Supply Chain Management: The management of products and services from raw material acquisition to the sale of the final product is called “supply chain management (SCM)”. It is popularly said that the five parts of SCM include planning, sourcing, making, delivering, and returning. As you can imagine, this includes the element of transporting these raw materials and goods—logistics. Under the logistics umbrella come concepts like inventory management, storage, shipping, and capital. Given that more of the world shops both online and offline than ever before, it is a valued and essential part of our everyday lives.
Indeed, the world was reminded of the importance of supply chain management and logistics during the Pandemic. As supplies and demand lost their sync, many struggled to have access to daily needs. Perhaps readers will recall the American struggle to find baby formula, which rocked the nation. The world was forced to rethink its supply chains during that difficult time. Additionally, the advent of AI and blockchain technology, which emerged recently, has also impacted what SCM looks like today. For those interested in exploring a career in supply chain management, the UAE is the ideal place.
The UAE’s Role as a Global Logistics Hub
The UAE has long been a trade hotspot. Its geographically central position makes it an excellent destination for products shipped globally to be re-exported. That aside, its excellent business policies have made it an attractive import-export nucleus. Appropriate infrastructure fully supports this. The nation’s Jebel Ali Port is the 9th most busy container port worldwide.
We must bear in mind that logistics typically includes shipment via sea, land, and air. As such, the UAE’s achievements highlight the nation’s remarkable success. The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index has seen it rated the third-best in the world. Additionally, according to the World Bank, it has the best air connectivity in the world.
The UAE is truly a force to be reckoned with, in the international logistics community. When it comes to land, the World Economic Forum has ranked the UAE with the lofty title of second-best worldwide.
Further, technology itself plays a strong role in the “supply chain management” industry. We cannot ignore how e-commerce has reshaped the development of logistics in the region over the past decades. As more of the world turns to the Internet for its shopping needs, the logistics field must adapt. Indeed, a Maersk article claims that e-commerce has impacted the transportation, storage, and delivery of goods in the country.
However, the same report suggests that the local supply chain management industry is struggling with a lack of labor. It has even been reported that labor costs have increased as a result.
An MBA in Supply Chain Management
As the world works to fix the vulnerabilities of preexisting supply chain management, the demand for experts increases. For those interested in working in the globally acknowledged trade hub that is the UAE, an MBA in Supply Chain Management would be beneficial. Be it an on-campus or 100% online degree, like LUBM offers, it would equip graduates with updated information and skills relevant to the industry.
Most MBAs in supply chain management will equip graduates with a good understanding of warehouse and inventory management. Additionally, they will understand how the whole system works, and leave with good process optimization skills. Additionally, they will be taught to lead a team while effectively organizing and planning the same. Today’s students will be able to learn about supply chain management risks and improvement options.
They will also learn the new technology incorporated into logistics today. This technological change is why professionals should opt for an online MBA in supply chain management. Students in the UAE, in particular, will have the opportunity to learn while applying their knowledge at one of the top-ranked logistics centers in the world.
Lincoln University of Business & Management offers accredited MBAs from top-ranked universities in the UK and Europe. As a degree provider, for 10 years, we have connected students with better futures. Explore our “MBA in Supply Chain Management” and speak with our expert counselor today.