By Zawadi Nyirantegeyinka
So many people rely on companies to deliver goods to us. This has particularly been the case during the COVID-19 pandemic as many companies have accelerated their delivery services. Behind the success of such companies are talented logisticians.
A logistician is someone who analyzes and coordinates an organization's supply chain - the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. A logistician might be involved in purchasing, inventory management and warehousing management. I wanted to learn more about how one can be successful in this field so I interviewed Bertin Iyamuremwe, a logistician with BBOXX, a company that tackles energy poverty.
“A logistician studies and organizes an organization's supply chain, which is the mechanism that transfers a product from source to customer,” he said. “They are in charge of a product's complete life cycle, which includes the acquisition, distribution, allocation, and delivery of that product. This person uses computerized tools to organize and track the movement of products to ensure that the delivery is completed successfully.”
BBOXX sells television, solar panels and lamps. Bertin is in charge of implementing and controlling the movement and storage of goods, services and information within the supply chain and between the points of origin and consumers.
“Curiosity and an overwhelming ability to understand everything motivates logisticians,” he said. “We are constantly on the lookout for new interests and passions.”
All of these packaging components come in varying sizes, shapes and materials, depending on the items or products they are protecting. Typical applications include holding and protecting bulk materials, cases, loads or individual items for shipping and receiving, organizing products in static or automated storage systems, among other responsibilities.
Logisticians are the unsung heroes behind the impact companies generate. Bertin is one of many team members at BBOXX that is involved in the company’s work to transform lives and unlock potential through access to energy and other utilities worldwide. To date, the company has had positively impacted over one million lives and helped to make progress on a host of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BBOXX’s work particularly ties into SGD 7 – ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Advice for young people and my takeaways
Bertin encourages young people to pursue work as a logistician as it has become a very popular field. More and more people are choosing to work in this industry as there are many openings and it generally pays well.
“Youth should be aware that a range of applications are available to secure goods and materials during shipping, delivery and storage,” said Bertin. “Securing bulk goods, cases, loads or individual objects for shipment and receiving, sorting products in static or automatic storage structures, and serving as a receptacle to store selected items for a discrete order are all examples of common applications.”
He calls on youth, particularly aspiring entrepreneurs, to learn what goes into having the skills of logisticians since so many new companies will require delivery of goods. “Good logisticians contribute to the development of the country,” he said. “Once the businesses are successful, it leads to the development of the country through taxation.”
In my childhood, I had a dream of becoming a good logistician. It was inspiring to hear Bertin’s view that the work contributes to the development of your country. Logistics is an important element of a successful supply chain that can help to increase sales and profits. Good logisticians help create successful and popular businesses. I am looking forward to being part of such successes in my career.
Zawadi Nyirantegeyinka is a student at Southern New Hampshire University. She has experience as a logistician in the areas of processing, inventory, warehousing, transportation, material handling and storage, and logistical packaging. She wants to learn new skills from other expert logisticians. You can connect with her on LinkedIn. She wrote this story after going through Global Innovators Academy’s Interview, an Innovator online experience.
You can connect with Bertin Iyamuremwe at the following link.
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