Recently we celebrated the European Logistics Day, a sector that has ceased to be a silent player to become a central piece of the contemporary economy. In a world marked by permacrisis, immediacy, e-commerce, and global supply chains, its role is no longer merely operational, but profoundly strategic. To speak of logistics today is to speak of competitiveness, economic potential, and growth capacity.
In economic terms, its relevance is unquestionable. The sector not only contributes 10% to GDP, including logistics activities within industrial and commercial companies. The real weight of the sector in the economy is much greater due to its driving effect on the rest of the economic sectors. Every industry, from automotive to food, depends on the flow of goods functioning with millimeter precision. Furthermore, its impact on employment is notable because it generates more than 1.5 million jobs, if logistics functions within different sectors are taken into account, with increasingly diverse profiles, from specialized operators to data engineers.
However, the sector's true turning point is in its technological transformation. Logistics is experiencing a revolution driven by digitalization, automation, and intensive data use (it is already the third sector that uses big data the most in Spain because the key is to predict consumer behavior). Technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, or advanced warehouse management systems are redefining traditional processes. Logistics centers are no longer simple storage spaces, but intelligent nodes capable of anticipating demand, optimizing routes, and reducing costs in real time.
The collaboration between companies, administrations, and educational centers are key
This evolution poses a crucial challenge, which is human capital. 21st-century logistics already requires qualified, adaptable talent with technological skills. It is not enough to fill vacancies; it is essential to attract, train, and retain professionals capable of operating in increasingly complex environments. There is an evident gap between the sector's needs and current training offerings. If we do not act quickly, this shortage could become a bottleneck that limits its development.
Therefore, it is urgent to promote active employment policies (AEP) that respond to this new reality. Collaboration between companies, administrations, and educational centers are key to designing training pathways aligned with the real demands of companies.
Another of the great challenges facing the sector is rapid access to land. The growing demand for space clashes with long and complex administrative processes. This situation generates uncertainty and slows down investments that could translate into economic growth and the creation of real jobs. Reducing deadlines and simplifying procedures is an urgent necessity so as not to scare away investments. Only each 1% increase in the penetration rate of e-commerce requires around 1.2 and 1.9 million square meters.
To this scenario, another critical factor is added: access to electrical energy. The energy demand of the logistics sector is undergoing a profound transformation as a consequence of automation, robotization, and the electrification of operations, factors that are substantially modifying the consumption profile of the platforms. New generation logistics warehouses incorporate a high technological component and operate through automated management systems, vehicles guided by artificial intelligence, and high-efficiency electric machinery, which requires a stable and higher power electrical supply.
Furthermore, the electrification of fleets introduces new charging needs that are concentrated in strategic locations and require specific grid reinforcements. Without a guarantee of sufficient and agile supply, many projects run the risk of fleeing to other countries in our environment.
The energy transition is an opportunity for the logistics sector, but also a challenge. Betting on clean energies, improving efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint are unavoidable objectives. However, for this transition to be viable, it is essential that energy infrastructures keep pace with the sector's growth. The lack of available power cannot become a brake on innovation.
In short, the logistics sector is at a decisive moment. Its economic and strategic importance is undeniable, but its future will depend on its ability to successfully face the challenges ahead. We have the opportunity to position Spain as a major intercontinental logistics hub.
Betting on logistics is betting on a stronger, more resilient economy, better prepared for the challenges of the future.
about the signing
Francisco Aranda Manzano is president of UNO Logística, a business organization for logistics and transport in Spain.