How to become A Logistics Analyst

From groceries to your most recent retail therapy session, every item you buy owes its entire life cycle from ‘design to disposal’ to Logistics Analysts. As skilled professionals who consolidate and coordinate the supply chain that moves a product from supplier to consumer, Logistics Analysts have significant power to make or break the economy.

• Logistics Specialist
• Logistician
• Logistics Professional

What do Logistics Analysts do?

A Logistics Analyst would typically need to:

• Analyse the company’s supply chain; manage how the products are acquired, allocated, and delivered
• Understand how company products need to be handled and stored; operate equipment needed to store and ship products
• Make use of IT systems to manage product inventory, transport costs, and delivery times; control the order cycle; coordinate carrier and third-party services using related information systems
• Maintain company warehouses; monitor carrier and third-party services
• Set objectives; plan projects; brainstorm supply strategies to make delivery more efficient; coordinate vehicle routes for a streamlined transport of products
• Document invoices and payment postings
• Liaise and negotiate with suppliers of raw materials, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers
• Manage the relationship between suppliers and clients; understand how to meet client needs effectively; provide consultancy services using specialised knowledge
• Respond to consumer complaints related to shipping, lost items, or damaged products
• Develop the company business by acquiring new contracts, advancing e-commerce activities, analysing logistical problems, and producing feasible solutions
• Ensure progress is compatible with fuel costs, current legislation and increasing environmental issues
• Evaluate staff performance and quality of products; implement health and safety procedures; allocate resources as needed
• Communicate with company management and merchandise salespeople; train members of staff; motivate team members; inform management of pressing performance issues

The working environment may vary from one company to the next, but Logistics Analysts generally work in offices or warehouses and on shop floors.

Logistics Analysts may need to travel long distances, sometimes even overseas, to manufacturing plants or distribution centres.

Logistics Analysts typically work 60 hours per week with varying schedules. Some companies which offer 24-hour services may need employees to work in shifts, including evenings and weekends.

Logistics Analysts are needed in almost every industry, in both private and public sectors. They generally work in the logistical department of a company or for firms specialising in logistical work. You can boost your job search by asking your network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Logistics Analysts are generally employed by:

• The Manufacturing Industry
• Government Organisations
• Retail Companies
• Aviation Companies
• Rail Providers
• Engineering Firms
• Freight-Shipping Companies
• The Wholesale Trade Industry

Professional associations and organisations such as the International Society of Logistics (SOLE) are crucial for a Logistics Analyst interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Stress from fast-paced logistical work on the one hand; lack of mental stimulation due to the repetitiveness of specific tasks
• The need to be away from home for long periods while travelling long distances, perhaps even overseas
• Intense competition and pressure to keep deadlines

Work experience in fields related to logistics, logistical support, supply chains, and business may help catch the attention of prospective employers. Dispatchers, clerks, and those in logistics positions in the military gain valuable knowledge about production and supply processes; it will stand them in good stead if they wish to switch careers and become Logistics Analysts.

Large logistics companies may offer graduate recruitment programs which will help trainees understand the legal requirements for transport and managerial skills, among other aspects of supply-chain management.

As in any career, reading as much about the profession and interviewing those working in the logistics industry are other important ways to explore your interest.

Although an associate degree will suffice for an entry-level position, employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in business, systems engineering, or supply chain management.

Courses including operational database management, system dynamics, and software such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) will prove your ability to manage complex logistics and supply chains.

Companies may consider a degree, foundation degree, or Higher National Diploma (HND) in logistics, distribution and transportation management, business, computing, economics, geography, information systems, and management to be an essential requirement in other locations.

Certification demonstrates a Logistics Analyst’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Certification in supply chain and supplier relationship management can prove your professional competence and a deep insight into logistics. Bear in mind that candidates who seek employment with their country’s equivalent of a Department of Defence may need to earn additional certifications. Check the official website for exact details.

A Logistics Analyst with desirable professional qualifications and experience in addition to consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion into positions of management of larger units or logistic management.

Senior positions include additional responsibilities such as business development and overseeing the efficient management of an organisation’s labour, information, capital and facilities, finances, human resources, production, and IT systems.

Candidates with the necessary skills, education, and experience in using logistical software or undertaking logistical work for the military have the best job prospects.

Acquiring qualifications such as the Certificate or Diploma in Management Studies (CMS/DMS) or a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), logistics, or supply chain management may be essential for career progression.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Logistics Analyst build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs. Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Logistics Analysts working on a consultancy basis have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort, and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Logistics Analyst has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety. When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Logistics Analysis Through Time

The earliest known use of logistics may be traced back to the transport of an optimal number of men, machinery, and supplies to the right place at the right time during the first recorded military campaign.

It made an entry into the business world only in the 1950s to improve production and material handling. When trucks replaced railways in the delivery of freight, specific delivery time frames became an important criterion of commercial success, highlighting the contribution of logistics.

Distribution, transportation, and supply professionals began to use computers to coordinate logistics in the 1970s; however, it wasn’t until a decade later that the introduction of personal computers brought software spreadsheets and map-based interfaces into mass use in this field.

The National Council of Physical Distribution Management was then created to answer the need for standards and guidelines for logistics analysis. Companies that realised the value of supply chain processes and management began to allocate part of their budget towards training programs for logistics operations. And so it came to pass that Logistics Analysts were accountable for the comprehensive planning and execution of shipments.

US$8 billion is spent on moving goods over road transportation worldwide.

General Eisenhower had a famous saying that battles, campaigns, and even wars are lost primarily because of logistics. No wonder then that a responsible Logistics Analyst who is willing to be held accountable is crucial to the optimal functioning of an economy.

While managing an operation, you should construct flow charts containing information about goods procurement, storage facilities, and delivery of products to an exact location.