The Importance of Women in the Logistics Industry

In the framework of International Women's Day, it is a priority to recognize the role of women in the logistics industry and the importance of equity in the professional field that has become very relevant in recent years, and not for nothing. 

Today, the logistics industry is one of the most important sectors of the global economy. However, it is still dominated by men and although the situation is slowly changing, there is still a long way to go in terms of the inclusion of women.

Equality between men and women is not only a matter of social justice, but also a matter of economic efficiency and competitiveness. In this sense, companies that do not promote equal opportunities are losing talent, growth potential and perpetuating economic and social inequality. 

A UNESCO study reveals that the lack of female participation can lead to multi-billion dollar losses in the global economy; on the contrary, reducing the gap would have a positive impact on GDP in regions such as Latin America, achieving an increase of up to 4%. 

Historically, women have been marginalized in various industries. Despite advances in gender equality, the statistics are still worrying: according to a report by the International Labor Organization, only 28% of workers in the manufacturing sector are women. In the case of top management, women represent less than 5% of CEOs.

But it's not all bad news. More and more, companies are realizing the relevance of gender equity in the industry and are taking steps to promote it. Some of these measures include:

- Establishing goals and metrics for gender equity and regularly measuring progress toward those goals.

- Implementing equal pay and equal opportunity policies.

- Promote diversity and inclusion in all areas of the company, from recruitment to promotion and training.

- Raise awareness among employees of the importance of gender equality and the positive impact it has on the company and society in general.

- Encourage the participation of women in leadership positions and strategic decision-making.

In this way, companies ensure inclusion and a diverse workforce has positive effects for the entire organization, but more effort is needed from owners and leaders to move beyond stereotypes. Numerous studies have shown that allowing equal participation in decision-making by both women and men and ensuring that those resources are distributed equitably among a diverse workforce is a key element of success for the continuity, development and resilience of a thriving business.

A report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) shows that companies with more than 40% women on their teams are 21% more likely to have high performance compared to those with less than 5%. While those companies with a lower percentage of gender plurality show up to 33% more negative results than those that are more diverse.

For Onest Logistics, the presence of women in logistics is fundamental, as it is a strategic part of our growth and the achievement of business objectives. Gender diversity in the workplace has allowed us to optimize decision-making, increase innovation and improve competitiveness. We also find that the presence of women in leadership roles inspires other female employees to seek a career in logistics and bring new perspectives and approaches.

According to Gesagel Medina, Managing Director of Onest Logistics, the logistics sector is in growing demand, however, women are a minority and the roles are traditional. "This has to change, because by incorporating more women we can see from other eyes organizational, resolute, objective and humanistic skills. I believe that women have many qualities to contribute within the company and Onest gives us the opportunity to balance the incorporation of men and women in any position; we even have forklift drivers, a position where 90% are men and it is key for the mobilization of materials," she points out. 

For her part, Griselda Gaytán, Deputy Director CX of Onest Logistics, considers that the challenge for this sector is still to promote the participation and leadership of more women in decision-making in logistics operations, discarding the stereotype that the supply chain is operated only by men, so it is not only to demonstrate their capabilities, but also to overcome prejudices. 

"We have to discard the belief that we cannot equate work activities with home and motherhood. I am proud to be part of Onest, as female leadership has a fundamental place for us. It is very important to provide the same opportunities to women and men, we are a company where the talent of professionals is valued. We are proud to share that currently, 35% of the board of directors is made up of women, and 38% in management positions, our philosophy is to continue demonstrating that women are key and capable in any industry", emphasizes Gaytán.

Women have unique skills that can be beneficial in all logistics processes and in the supply chain. Their strong planning, organizational and time management skills are critical qualities in an industry where deadlines and efficiency are essential. We also recognize your ability to establish interpersonal relationships and communicate effectively, which is important for maintaining good relationships with customers and suppliers.

It is time to break paradigms and stop seeing logistics as a male industry. Today women are breaking down barriers and opening new opportunities for them, but it is our duty to support these efforts by attracting and retaining female talent; generating opportunities that will ensure them a place in the industry; increasing their participation in decision making; and breaking the glass ceiling that has traditionally been an obstacle in this and other industries. 

Companies in the logistics sector must take advantage of all the talent available in our teams made up of men and women, without limiting their potential for growth and innovation. Maintaining an increasingly less stigmatized view of social gender roles brings us closer to the future of the industry.