Aitken Spence MFL on a quest to conquer chaos

Over a horizon of 153 years, Aitken Spence has expanded its presence across the globe by engaging in many pioneering projects. The journey that commenced in 1868 in the capacity of a trading company involved in the export and import of goods has pivoted the group from the southern port in Sri Lanka to eight countries across Asia, Oceania and the African continent.

Today, the blue-chip conglomerate has a strong presence in the hotels, and desti-nation management maritime and port services, freight logistics solutions, plan-ta-tions, power generation, printing packa-g-ing and apparel manufacturing sectors.

PIONEERING SPIRIT The Spensonian pioneering spirit strongly resonates in Aitken Spence Maritime & Freight Logistics. As testimony to this, Aitken Spence Maritime lays claim to being the first Sri Lankan company to undertake port efficiency enhancement management overseas with its entry to the African continent and subsequently, the South Pacific.

The company has provided port efficiency enhancement expertise to multiple port terminals in South Africa and Mozambique. Aitken Spence is also positioned as the first Sri Lankan business to be involved in a public-private partnership (PPP) overseas with its substantial strategic investments in port terminals in Fiji.

Moreover, Aitken Spence Logistics was a pioneer of the off dock container depot, off dock container freight station (CFS) and distri-park (distribution park) concept in Sri Lanka. The integrated logistics business ope-rates in diverse segments and has secured its position as a market leader for CFS and mobile storage solutions.

Furthermore, the company is said to ope-rate the largest inland container terminal in the country while offering transport, warehousing and special operations. All these solutions have enabled it to gain recog-nition as a benchmark service provider.

In addition, Aitken Spence Cargo is a pio-neer of freight forwarding in Sri Lanka. The freight logistics company has naviga-ted seasons of complexity and ambiguity to bring endless possibilities and supply chain resi-lience to business partners through a strong commitment to operational excellence.

Expanding its presence in Asia, Aitken Spence Cargo has established offices in Bang-ladesh, the Maldives and Myanmar. The company also represents leading airlines as their cargo general sales agent (cargo GSA) and enjoys market leadership status.

The Express division, which has over 40 years’ experience in the international and domestic delivery business, provides comprehensive express delivery solutions through strategic alliances with leading global networks. With an islandwide network, the division provides last mile deli-very to the emerging e-commerce sector and supply chain distribution solutions.

SRI LANKAN MARITIME CAPABILITIES Ait–ken Spence Maritime’s capabilities are multiface-ted and it is adept at handling all areas of maritime services – from shipping and cargo handling to liner agency, cruise vessel, vessel husbandry services, port mana-gement, and development to charte-r-ing services.

By providing expertise to port terminals through benchmarking and productivity enhancement programmes in both the African and Oceania regions, Aitken Spence Mari-time has demonstrated Sri Lanka’s maritime capabilities across shores.

PORTFOLIO OF ENDURING PARTNERSHIPS Aitken Spence Maritime & Freight Logistics has collaborations with global brands, having partnered with leading glo-bal container shipping lines, cruise operators, airlines, logistics providers, non-vessel owning comm-on carriers (NVOCCs) and internatio-nal freight forwarding networks.

These enduring partnerships have eleva-ted Sri Lanka’s position in global trade.

PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP Aitken Spen–ce has provided purposeful leadership to the local sector and is proud to have produced five Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents’ (CASA) chairmen.

This includes E. L. Van Langenberg (1969-1972), followed by M. L. Mack (1980-1987 and 1990-1991), A. N. Maralande (1992-1995), A. R. Perera (2002-2004), Iqram Cuttilan (2019-2021) and Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, who is an integral member of the CASA Advisory Committee.

  1. S. Kumar – the founding Chairman of the Sri Lanka Logistics & Freight Forwar-d–ers Association (SLFFA) – is also a Spenso-nian. Norman Gunewardene, the former Chairman of Aitken Spence Group, played a pivotal role in the shipping, logistics and freight sector, and was the Chairperson of the Association of Inland Container Depot Operators (ACDO).

To date, key team members are present in industry bodies across the maritime, freight and logistics sectors, being catalysts for change and implementing best practices across these arenas.

SERVICE PAR EXCELLENCE In a service organisation, the differentiation from the competition is derived from its people. A passionate team is vital to a sustainable competitive advantage.

Despite the pandemic, team members went the extra mile to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) set within the group and met the service level agreements (SLAs) of customers. They remained committed to the clarion call, business offering and promise to ‘Ace it today with Aitken Spence.’

Aitken Spence is the preferred partner for several national and international custo-mers. The leadership team took urgent action to recognise the front liners of the group who took bold steps to conquer chaos and provide supply chain reliability at all times.

The teams’ commitment to excellence is the cornerstone of its continued success, and the exceptional performance is attribu-ted to these teams and individuals.

DIGITALISATION REMAINS A STRATEGIC THRUST Another core aspect of this success has been the ability to efficiently embrace technological advancement and innovation. Fortifying the conglomerate’s digital pro-wess has been a strategic drive.

The group has embarked on a cross sector initiative of robotic process auto-mation (RPA) to build, deploy and manage software robots that emulate human actions. These RPA initiatives are close to completion for the logistics and freight sector, and it is already reaping the benefits.

Meanwhile, the freight business has moved to e-pouches, enabling it to position itself as a reliable service provider amid the COVID-19 lockdowns and other disruptions in the supply chain.

The freight division proactively underwent a ‘rightsizing’ strategy in line with the group’s ‘3 Rs’ strategy – viz. realign, re-invent and relaunch. The division’s way forward strategy continues to derive efficiency in all functions and facets.

Additionally, many initiatives are underway in collaboration with the Port of Colombo, Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka Customs and Merchant Shipping Secretariat to position the nation as a mega maritime and logistics hub for the region.

The group firmly believes that digitisation and digitalisation are critical success factors in Sri Lanka’s way forward strategy.

EXPANDING VISTAS The group has embarked on an accelerated expansion strategy and is exploring additional investment opportunities in new markets, along with both exis-ting and new products and services.

The logistics business has launched seve-ral capacity enhancement initiatives and is developing a 100,000 sq ft CFS near the Port of Colombo in addition to the deve-lopment of a secondary depot in Welisara.

Moreover, the company has recently signed an MOU to set up a state-of-the-art bonded distribution warehouse at the southern tip of the country, leveraging the close proximity to the main East-West shipping line and freely available capacity in these territories.

SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS Sustainabi-lity has been integrated in the business. Its corporate history is studded with examples of initiatives that positioned Aitken Spence as a res-ponsible corporate citizen and change ma-ker inspiring industries to evolve in a manner that caters to a better life for all.

Aitken Spence is committed to providing inclusive and diverse employment, and is said to be an industry benchmark for workplace inclusion with above industry women representation across its organisational structure.

Continuing its commitment to sustaina-bility by conforming to the UN’s Sustaina-ble Development Goals (SDGs) specifically relating to SDG 4 – which aims to promote inclusive education and lifelong learning opportunities for all – the cluster has inves-t–ed substantially in CINEC Campus. This is positioned as Sri Lanka’s largest private higher education institution.

too has expanded its presence, and manages maritime academies in Fiji and the Seychelles.

Aitken Spence Maritime & Freight Logis-tics’ presence spans across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and recognises the vital role of the ocean and ocean life.

The cluster has pledged its commitment to SDG 14 – i.e. to conserve oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable deve-lopment – and on World Maritime Day (30 September), embarked on a journey in uncharted waters to ‘save our oceans.’

‘Corporate Ocean Responsibility’ requires a collective effort to accelerate the progress made so far. We are strong individually but invincible together.

All these elements work in unison to facilitate Aitken Spence in its quest to conquer chaos des-pite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

COMPANY DETAILS

Telephone: 2308308
Email:info@aitkenspence.lk
Website:www.aitkenspence.com