Industry in change – 2026-09-25
Between the gate and the loading bay: Bobo on what really slows down logistics flows
Ahead of this year’s Logistics & Transport Fair, we spoke to Bobo, who is in charge of logistics and part of SI’s stand team. He shares his views on what actually happens in day-to-day operations at warehouses and terminals, and why it is often the small, ”insignificant” things that cost the most.
The challenge nobody talks about
According to Bobo, the industry’s biggest challenge at the moment is to get more done with existing resources, whilst demands for efficiency and control are increasing. The problem rarely lies in the transport or the warehouse itself, but in everything that happens in between.
What happens between the gate and the loading bay is, according to Bobo, greatly underestimated. Many companies have good control over transport and organisation within the warehouse, but the process in between still relies on phone calls, paperwork and personal knowledge. A few minutes’ wait may seem insignificant until it is repeated for every delivery, every day.
Digitalisation is more than just a form
A common misconception, according to Bobo, is to believe that digitalisation is complete as soon as a paper form has been digitised. The real benefits only arise when the information is actually passed on through the workflow: when the driver receives the correct instructions, staff can see arrivals in real time, and the business can plan based on actual data. No one should have to enter the same information in three different places.
How yard management works in practice
In practical terms, this could involve a check-in process where the driver checks in themselves via a mobile phone or self-service kiosk and immediately receives the correct gate instructions, whilst staff have a complete overview of which vehicles are on site. The result is fewer telephone calls, less manual registration and more time for staff to focus on freight and any discrepancies.
Where should one start?
Bobo’s advice to businesses that are unsure is to map out a typical transport journey, from booking right through to the vehicle leaving the premises. Where do delays occur? Where is the same information recorded multiple times? Based on this, you can choose a specific sub-problem to tackle first – such as check-in or time slot booking – measure the impact, and then build on that. You don’t need to solve everything at once to see results.
From reacting to anticipating
Looking five years ahead, Bobo believes the industry will move from reacting to problems to being able to anticipate them. When bookings, arrivals and capacity are linked, it becomes possible to identify an impending queue or peak in demand well in advance. AI will play a part in this work, but the foundation is always reliable information from the actual operations.
One area that deserves greater attention is the driver’s experience.
Bobo Ekelundh
The driver’s experience deserves more attention
One area that Bobo believes deserves greater attention is the driver’s experience. The industry talks a lot about systems, capacity and efficiency – but it is the driver who is actually the first point of contact with the business, and who, in practice, determines how smoothly the workflow runs right from the start.
Is the check-in process easy to understand? Are the instructions clear, regardless of the language the driver speaks? Does the driver know where to drive, or does uncertainty arise, leading to extra questions, vehicles being parked incorrectly or unnecessary waiting? These are rarely major, dramatic problems – rather, a series of minor hiccups which, individually, feel manageable, but which, taken together, cause delays, frustration and extra work for the staff tasked with sorting out the situation.
That is precisely why Bobo believes that the driver’s experience is not a minor detail, but a prerequisite for the rest of the process to run smoothly. If the driver can get things right from the very first point of contact with the facility, the workload on staff is reduced and the entire operation is better placed to meet its deadlines.
Logiware YMS offers digital check-in in 25 languages – a practical solution to this very problem, enabling more drivers to check in correctly without any misunderstandings, regardless of their background or language skills.
What sets SI Logiware apart?
According to Bobo, the strength lies in the combination of software, automation and an understanding of the physical facility. Logiware YMS links booking and check-in with what actually happens at the gate, in the yard and at the entrance, and can be integrated with warehouse, transport, access control and security systems.
Meet Bobo at the trade fair
During the Logistics & Transport Fair, Bobo will be on hand at the SI stand. Please feel free to bring along the task that currently creates the most unnecessary extra work in your business – and we’ll discuss how it can be simplified. Visitors will also have the chance to try out the check-in process from the driver’s perspective. See you at stand C03:02!