Talent, Organizational Resilience, and the Role of Certifications

Top of mind for major supply chain organizations is talent and resilience. In that talent, not technology, actually “gets things done” one can argue they are one and the same.

This was apparent at the recent Supply Chain Summit wherein executives from multiple sectors discussed the retention benefits of up-skilling their employees in equal time with the need for focused skills in deploying technology tools.

The benefits of professional certifications and their degree of recognition have never been greater.

This is due to the fact that both enterprises and individuals reap benefits from the speed and effectiveness of skill-specific training.

Admittedly, training covers a much broader swath than certification programs alone, but often times the key to the value granted a training relies on certification from a recognized and accredited institution.

Individuals and employers/recruiters are not the only ones experiencing a rise in this training sector. A quick web search of “universities offering professional certificates” returns nearly one billion hits in less than one second! Surely these universities are addressing an opportunity in a marketplace of growing demand.

Likewise we see a resurgence in applied studies as part of a focused program for closing the technical skills gap, as reported recently in Industry Week on tuition-free programs being deployed in Detroit’s Wayne Community College District.

This is not an argument advocating certifications over higher education, but what are the benefits of targeted certifications over the pursuit of a degree?

For the individual

• Speed of acquisition and flexibility in delivery methods plays heavily in that most seeking to augment their skills in this way are actively employed, and/or have more demands on their time and attention than say the segment of undergraduate students
• Cost being a significant driver (second only to available time) as not all participants have the support of company reimbursement
• Focus on gaining (or increasing) demonstrable competency of in-demand skills not only builds the resume faster but allows the individual to devote their time to only the essential topics
• Immediate application of concepts supports excellent comprehension and retention of theory while demonstrating the individual’s growing value to current and prospective employers
• Return on investment (ROI) is likewise rapid with recent figures from ASCM’s 2022 Supply Chain Salary and Career Report boasting an average compensation increase of up to 40% for attainment of their Certified Supply Chain professional (CSCP) certification (the website includes a salary calculator as well, offering great credence to this claim)

For the Enterprise

• Should the employer offer reimbursement, the benefits to the individual and the company appear essentially the same:
• The reduced cost, skill acquisition time, and near immediate contribution to the business makes for stellar ROI
• Enhanced team cohesion and performance is a less tangible but real outcome of their [the team] having a shared experience and common vocabulary because of said training.
• Employee retention is also enhanced when organizations display their willingness to invest in employee development. ASCM’s report is also cited in Supply Chain Management Review highlighting that even during “the great resignation” the supply chain profession was extremely stable among membership respondents. According to the report, 14% of respondents found a new job, up only 2% from last year. ?
• Certifications also benefit the recruiting organization as a part of their candidate screening process. As highlighted in an Information Systems Audit and Control (ISACA) report these dimensions include a willingness to invest in oneself, the ability to pass an exam, achieve goals, and commitment to the industry among others.

So, as individuals look to enhance their marketability and organizations look to developing, retaining and attracting talent, the value of professional certifications should not be overlooked.

DTC Solutions, Inc., in collaboration with SMC Trainer, LLC is positioned to be a premier partner in addressing your professional development needs. Should you wish to learn more of how we can assist, and/or to have an exploratory conversation with us, please contact us directly at: [email protected] or [email protected].