COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Advantis Group, the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys, successfully concluded its ideation initiative, ‘Advantis Ideastorm | Fast Track,’ a unique variation of the Group’s pioneering ideation platform – Advantis Ideastorm. The initiative has delivered a notable boost to the Group’s cashflows through innovative ideas generated by employees.
The recurring annual event by Advantis continues to drive ideation across the organisation, showcasing the impact of employee-driven innovation. First introduced in 2020, the Advantis Ideastorm platform was built on a structured approach from the very beginning, evolving into a dynamic and sophisticated engine for driving innovation across the organisation. Previous iterations, including the Advantis Ideastorm | Champions League in 2021 and Advantis Ideastorm 2.0 in 2022, laid the groundwork for this latest initiative.
Advantis Ideastorm | Fast Track was specifically designed to generate rapid, impactful solutions during FY 2023/24 which was a particularly challenging year for the logistics industry.
This year’s call to innovation yielded impressive results with 51 submissions received from 16 Units of the Group, 37 ideas qualifying for implementation. The most promising concepts were rigorously evaluated by an independent external auditor to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and potential impact.
“Advantis Ideastorm empowers employees at all levels, from entry-level to senior management, to drive innovation that creates meaningful impact within the organisation and extends to external stakeholders. It showcases the power of creativity, collaboration, and commitment, and we commend our teams for their outstanding performance,” said Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director of Advantis Group.
“This initiative represents our commitment to fostering collaboration and delivering strategic value,” said Group Finance Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Advantis Group, Virendra Perera. “By empowering our teams, we have unlocked new opportunities for growth.”
The initiative’s success culminated in a prestigious awards ceremony on the 10th of December, 2024, where top-performing teams were recognised across different business scales. The Gold award winners demonstrated exceptional innovation and strategic thinking. Advantis – 3PL claimed the top spot in the Large Category, while Hayleys Unisyst took Gold in the Small Category.
Advantis – 3PL team (Gold Award winner in the Large Category)
Reflecting on the team’s achievement, Dharshana Wijemanne, Director/CEO of Advantis – 3PL stated, “We are honoured to have our project selected as the winning initiative, and I want to thank each member of our team for their contributions. Beyond this recognition, it has also been exciting to see the creativity which all teams brought to their problem solving.”
Similarly, Kamal Wimalaratne, CEO of Hayleys Unisyst, praised the broader scope and focused approach to value creation across Advantis Group companies. “Beyond the direct value generated by Advantis Ideastorm, the most valuable outcome is the cultivation of a true culture of collaborative innovation, where internal challenges are transformed into strategic opportunities,” he remarked.
Hayleys Unisyst team (Gold Award winner in the Small Category)
Silver awards were presented to three outstanding teams: Advantis – International Express in the Large Category, Advantis Myanmar in the Medium Category, and Asteri Global Solutions in the Small Category. Additionally, Advantis – Free Zone earned a Bronze award in the Medium Category, rounding out the recognitions.
The initiative goes beyond mere financial gains. It represents a cultural transformation within the organisation, encouraging employees at all levels to become active problem solvers and innovation champions. By creating a platform that values and rewards creative thinking, Advantis has demonstrated how internal talent can be the most powerful driver of organisational success.
Advantis is a diversified transportation and logistics provider, with over six decades of experience and operations spread across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Backed by the blue-chip multinational conglomerate Hayleys PLC, Advantis is at the forefront of the transportation and logistics industries providing end-to-end solutions covering Freight Management, Integrated Logistics, Marine and Energy, Projects and Engineering, and Travel and Aviation. In recognition of Advantis’ exceptional service, the Group has been honoured with the prestigious title of ‘Best Transportation and Logistics Company in Sri Lanka and South Asia’ by Global Brands Magazine, UK. For more information on Advantis, visit www.advantis.world
