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Major Challenges in Logistics Center Personnel Management

According to a recent survey conducted by KURANDO, over 85% of personnel managers in logistics centers have reported encountering various challenges in managing their workforce. This study highlights critical issues impacting the logistics sector, particularly in the context of the upcoming "2024 Problem," a consequence of labor reform laws affecting the trucking industry. Logistics centers are crucial nodes for supply chain operations, and understanding the personnel management landscape is vital for enhancing productivity amidst growing demands, especially as the e-commerce sector continues to expand.

Background and the Impact of the 2024 Problem

The 2024 Problem refers to upcoming regulatory changes that will significantly reduce the allowable working hours for truck drivers. Although much discussion has centered on the trucking workforce, the effects are reverberating through logistics centers, which now confront the urgent necessity to efficiently manage their limited human resources. Increasing operational demands, primarily due to the growth of e-commerce, further complicate this landscape, making effective personnel allocation and shift management critical.

Interestingly, many logistics centers still rely heavily on subjective methods based on individual experience or intuition for these critical management tasks, rather than data-driven solutions. This prompted KURANDO to investigate the realities faced by personnel managers within these facilities.

Survey Summary

The findings of KURANDO's survey revealed alarming statistics:

• - 85%+ of personnel managers reported existing issues with their logistics center's personnel management.
• - The predominant concern cited was "labor shortages," affecting 41.3% of respondents.
• - More than 55% of centers utilize personnel allocation based on the experience of the staff rather than systematic data analysis.
• - Respondents noted the challenge of adapting to sudden absences or fluctuations in workload as a significant concern.
• - The shift management system emerged as the most commonly adopted digital tool aiding in personnel management, with 37.3% defining its benefits in swift decision-making.

Key Findings on Challenges and Solutions

The survey sought to delve into how logistics centers manage their workforce. While slightly over half of the centers depend on experience-based allocation and scheduling, those using data-driven systems report notable advantages. For example, a significant 37.3% revealed that deployments based on visible data improve decision-making efficiency and responsiveness to changes in staffing needs.

Yet, personnel managers relying on empirical wisdom indicated a struggle to address issues related to unexpected staff absences and varying operational demands. Specifically, the results outlined a key issue: facilities managed by intuition faced difficulties in adapting promptly to arising challenges.

The survey highlighted numerous potential benefits realized by organizations employing systematic tools, namely:
1. Enhanced visibility into workforce allocation resulting in faster decision-making.
2. Greater flexibility in responding to sudden changes in workload or staffing levels.
3. Improved employee satisfaction due to fairer shift allocations.

Conclusion

Ultimately, KURANDO’s substantial findings reflect a critical need for systematic solutions within logistics center management. With labor shortages looming, personnel managers face increasing pressure to optimize resource allocation and shift management. The survey not only underscores prevailing challenges but also emphasizes the advantages of modern management tools.

KURANDO offers three invaluable platforms that streamline logistics center operations: Logimeter for productivity management, Logiscope for data aggregation from various services, and Logiboard for effective data utilization. Using tools that allow for easy data collection, analysis, and application facilitates a more efficient workforce deployment process, which is essential amid the current logistics landscape's transformation.

KURANDO is confident that implementing such systems will provide invaluable support to logistics managers aiming for optimized personnel management and operational efficiency.

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For more information about KURANDO and its services, please visit KURANDO's website.