Africa’s supply chain future depends on talent

As supply chains become more complex and disruption increasingly defines global trade, the need for skilled supply chain professionals is growing rapidly across Africa.

According to industry body SAPICS, there is no single route to success in supply chain management. Instead, professionals must build careers intentionally through a combination of formal education, globally recognised certifications, short courses and continuous professional development. These themes emerged during a recent SAPICS workshop exploring education and skills development opportunities for African supply chain practitioners.

Supply chain experts Karen Pretorius and Ruben Lawrenz shared insights from their own career journeys during the session. Pretorius is a supply chain consultant, project manager, trainer and founder of KPI Cubed. Lawrenz is a supply chain educator specialising in Demand Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP). Both speakers stressed that supply chain careers rarely follow a straight path.

Lawrenz explained that supply chain professionals often begin in reactive operational roles before progressing into planning, balancing and strategic leadership functions. “Each transition requires a shift in mindset: from reacting to events, to balancing trade-offs, to aligning with business strategy and, ultimately, to shaping that strategy,” he said, adding that education plays a critical role in enabling these transitions throughout a career.

Pretorius, meanwhile, emphasised that supply chain careers typically evolve from individual contributor roles into specialist, management and executive positions. Different qualifications and learning opportunities become important at each stage.

The workshop highlighted the growing importance of globally recognised certifications in supply chain management. SAPICS works with several international education partners including the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the Demand Driven Institute (DDI), the Institute of Business Forecasting (IBF) and the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA).

Certifications such as APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) and Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) continue to carry significant international credibility. Pretorius noted that these qualifications provide specialised expertise, while also improving global mobility and career opportunities, explaining: “They prepare supply chain professionals for leadership and strategic roles.”

At the same time, she stressed that formal qualifications aligned with national frameworks such as South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF) remain important, particularly for progression into senior corporate positions. “Supply chain professionals must decide whether they are pursuing academic credentials, career advancement or a balance of both,” she elaborated.

The workshop also highlighted that not all professionals thrive in traditional academic environments. Short courses and non-accredited programmes are becoming increasingly valuable in helping professionals build specialised skills in areas such as analytics, artificial intelligence and sustainability. These shorter programmes also allow professionals to adapt more quickly to technological change, while Pretorius pointed out that online learning opportunities are becoming more accessible across Africa, lowering barriers to entry for many aspiring supply chain practitioners.

A recurring message from both speakers was that learning cannot stop once qualifications are achieved. In a rapidly evolving sector, static knowledge quickly becomes outdated. Through SAPICS and its affiliation with APICS, certified professionals maintain their credentials through continuous professional development (CPD). This includes conferences, short courses and ongoing engagement with industry knowledge platforms. The approach helps professionals remain relevant while continuously expanding their skills.

Pretorius also said career success shouldn’t automatically be defined by movement into executive leadership. Some professionals prefer to remain technical specialists or subject matter experts, while others transition into consulting or prioritise work-life balance. Importantly, education pathways can support all these career choices. As African supply chains continue to evolve, SAPICS believes organisations must invest more in skills development and capability building.

For supply chain professionals, the message from the workshop was clear: career development requires intentional planning, ongoing learning and a willingness to adapt continuously in an industry defined by constant change.