ELA - European Logistics Association

What ELA - European Logistics Association does

ELA - the European Logistics Association (legal name: European Logistics Association) is a Belgium-domiciled, non-profit federation of 220 National Logistics Associations headquartered at Rue du Commerce 77, Brussels (VAT BE 0468.395.083). Its primary function is to standardize and certify professional competence across the European logistics and supply chain workforce, and to act as a pan-European convening body for the profession. The organization serves logistics and supply chain professionals in industry and adjacent service sectors, delivering value through four certification tiers (European Junior Logistician, European Senior Logistician, European Master Logistician, and ELA Certified Trainer), the annual ELA Awards program (including Project of the Year and Global Supply Chain Excellence), flagship events such as Eurolog and ELA Online, the Doctorate Workshop for academic researchers, ELA Research initiatives, and the Mind The Gap! knowledge-gap project.

ELA's core technology is the European Certified Logistician framework: a multi-tier credentialing system supported by a network of Certification Centres, Certified Training Providers, and Accredited Degree Programmes across Europe and select MENA markets. Underlying assets include the ELA brand, the standardized competency framework, and a federation-model governance where national associations (e.g., BVL Germany, VNL Austria, SLA Slovenia, CLA Czech Republic, HILME Greece, France Supply Chain/ASLOG, CEL and ICIL Spain, LOGY Finland, GS1 Switzerland) hold board representation. The organization does not run a proprietary software platform or AI systems; its delivery stack is event-based, standards-based, and partner-mediated.

The business model is a federated non-profit: central revenue is generated through professional certification services, event hosting, and membership network participation (all subscription/recurring or professional-services in nature), while pricing is not publicly disclosed and day-to-day delivery is largely executed by the 220 member National Logistics Associations. The central team is small (7 employees), with reach scaled through the federation - approximately 55,000 professionals engaged via the national associations and 100,000+ certified logisticians historically credentialed through ELA programs, supplemented by 750+ annual events across Europe.

Name

ELA - European Logistics Association

Legal name

European Logistics Association

Website

https://elalog.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ELA is a Belgium-based, non-profit federation of 220 National Logistics Associations that sets and certifies European standards for logistics and supply chain professionals through a four-tier credentialing framework, awards, and pan-European events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Services: Revenue generated from certifying logistics professionals through standardized European certification programs at multiple competency levels.
2. Event Management: Hosting and organizing 750+ annual events including conferences, workshops, and the ELA Awards ceremony across Europe.
3. Membership Network: Operating as a federation of 220 National Logistics Associations, providing networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative platforms for supply chain professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ELA is a pan-European federation of 220 National Logistics Associations that delivers standardized professional certifications (European Junior Logistician, European Senior Logistician, European Master Logistician, and ELA Certified Trainer) to logistics and supply chain professionals. The association also organizes 750+ annual events including the flagship Eurolog conference, ELA Online virtual events, the ELA Doctorate Workshop, and the ELA Awards program recognizing supply chain excellence across Europe.

Product overview

ELA (European Logistics Association) is a federation of National Logistics Associations operating a platform of professional certifications and events for the logistics and supply chain industry. The core offerings consist of four certification levels (European Junior Logistician, European Senior Logistician, European Master Logistician, and ELA Certification Trainer) that validate professional competencies at different career stages. Supporting these certifications are professional development events including Eurolog, ELA Online, and the Doctorate Workshop, along with the ELA Awards program recognizing excellence in the field. ELA Research provides industry knowledge resources, while the Mind The Gap! project addresses knowledge gaps across the European logistics network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European Junior Logistician Certification
• European Senior Logistician Certification
• European Master Logistician Certification
• ELA Certified Trainer Certification
• ELA Awards
• Eurolog Annual Conference
• ELA Online Virtual Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 55,000 professionals reached through network
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LOGY FinlandcoreOthersFinnish National Logistics Association member of the ELA federation, representing Finnish logistics and supply chain professionals.
• BGL GermanycoreOthersGerman National Logistics Association member of the ELA federation.
• GS1 SwitzerlandcoreOthersSwiss GS1 member organization affiliated with ELA federation.
• VNL Austria (Verein Netzwerk Logistik)coreOthersAustrian logistics network association member of the ELA federation.
• BVL Germany (Bundesvereinigung Logistik)coreOthersGerman Federal Association for Logistics, member of ELA federation with representation on ELA Board.
• SLA Slovenia (Slovensko logistično združenje)coreOthersSlovenian Logistics Association member of ELA federation, with board representation.
• CLA Czech RepubliccoreOthersCzech Logistics Association member of ELA federation.
• HILME GreececoreOthersGreek logistics association member of ELA federation, organizing International Logistics Forum.
• France Supply Chain by ASLOGcoreOthersFrench supply chain association member of ELA federation, conducting Resilience Observatory surveys.
• CEL Spain (Centro Español de Logística)coreOthersSpanish Logistics Center member of ELA federation.
• ICIL SpaincoreOthersSpanish logistics institute member of ELA federation.
• AMDL MoroccocoreOthersMoroccan Association for Logistics Development, extending ELA reach outside Europe.
• APLOG PortugalcoreOthersPortuguese logistics association member of ELA federation, organizing annual congress.
• SILF SwedencoreOthersSwedish Institute for Logistics and Transport member of ELA federation.
• ILME GreececoreOthersGreek logistics association member of ELA federation.
• Federlogistica ItalycoreOthersItalian logistics federation member of ELA federation.
• FIP Saudi ArabiacoreOthersSaudi Arabian logistics education institution member of ELA federation.
• PTL PolandcoreOthersPolish logistics association member of ELA federation.
• Arilog RomaniacoreOthersRomanian logistics association member of ELA federation.
• CILT IrelandcoreOthersChartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland member of ELA federation.
• ASLOG FrancecoreOthersFrench Supply Chain Association member of ELA federation.
• Lojider TurkeycoreOthersTurkish logistics association member of ELA federation, extending reach outside Europe.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Logistics UK (formerly FTA): UK trade association representing logistics businesses with policy, training, and member services. Comparable membership-based model in the European logistics space but focused on the UK and on operator/employer members rather than individual professional credentials.
• BVL Germany (Bundesvereinigung Logistik): Germany's national logistics association with its own certification programs (e.g., logistics manager credentials) and large annual congress. Operates as both an ELA federation member and a powerful national alternative with similar offerings.

Direct peers

• CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport): UK-headquartered global professional body for logistics and transport offering multi-level certifications and member services. Directly comparable to ELA in mission, certification model, and target audience of supply chain professionals.
• ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management, formerly APICS): Leading global professional association for supply chain management offering certifications like CPIM, CSCP, and CLTD. Closest direct competitor in supply chain professional credentialing, with similar membership, events, and certification monetization.
• SOLE - The International Society of Logistics: International professional society for logistics professionals offering certifications (e.g., DLM, DSL) and educational programs. Directly comparable to ELA in serving practicing logisticians with credentials and continuing education.
• CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals): North American professional association for supply chain management providing education, research, and networking. Comparable in role and offerings to ELA, focused on supply chain professional development and thought leadership.

Emerging players

• WERC (Warehousing Education and Research Council): US-based professional organization for warehousing, logistics, and supply chain professionals providing education and credentialing. Comparable niche within logistics professional development, though smaller and more specialized than ELA.

Others

• GS1: Global supply chain standards body that operates as a federation of national member organizations (one of which, GS1 Switzerland, is part of ELA). Adjacent ecosystem player with overlapping networking and standardization roles rather than direct certification competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe_Sk9A-yKcs08zOaZULFJA
• Facebookfacebook.com/100064583056008
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ela---european-logistics-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELA - European Logistics Association