Today is a very special day for us, as ACE Logistics Ukraine celebrates 5 years of operations! We send our heartfelt congratulations to our Ukrainian colleagues and wish them good luck and fortune in their ongoing journey!
In commemoration of this event, ACE Ukraine published in March a collection of posts on their Facebook, detailing their current journey from the start of operations. We will share them here below.
ACE Logistics Ukraine – Road to 5 Years
Part 1
ACE Logistics Ukraine LLC was opened on the first day of April 2020, as the sixth affiliate for ACE Logistics Group at the time. The company established their office in Kiev and is managed to this day by Olena Dashko. The starting year was full of challenges from the start, mostly due to the Corona epidemic. This new situation introduced challenges, which required a completely different way of thinking and approach. The biggest obstacle was the new distance between the colleagues because of the lockdown, but this was handled effectively thanks to new online possibilities.
This overcoming of challenges helped ACE Ukraine experience a significant growth in the first year. The team grew from 1 person to 6 people and managed to handle very different kind of shipments, with the biggest adventure of the year being the transport of 100+ full truck loads from Ukraine to France. Thanks to a strong pre-launch preparation and a capable and active management, the company accomplished all set goals in the first year and showed great promise for the future.
And the second year did start out strong for ACE Ukraine. With full connection to the European-wide groupage network, the company offered regular groupage linehauls between Ukraine and Europe. In addition to business goals, the second year set some more focus on team development and wellbeing. With the Corona epidemic still at large, employees had to continue operating from home offices, but they made excellent progress.
The company went into 2022 with very positive feelings, managing to double the amount of shipment in first two months, compared to previous year’s same time. However, things turned out rather differently, than it was ever expected.
Part 2
ACE Ukraine grew rapidly in its first two years, establishing a strong connection to European-wide groupage network, building up an effective team and managing the new challenges caused by the Corona epidemic. The first months of 2022 started off busy and promising, doubling the amount of organized shipments from last year. Everything seemed to go the best possible way… until 24th of February.
“I will never forget 24th February. This day will stay with me for the rest of my life”, claims Olena Dashko, the Managing Director of ACE Logistics Ukraine. “In just one day, all the trucks were returned to the factories and all airfreight shipments were stopped. We felt a tragic silence.”
The war caught all Ukrainians by surprise and the company had to adapt to the new circumstances. ACE Ukraine suspended its activities at the beginning of the war in February, but resumed activities from the start of April, commencing their 3rd year of operation. During this time, the company had to relocate employees and customs activities, also relocate the Kiev office to a location with a close bomb shelter. All steps were taken to continue to sustain all services.
And just like its country, ACE Logistics Ukraine is a fighter. The Ukrainian team learned how to work in different conditions and locations like subways, basements and bomb shelters. And they were very eager to help their country by keeping logistics running and operational. They also started to organize transport for humanitarian aid, personal protective equipment and general goods overall.
While a difficult year, ACE Ukraine adapted well to these circumstances and moved towards the 4th year with confidence, strong motivation to support their homeland and plans to increase both capacity and team. The company was also building up for expansion, with opening of second office in Lviv in 2023.
Part 3
ACE Ukraine has reached a long way in their journey so far. From the start of operations in the Corona epidemic to the ongoing war in Ukraine, ACE Ukraine has had to constantly adapt to new circumstances and situations. With confidence and strong motivation, the company and team have not only stayed resilient, but also found room for growth and expansion, with the opening of a new office in Lviv.
For 2024, the aim was to continue steady growth and development of services, to support both the homeland and logistics. For capacity, ACE Ukraine expanded the capabilities of LTL services and consistently optimized and adapted routes for groupage shipments, to help clients save time and reduce costs. Additionally, the company handled special delivery projects, successfully handling transportation of oversized, complex and non-standard shipments.
In our commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting industry growth, ACE Ukraine organized an international conference that brought together logistics professionals, academics, and students. The event focused on modern trends in logistics, digitalization, and global supply chain challenges, offering valuable insights to all participants.
Along with the expansion in Lviv, ACE Ukraine had clear goals to develop and grow the team. The company successfully launched an internship program, helping upcoming professionals gain skills and understanding of the industry, via real-world experience and mentorship. Some of our interns have already become valuable members of our team!
With this, the story of ACE Ukraine’s first five years comes to an end. The company has proven to be strong, competent and willing to adapt and grow even in difficult conditions. We look forward to the next five years of challenges, growth and success!
Thank you to our clients, partners, and especially the team for making this journey possible!
ACE Logistics
