Rapid Growth and Market Leadership

The Rise of a Transportation Powerhouse

Capitalising on the growing demand for labour in a rapidly developing nation, YCH transitioned from a small operation into Singapore’s largest passenger transportation company by the 1960s. With a formidable fleet of 103 vehicles and a dominant market presence, this decade marked the company’s evolution into a major industry player.

BRINK TO BREAKTHROUGH

Every Journey Has its Trials

When the company lost its main contract — which accounted for nearly 90% of the revenue — the future hung in the balance. In 1977, Dr Robert Yap stepped in to lead alongside his father. Together, the duo turned the crisis into an opportunity by pivoting the business into freight services.

“I wasnʼt just thinking about transportation. I wanted to build a logistics ecosystem — warehousing, freight forwarding, and technology — because that’s where the future was.”

Robert Yap

The loss of the main contract had exposed a critical vulnerability — the company was too dependent on a single client. Determined never to be placed in such a vulnerable position again, YCH was steered towards a broader and more resilient logistics strategy.

INNOVATE TO SURVIVE

Setting New Horizons with Technology

YCH expanded its services and pioneered proprietary IT solutions with Y3 Technologies, evolving from a modest transport provider into a forward-looking logistics leader.

“Others thought I was just showing off when I partnered with a software engineer to develop our own system. But when bigger companies got stuck with expensive legacy systems, we could keep advancing — building greater capacity at a lower cost.”

Robert Yap

By the late 1980s, Y3 Technologies had evolved from an internal IT unit into a full-fledged software company serving both internal and external clients. Through innovations like Y-WMS for real-time inventory tracking and TMS for data-driven route planning, Y3 transformed logistics operations with greater efficiency, visibility, and precision.

ESTABLISHING THE LOGISTICS SUPERHIGHWAY

Forging New Connections in Unfamiliar Territories

YCHʼs first regional step was into Malaysia, supporting clients as they expanded their reach. When Singapore established diplomatic ties with China, YCH embraced the same spirit of partnership and possibility. Guided by the Asset-Right Strategy, YCH built enduring cross-border relationships to better serve customers and partners across the region.

“Supply chains were moving away from being just siloed and divided by national borders. Companies needed regional connectivity. That meant we had to be wherever our customers needed us, before they even got there.”

Robert Yap

With the Asset-Right Strategy, YCH carefully invests in key markets, building assets that form the backbone of its operations. This strategic approach allows the company to integrate technology and sustainability seamlessly across its processes, while demonstrating a long-term commitment to the economic growth of the markets it serves. More than infrastructure, these investments represent a promise to customers and partners alike: “Weʼre here to stay, to invest, and to grow together.ˮ

RISE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

Opportunities are Found in Challenges

In the new millennium, YCH set its sights on India and the wider Asia-Pacific markets, rising to the complexities of diverse economies. Each challenge became an opportunity — driving the development of modern, sustainable infrastructures and forging partnerships with leading global brands. The pains of growth are now transformed into lasting achievements and international recognition.

SHAPING LEADERS OF TOMORROW

Teaching a Man to Fish

YCHʼs commitment to shaping the future of logistics extends beyond operations. The Supply Chain and Logistics Academy (SCALA) was established to provide professionals with experiential training, while the EduRISE programme was launched to nurture young talents and prepare the next generation of leaders to drive innovation across Asia.

“Supply chains are evolving rapidly, and if we donʼt invest in the next generation, we risk falling behind.”

Robert Yap

YCH believes that people are the heart of logistics. By building a skilled workforce across every market it serves, the company places talent development at the core of its strategy. For YCH, nurturing people is inseparable from the long-term sustainability of the logistics industry — because the true future of logistics is shaped by the people who drive it forward.

Asiaʼs Nexus of Supply Chain Excellence

The loss of its flagship YCH DistriPark Singapore nearly plunged the company into uncertainty, but instead, it became the spark that redefined it. In 2017, Supply Chain City became YCHʼs new nerve centre of supply chain excellence. Built on a 6.5-hectare site within the Jurong Innovation District, the new headquarters stands as a symbol of renewal, resilience, and reinvention.

BEYOND BORDERS, CONNECTING TRADE

At the Helm of Change, Steering Towards the Future

Today, YCH continues to champion digital transformation, sustainability, and innovation across its key markets. From the flagship Supply Chain City® to the next-generation multimodal SuperPort™ hubs, YCHʼs journey is driven by smart infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and nurturing talents.

YCH IS BUILT ON FOUR FUNDAMENTAL VALUES: RELIABILITY, INTEGRITY, SINCERITY, AND AN ENTERPRISING SPIRIT (RISE).

The company has always been grounded in the four values and one unwavering ethos — a promise made is a promise kept. Today, these principles continue to guide every decision, every partnership, and every step YCH takes in shaping the future of logistics.