What Does Logistics Management Mean?
The primary purpose of logistics management is to offer efficient customer service. When broken down into parts, the role includes inventory, transportation, monitoring, storage, organisation, and distribution of goods and services. The answer to the question of who is a logistics manager is that a logistics Manager is someone who minimises the possibility of errors in the supply chain process.
Essentially, logistics management is a component of the supply chain that makes sure that a product or a service is delivered to the customer in a safe and timely manner. Without a logistics management team, an organisation is bound to lose profit and disappoint customers. In such a case, a company would not be able to stay on top of inventory and delivery. Therefore, a logistics manager is an indispensable professional.
What are the Duties of a Logistics Manager?
A Logistics Manager fulfils several requirements. In general, the role of a logistics manager is to manage the order cycle. Simply put, a logistics manager makes sure that once an order is placed, it is fulfilled on time. The job role is expansive — composed of various elements. Duties include:
- Organising and managing product inventory, storage, transportation, and delivery.
- Ensuring that products aren’t damaged in storage or during transportation.
- Complying with government standards of product safety and ensuring quality.
- Maintaining deadlines in terms of timely product delivery.
- Negotiating with manufacturers, vendors, fleet providers, and retailers.
- Planning and optimising the order cycle are among a logistics manager’s duties and responsibilities.
- Managing reverse logistics when customers return the delivered product or cancel while the product is en route.
Skills of a Logistics Manager
Working in logistics requires one to be sharp and focused; there is little room for error. If you have decided to work in this field, there are certain skills that you must learn and develop. A logistics manager’s skills include the following:
- Ability to predict order volumes, inventory requirements, and risks in the supply chain.
- Quick thinking capacity to come up with contingency plans when unanticipated problems arise in the order cycle.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills that would help you examine and interpret data.
- Deep knowledge of the relevant industry is required to facilitate a smooth supply chain.
- Sound judgement and decision-making skills to effectively operate within the fast-paced environment of logistics management.
- Ability to be a team player who can efficiently delegate tasks and manage the entire operation.
- Good communication skills that will help you negotiate with vendors, customers, retailers, etc.
What are the Benefits of Becoming a Logistics Manager?
It’s safe to say that a company that provides goods and services cannot operate without some sort of a supply chain process in place. This means that logistics manager roles are always going to be available. If you are thinking about pursuing this role, read ahead to understand how it can be a rewarding career:
1. Growing Industry
Market research indicates that the logistics industry is a fast-growing one. The demand for logistics experts is already high and it appears to be quickly increasing. For someone who wants to build a career in logistics management, this means that they won’t struggle to find a job after their education and training, such as an MBA in operations management.
2. Competitive Salary
Due to a huge demand for logistic managers, the salaries in this sector are competitive. The salary of logistics managers in India can go up to 20 lakh per annum based on the years of experience.
3. Travel Opportunities
Logistics managers who work at organisations with international ties get to travel abroad for work. Travelling to international destinations to meet vendors and clients can be a wonderful opportunity for networking and exposure.
4. Transferable Skills
The skills learned to function as a good logistics manager, such as communication, leadership, accountability, decision-making, and attention to detail, are highly transferable. They can be applied in other sectors too, should you decide to switch careers.
5. Real Contribution
A logistics manager contributes to the organisation in especially visible ways. Through managing the supply chain, they ensure that everyone else’s contributions are validated.
How to Become a Logistics Manager
Becoming a logistics manager does not require a specific degree. Any graduate with the right aptitude can become a logistics manager. However, in order to land lucrative roles at big organisations, you should pursue educational degrees relevant to the field. Some of the courses that can easily get you the role of logistics manager include BBA in Supply Chain and Logistics and MBA in Operations Management. Here is a small description of how you can enter the field of logistics management at undergraduate and postgraduate levels:
Undergraduate Admission
The minimum education most logistics managers have is an undergraduate degree. A college graduate of any stream can work in logistics management. Although, certain degrees do offer the necessary training and knowledge required for one to excel as a logistics manager. For example, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Supply Chain and Logistics or a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Supply Chain Management can land you the best logistics-related profiles in the market.
To pursue these degrees at any Indian institute, you would need to have cleared your 10+2 state exam with at least a 50% aggregate score (for most college applications). The next step would be to attempt an entrance exam for BBA and B.Com. Some of the top entrance exams include Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET) and Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET). Many recognised universities, such as Sharda University, Sikkim Manipal University, and Amity Business School offer undergraduate courses related to logistics management.
Postgraduate Admission
A postgraduate degree in fields relevant to logistics management is a great way to get the best jobs in the industry. Courses like an MBA in Operations Management or MBA in Logistics Supply Chain Management will prepare you for a successful career as a logistics manager.
For enrolling in the aforementioned courses, you would need to attempt and score well in MBA entrance exams like Common Admission Test (CAT), Management Aptitude Test (MAT), Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), and Common Management Admission Test (CMAT).
There are also Executive and Certificate programmes for working professionals wanting to pursue a career in logistics. What’s more, there are online MBAs in Operations Management in India and MBAs in operations management in India distance learning available too. So, if you cannot quit your job while studying, this is a great option for you.
How to Get Admitted in Courses Ideal for Logistics Management
Several courses in various Indian educational institutions are tailored to train future logistics managers. You can get into the field at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Working professionals wanting to switch careers or grow into their existing logistics-related role can also pursue an educational degree.
How to Prepare for Entrance Exams for Logistics Management Courses
BBA and MBA degrees with a specialisation in logistics-related fields are the ideal courses for someone wanting to work in logistics. The admission process involves entrance exams, group discussions, personal interviews, and previous academic performance.
If you are planning to enrol in a bachelor course such as BBA or B.Com with specialisation in Supply Chain Management, you can attempt common entrance exams like CUET. Certain universities, including Indian Maritime University, Kochi, conduct their own entrance exams and admit students based on their scores. Other institutions consider 10+2 marks for admissions.
If doing an MBA in Operations Management is something you want to do to enter the industry as a logistics manager, you should attempt MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, and MAT. The syllabus for these exams remains largely identical. Here are a few tips to help you crack these exams:
- Regular reading habits will help improve your verbal ability, have regular conversations in English, and pay attention to high school-level English grammar.
- Practise reasoning ability questions and make it your goal to solve questions in as little time as possible.
- Mental math would help you in the quantitative ability section of the question paper.
- Make sure you solve previous years’ question papers to be entirely familiar with the exam pattern.
The following list of books is ideal for MBA entrance exam preparation:
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
- 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Dr Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis
- Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
Your goal should be to get into a top college or university. This will better your chances of getting a rewarding job as a logistics manager. MBA in operations management colleges in India are plenty but these are the top five colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate logistics management courses:
- Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
- Amity Business School, Noida
Logistics Management Specialisation
A course in logistics management does not limit your career options to just being a logistics manager. There are several other specialisations in this field. Those who are looking to explore other components of the supply chain can go for the following specialisations:
- Purchasing Agent
- Operations Manager
- Logistics Analyst
- Supply Chain Manager
Fees of Logistics Management Courses in Indian Educational Institutions
Both public and private institutions in India offer undergraduate, postgraduate, PGDM, and postgraduate certificate programmes in Logistics, Supply Chain, and Operations Management. The fees can vary from one institution to another. Here is the fee structure of some of the top colleges:
Logistics Management Scholarships
There are several merit-and-need-based scholarships available in India for students who want to pursue higher education in the field of logistics. The following two scholarships are ideal for those who plan to study management courses at diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate levels.
Combined Counselling Board Scholarship
OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholarships (OPJEMS)
Loans for Logistics Management Courses
An MBA degree ensures a lucrative job; however, the degree itself is pretty expensive. Top Indian institutions’ fees can be somewhere around ₹20,00,000. To finance their education, many students take out education loans from private and public banks. There are also options such as Propelld that provide 100% digitised loans to students to fund their education.
