwarding, and e-commerce, each
demanding diverse skill sets. To navigate
this transformation, she advises, “Companies
must invest in training programmes for
digital tools, cultivate a culture of adaptability, and promote continuous learning
among their workforce.”
Moreover, she emphasises the importance of collaboration between IT and
logistics teams to seamlessly integrate
digital solutions into existing operations,
ensuring a smoother transition into this
tech-driven era of logistics.
“The logistics industry has undergone
a signi昀椀cant transformation over the past
few decades, largely driven by advancements
in technology,” annotates Walid Khoury,
Managing Director of ALS Logistics Solutions. “This evolution has reshaped the way
goods are transported, tracked, and managed
across the supply chain.” According to Walid,
digitalisation is playing a pivotal role in
transforming traditional logistics roles in
several key ways. “Automation and robotics
have become integral, leading to increased
efficiency and reduced labour costs,” he
notes. “Data-driven decision-making is
now possible, with logistics professionals utilising real-time data for informed
decision-making and process optimisation.”
Moreover, he highlights the importance of
predictive analytics in forecasting demand
and optimising inventory levels.
Furthermore, Walid emphasises the
role of Internet of Things (IoT) devices
in providing real-time visibility into the
movement and condition of goods, enhancing tracking and monitoring capabilities.
“Visibility and transparency in the supply
chain have signi昀椀cantly improved,” he adds.
“This enables better coordination among
stakeholders and faster issue resolution.”
Walid also underscores the importance
of supply chain collaboration facilitated
by digitalisation, as well as the potential
of blockchain technology in enhancing
transparency and trust among stakeholders. In addressing the challenges posed by
digitalisation, Walid recommends steps
such as investing in training programmes,
promoting a culture of innovation, rede昀椀ning
job roles, and collaborating with educational
institutions to ensure workforce readiness
and competitiveness.
According to Magali Beauregard Ta,
CCO, CargoAi, “Digitalisation is fundamentally reshaping traditional logistics roles by
automating repetitive tasks, streamlining
processes, and enhancing data-driven
decision-making at its core.”
Magali highlights how tasks such as
procuring freight rates and booking cargo
shipments, or tracking and sharing milestones updates, which once took hours and
required extensive manual e昀昀ort, can now be
accomplished swiftly with digitalisation. She
notes, “Companies can reduce procurement
and booking times from hours to seconds,
bringing a better customer experience
with features like online track and trace
portal o昀昀ering instant shipment updates,
enabled by API integration, as exempli昀椀ed
by CargoAi.”
The World Economic Forum
(WEF)’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report
forecast that by 2027, six out of ten
workers will need to acquire new
skills to effectively fulfil their
roles. However, a significant
challenge arises, as only about half
of these workers will have access
to adequate training opportunities.
CARGOCONNECT OCTOBER 2024 | 35
