Introduction
The world we are living in is fast changing and only those that change will survive. The global trends show that many things around the workplace are being realigned and this calls for everyone to reposition himself or herself in order to guarantee their survival. Although these global trends are viewed as challenges, there are undoubtedly solutions that can guarantee a safe transition to the future. By the look of things, one career that will be affected by emerging global trends in the next few years is warehouse management.
Over the last few years, there have been great realignments within the supply chain and this has primarily affected the movement and storage of goods within the warehouse. Within the next five to seven years, these global trends are expected to peak and this calls for people in this career to reposition themselves for this realignment. (Friedman, 2005, p. 81)
Unlike in the past, people are no longer happy with company-based products. Instead, consumers are increasingly getting involved in the production of goods and services. In the next few years, warehouse managers will find themselves left out if they do not handle goods and services that have been tailor made to meet consumer preferences.
This means that the trend where warehouses managed goods and services for the mass market will obviously not suffice in the future. One way that warehouse managers can use to deal with this emerging trend is to tap into more global dealers and international aptitude. Whatever problem a warehouse manager faces, someone in the planet most likely has the inventive goods, the information, or the aptitude to deal with the problem.
The internet provides warehouse managers with the necessary tools to find quick solutions to problems and for customers to be able to locate suppliers. This means that the products that a warehouse manages will need to be determined from a global perspective. This will require the use of social networking to deal with this global trend. (Khosrowpour, 2002, p. 241)
Another global trend that is likely to affect the operation of warehouse management is increased complexity. In the coming years, the changing nature of business is expected to increase competition for talent. Traditionally, people in warehouse management were primarily tasked with shipping and receiving goods.
In order to fit in this industry, one was only expected to possess brawn since most of what was done was physical work. However, this is slowly changing and warehouse management is now considered the most important step in the supply chain management.
On top of muscles, employees in this sector are now required to have sharp brains to deal with the science and advanced math involved in transportation and shipping. In order to deal with this global trend, there is need for people in warehouse management to collaborate with others in the same field to come up with practical solutions for their common problems. With increased collaboration, it will be easier to find efficient trucking routes to avoid the catastrophes witnessed in the sea because of global warming. (Khosrowpour, 2002, p. 243)
Conclusion
In the coming few years, it is expected that emerging global trends will greatly affect the way people in warehouse management operate. Unlike in the past when warehouses handled goods for the mass market, this is now changing and the new trend shows that consumers are getting more involved on the kinds of goods produced.
This will demand that warehouse managers look for a forum to link consumers and suppliers in order to ensure that they handle only the goods that consumers need. On top of this, the nature of warehouse management has become more complex thus demanding for increased brains and talent. For people in this industry to succeed, they will require to collaborate with people within the industry in order to form a pool of solutions for their common problems.
References List
Friedman, T. (2005) The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, p. 81-82.
Khosrowpour, M. (2002) Issues & Trends of Information Technology Management in Contemporary Organizations. Washington: Idea Group Inc, p. 241-244.