Behind the many new economic opportunities discovered by India is the logistics industry. The growth of the sector, which is the backbone of the economy, is directly linked to the economic growth of India as a whole.
While generally wary of the media, India’s logistics industry has recently come into focus. Following the vision of India Inc to compete based on issues such as increased consumerism across the country and last-mile delivery efficiency, its profile has become more pronounced.
With an incredibly healthy growth rate of 10.5 percent per year, the industry is also emerging as one of the leading employers. With sectoral investments expected to reach $ 500 billion by 2025 (according to the IBEF report), it is expected to employ 40 million professionals by 2020.
Logistics, once considered a low-skilled industry, is emerging today as a sought-after sector for employment due to the role of digitization, the deployment of global best practices, and increased economic relevance.
Behind the many new economic opportunities discovered by India is the logistics industry. The growth of the sector, which is the backbone of the economy, is directly linked to the economic growth of India as a whole. As a result, the emergence of India as an expected $ 5 trillion economy would create half a million jobs in the various sub-sectors of the logistics industry. As such, it is a great career opportunity for both skilled professionals and beginners.
The professional potential of bottom line logistics
Obviously, logistics is a gold mine opportunity waiting to be explored. However, realizing this opportunity will require the creation of a strong pool of skilled human resources from which the industry can take advantage. The growing maturity of the industry places itself in India’s economic growth story, contributing to the emergence of complex value chains in various sub-sectors such as Transportation, Supply Chain Management, Storage and Distribution.
Therefore, studying logistics creates a tremendous field for professional development as the industry’s involvement in all aspects of the business increases. However, traditional university degrees do not offer real world view and job relevance. The information gap must therefore be bridged. Industry-related training that gets a professional up and running in the field right away is the need for hours.
Addressing the industry skills gap
Given the impact of technology, the need for industry-related training is also increasing. Industry 4.0, defined by the industry’s use of technologies such as automation, digitization, Internet of Things, and Blockchain, created the need for a technologically advanced skilled workforce. Today, the logistics industry is in great demand for professionals with specialized skills such as data analytics, data management, project mapping, warehouse management systems, process transformation. These types of skills require a strong foundation in science and technology. At the same time, their educational backgrounds in International Business, Trade, Foreign Trade and Accounts are of high relevance to the industry.
Career outlook
For a formally trained student, the logistics industry offers many career options. These include
- E-commerce
- Warehousing
- Shipping lines
- Aviation (Cargo)
- Freight forwarding
- Manufacturing
- Cargo terminal operators
- Port operators and ICDs
- Road transport
Considering the sector’s academic diversity, there are job opportunities for people of all educational levels. The sector’s push towards constant skill up-gradation makes it a great option for people looking for a lifetime of professional growth. While it has a rich demand for skills, the sector has no inherent gender bias, offering equal opportunities to women. And, the sheer diversity of roles and the sector’s depth and agility make it an exciting career opportunity. There are also abundant opportunities to emerge as a logistics entrepreneur.
Benefits of entering the logistics sector
Whatever path one chooses, it comes with a guarantee of doing something new every day. The workday will never be boring; instead, amid India’s robust economic growth story, the sector can only acquire more depth, diversity, and relevance. Since logistics is deeply integrated into supply chains everywhere, it offers a recession-proof career opportunity for those willing to work hard and constantly up-skill themselves.
Even a basic graduation degree can pave the way for great career growth opportunities if applicants regularly invest even a small amount in educating themselves and acquiring basic skills. The sector offers great opportunities for travel, as work locations are flexible and depend on day-to-day requirements. Of course, one has to keep in mind that high stress and tight timelines are part and parcel of the job but that’s a mantra for success in all fields!
The sector has come of age, today shaping the future of people, organizations, and entire nations with socio-economic relevance in supply chains. Cognizant of its importance and status as a next-gen employment industry of choice, companies like MyLogistics Gurukul are working to serve as a bridge for people to enter the sector, by offering skills and enabling job readiness.