Ekart Logistics Supply Chain Analyst Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

A Supply Chain Analyst in logistics and e-commerce supply chain roles supports planning, monitoring, and improving the flow of goods from origin to last-mile delivery. Day to day, they work with data on inventory, orders, transportation, and warehouse operations to find bottlenecks, reduce costs, and improve delivery speed and reliability. They coordinate with operations, procurement, transportation, and customer teams to turn analysis into practical actions.

Role and technical knowledge

1. 1

   What are the key metrics you would track daily as a Supply Chain Analyst in an e-commerce logistics setup?

   Name metrics like OTIF, fill rate, order cycle time, cost per shipment, and first-attempt delivery rate. Explain why each matters and how they connect to customer experience and cost.

2. 2

   How would you use SQL or Excel to find which warehouses have the highest delayed shipment rate?

   Describe joining order and shipment tables, filtering by date and warehouse, calculating delay percentage, and ranking results. Mention checking data quality and validating with operations.

3. 3

   Explain inventory turnover and why it matters for a company that holds stock across multiple fulfilment centres.

   Define it as cost of goods sold divided by average inventory. Explain that low turnover ties up cash and raises holding costs, while very high turnover can cause stockouts and poor service levels.

4. 4

   What is the difference between a push and a pull supply chain strategy, and when would each be used?

   Push is forecast-driven and works for stable, low-variety demand; pull is demand-driven and suits fast-changing or customized products. Give a logistics example such as seasonal vs made-to-order items.

Practical scenarios and problem solving

1. 5

   A city hub reports a sudden spike in failed deliveries. How would you investigate and what data would you pull?

   Break the problem into people, process, and data. Check failed delivery reasons, pin code level trends, rider capacity, address quality, and weather or traffic events. Suggest a short-term fix and a longer-term monitoring plan.

2. 6

   Transportation cost per shipment has risen 15 percent in one region. How would you analyse the cause and propose savings?

   Segment by mode, lane, distance, load factor, and fuel or detention charges. Look for empty runs, poor route planning, or urgent shipments. Propose consolidation, route optimization, or mode shifts with expected impact.

3. 7

   You notice that a fast-moving SKU is frequently out of stock at one warehouse but overstocked at another. What would you do?

   Check demand patterns, replenishment rules, and transfer lead times. Suggest rebalancing inventory, adjusting safety stock by location, and improving the forecast feedback loop with sales and operations.

4. 8

   How would you measure the impact of a new delivery routing change on both cost and customer experience?

   Define before-and-after metrics such as cost per delivery, on-time rate, average delivery time, and customer complaints. Use a pilot with a control group and compare over a fair time window.

Behavioural and teamwork questions

1. 9

   Tell me about a time you used data to solve a problem in a college project or internship.

   Use the STAR format. Focus on the data you collected, the analysis method, the insight you found, and the measurable result or recommendation.

2. 10

   Describe a situation where you had to work with people who did not report to you to get something done.

   Show how you built trust, clarified roles, and followed up. In supply chain, analysts often influence warehouse, transport, and customer teams without direct authority.

3. 11

   Give an example of a mistake you made in a data analysis or deadline-driven task and how you handled it.

   Be honest, take ownership, explain the correction, and state what you changed in your process to prevent a repeat. Avoid blaming others.

4. 12

   How do you prioritise when you have multiple urgent requests from operations, planning, and customer teams?

   Explain a simple framework: impact on customer or cost, deadline, effort, and who is blocked. Mention communicating trade-offs early and keeping a visible task list.

HR and motivation questions

1. 13

   Why do you want to work as a Supply Chain Analyst in the logistics and e-commerce sector?

   Link your interest to the scale, speed, and real-world impact of logistics. Mention specific parts you enjoy, such as solving delivery problems, cost optimization, or data-driven planning.

2. 14

   What do you know about the day-to-day challenges in last-mile logistics in India?

   Talk about address accuracy, traffic and weather, COD reconciliation, returns, rider availability, and tier 2 and tier 3 city coverage. Show awareness without pretending to be an expert.

3. 15

   Where do you see yourself in three years in a supply chain analytics career?

   Show a realistic path: stronger analytics skills, ownership of a category or region, and deeper knowledge of planning or transportation. Connect it to the company's kind of work.

4. 16

   Are you comfortable working with large datasets, tight deadlines, and occasional shifts during peak sale periods?

   Answer directly and give an example of handling pressure, such as exam season or a college event. Show willingness to learn and support the team during peak volumes.