Digital literacy has become a vital skill in today's workplace, as technology continues to play a critical role in almost every aspect of business operations. Metro Minds managing director Juliette Fourie explains that the logistics industry is experiencing a significant transformation as it embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with various technologies driving its growth. The top five trends for the industry include the Internet of Things (IoT), which enables real-time tracking of movement, temperature, and humid it y. Artificial intelligence algorithms are used to analyse large amounts of data to optimize decision-making, while blockchain technology provides more secure tracking and recording. Autonomous vehicles, such as drones and self-driving trucks, are also becoming more common in the industry, while augmented reality is being used to improve warehouse and automated processes and operations.As the industry continues to evolve, education providers such as Metro Minds are focusing on equipping individuals with the necessary skills to meet the growing demand for enterprise skills. These skills, which include digital literacy, communication, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and financial literacy, are transferable and enable individuals to navigate complex job functions in various industries. It is estimated that jobs of the future will demand 70% more of these types of skills than jobs of the past. To address this need, skills development will be provided through immersive experiences and augmented learning, as opposed to traditional education practices.According to Fourie, the percentage of jobs that demand critical thinking has increased by 158%, creativity by 65%, presentation skills by 25% and teamwork by 19%. “Enterprise skills are becoming just as important for job entry as technical skills,” she says. “The importance of human capital is on the rise and talent management is becoming a competitive advantage. To remain relevant, robust talent pipelines must therefore be designed for reskilling and finding the right skills to invest in.”While automation is being implemented, many job functions in the logistics sector remain too complex for systems to perform, resulting in a strong human dependency. However, disruption is driving innovation, with crypto, Web 3.0, blockchain, virtual reality, and augmentation taking centre stage, and digitisation becoming more prominent than ever before. Fourie notes that one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is privacy and cyberattacks, requiring effective risk management. Cyberattacks have been prevalent since 2005, affecting approximately 300 000 computers in over 150 countries by 2017. As anything that cannot be automated or digitised becomes increasingly valuable, technology represents how things will change, while human expertise represents the why.
