Industry Innovation: August 26, 2019
Why Logistics is the Ideal Place to Grow your Technology Career
By: motto

From cloud-based systems to connectivity, predicative analysis and innovation around AI, the transportation and logistics field is a rich territory for an emerging career in technology

You may not have thought about the world of logistics for a burgeoning career in technology, but the pace, complexity and always-on nature of what logistics transportation companies do make it an exciting place for a tech guru to grow a career.

You’ll Get to Dig into Data and Connect Complex Systems

“Data doesn’t lie. It tells us how we’re being greener, safer and how we get the job done more efficiently,” says Michael Gillen, ERP Director at Fuel. He oversees a team of analysts and developers working to hone Fuel’s efficiency by building predictive models, finding connectivity between its various discreet systems, and programming custom web-based technology for the company. “We’re thinking outside the box of [what’s typical for] the transportation industry to integrate our communication tools, to build KPIs to help our people become the most efficient they can be,” says Gillen.

You’ll Be at the Forefront of Innovation

At the beginning of 2019, Fuel created Fuel Innovations, a hub for its tech employees to hypothesize, experiment, and invent new technology solutions. Some of the projects underway include the integration of warehouse systems with their transport management system (TMS) and the enhancement of the computers and telemetrics within trucks to evolve them to include coaching aids that help drivers perform more safely and efficiently.

You’ll Become the Backbone of the Company

“Communication is very important to the logistics industry,” says Mehdi Gafsi, Director of IT Infrastructure. “It’s 24/7 service, [we service] multiple offices, so we need to have redundancies. Communication is a number one priority; all have to function at 100 percent with no downtime.” To that end, Gafsi has spent the past three years in his role optimizing systems, virtualizing and digitizing wherever possible, creating disaster-preparedness protocols and investing in enterprise-level software to ensure the technology on offer is state-of-the-art and employees are always supported. “We’re always looking for new technology, responding to the needs of each department and finding new solutions,” says Gafsi.

You’ll Get On-The-Job Training

According to Gafsi, aspiring technology recruits—analysts, developers, administrators, hardware support—need not have special knowledge of the logistics industry. “They need to know operating systems, security and network systems, but we train internally. People can learn [logistics systems] as long as they have the foundation.”

Apply to technology roles at Fuel.

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