A major industry trend right now is technological advancement, which has many businesses looking into restructuring and transformation to see how they can incorporate more technology into their daily operations.
FREMONT, CA: The effects of the trade war have caused supply chain disruptions, which prove to be a difficult time for the world economies. Singapore, renowned for its first-rate geographic interconnectedness and consistently regarded as Asia's top logistics hub by the World Bank, has inevitably suffered a great deal. Local company confidence has decreased to an almost two-year low for the fourth quarter of 2019, according to a business optimism assessment by the Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau (SCCB). Manufacturing was one of the most downbeat industries, but the only situation going for it was labour. The recruitment environment, which has remained largely steady despite changes, reflects this. Singapore is also experiencing an increase in demand for soft skills, digital knowledge, and forecasting and demand planning responsibilities. This is occurring concurrently with a general shortage of jobs, which has given job seekers little leverage when negotiating salaries.
Demand planning positions are crucial to the supply chain, but previously it has been challenging to find qualified employees due to the extensive industry knowledge and cross-functional collaboration needed for success. For supply chain organisations in Singapore, this function is now at the forefront due to the forecasting demands of these jobs and the effects it has on production. Order management positions have been in high demand for logistics, which is Singapore's most significant function in the global supply chain. Direct industrial experience, soft skills, and IT expertise are the equivalent skill sets that are most in-demand. It's practically a requirement for prospective candidates to be familiar with SAP, a vital piece of software for demand, supply, and production planning. In light of the growing digital transformation, there has also been a drive for IT and digital expertise in procurement functions. Additionally, the industry frequently emphasises the importance of soft talents. Ideal applicants would be well-versed in all vendor-facing abilities, such as negotiating and relationship management. The capacity to multitask and demonstrate versatility, as well as effective communication skills from the interview stage, may be favourable for mid-level applicants. Demand Planner, Order Management Executive, Vendor Manager, Category Manager, Procurement Specialists, and Senior Buyers are the analogous mid-junior-level roles in demand. Along with strong leadership and stakeholder management abilities, candidates for more senior positions are also seeking those with the capacity to innovate, launch new projects, or have prior experience modernising or enhancing processes. Frequent travel will probably also be necessary if more offices relocate or move out as a result of restructuring. Due to the present requirement for supply chain optimization, senior roles such as supply chain manager and supply chain project manager are in high demand.
Singapore's prominence as a regional hub will probably contribute to recovery even though the economy may be slowing down. Candidates who have been abandoned by the supply chain may find solace in this, along with its attempts to become a digital nation. A major industry trend right now is technological advancement, which has many businesses looking into restructuring and transformation to see how they can incorporate more technology into their daily operations.
