– Sunil Kumar, CEO, Everfast Freight Forwarders Pvt. Ltd.

For over three decades, India’s economic story has been defined by the rise of the IT sector. For an entire generation, coding and software jobs symbolised financial security, global exposure and prestige. But as industries evolve, a new growth engine is quietly taking centre stage — supply chain management.

Once seen as a back-office function, supply chain is now emerging as one of the most dynamic and high-demand career paths for young graduates. Many industry leaders even describe it as “the new IT” of the coming decade.

From Background to Boardroom: Traditionally linked with warehouses and procurement, supply chain roles rarely enjoyed glamour. The pandemic changed that narrative dramatically. From oxygen cylinders to groceries, supply chain disruptions touched every household, proving that resilience in logistics is as vital as resilience in healthcare.

Today, supply chain leaders sit at the boardroom table, influencing strategy alongside CTOs and CFOs. For graduates, this means entering a field that is no longer behind the scenes but at the very heart of business success.

Why Supply Chain Is the New IT

Unprecedented demand for talent
From manufacturing and retail to e-commerce and pharmaceuticals, every sector is expanding its supply chain workforce. The need for analysts, planners, and sustainability specialists far outstrips supply.

Technology-driven transformation
Modern supply chains run on automation, analytics, and real-time data. Where IT created opportunities in software, supply chain merges technology with real-world impact — ensuring goods move efficiently and disruptions are minimised.

Global in scope, local in execution
Professionals in India can now manage networks spanning continents while leveraging local insights on suppliers and regulations. This blend of global and local expertise is invaluable.

Faster career progression
Supply chain roles offer early exposure to cross-functional collaboration with finance, logistics, and sustainability teams — accelerating learning and leadership growth.

Skills for the New Age
Just as IT demanded coding proficiency, supply chain careers call for a unique mix of skills:

Analytical thinking – Forecasting demand and optimising routes require a data-driven mindset.
Tech fluency – Comfort with ERP systems, dashboards and analytics tools is essential.
On-ground problem-solving – Real-time decisions often matter more than theory.
Collaboration and communication – Managing relationships across suppliers, vendors, and customers is key.

In this field, you’re not just solving equations — you’re solving problems that affect millions of lives.

Supply Chain at the Centre of Change

E-commerce: Giants like Amazon and Flipkart thrive on supply chain excellence as much as on retail innovation.
Healthcare: The Covid-19 vaccine rollout highlighted how vital logistics and cold-chain management are.
Sustainability: From electric delivery fleets to green packaging, sustainable supply chain practices are now central to business strategy.

Preparing for a Career in Supply Chain
Aspiring professionals can gain an edge by:

Pursuing internships in logistics or procurement to gain practical insight.
Building data literacy through Excel, SQL, or analytics.
Staying informed on global trade and sustainability trends.
Viewing early roles as stepping stones in a larger system, not as isolated functions.

The Next Big Wave: Just as IT transformed India’s economy in the 1990s, supply chain management is poised to define the 2020s. For young graduates, it offers not just jobs, but careers that are global, future-ready and purpose-driven.

If IT was yesterday’s passport to growth, supply chain is tomorrow’s.

Also Read: NIRF 2025: Breaking the Benchmarking Blind Spot in Indian Higher Education