Third part logistics steps up

Johan Orest, Director Contract Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel Sweden in Sweden, will attend the Logistics & Transport fair on November 5 to speak about the current and future role of third-party logistics.

Companies are facing increasing demands for faster deliveries, better service, and sustainable solutions. As a result, third-party logistics (3PL) is becoming more important – a topic that will be highlighted at the Logistics & Transport fair on November 5.

Johan Orest, Director Contract Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel Sweden, will attend the fair to discuss the growing importance of 3PL in the logistics chain. He will also share valuable tips for both transport buyers and logistics operators. Johan brings a unique perspective, having worked on both the customer and provider sides of logistics. With a background in engineering, he has built extensive experience in logistics since his university days.

“You could say I grew up on the customer side,” he says. “I worked at Ericsson for 16 years in logistics and supply chain from 1996 to 2011. In my final years there, I was responsible for Ericsson’s global logistics procurement.”

Already then, Johan became curious about the provider side of logistics. He left Ericsson for Schenker, where he worked primarily with ocean freight. In 2016, he joined Kuehne+Nagel, shifting focus to land transport.

How did you get into 3PL?

“A recruiter called and suggested I start working with 3PL at DHL. There, it was called Supply Chain Solutions; at Kuehne+Nagel, it’s called Contract Logistics. A beloved child has many names!”

At DHL, Johan was responsible for northern Sweden and all of Norway for three years, serving as CEO of DHL’s Norwegian subsidiary. He later returned to Kuehne+Nagel to continue working with 3PL, which he still does today.

“I’m based in Stockholm, although I’m actually more based in my car,” Johan jokes. “The rest of my team is located at the sites, whether they work directly on-site or in a support role. Stockholm is the formal headquarters, but only a few people are based there mostly salespeople and the finance department.”

What will you talk about at Logistics & Transport?

“I’ll cover 3PL from both the customer and provider perspectives, since I’ve been in both roles,” says Johan. “I’ll also offer tips and advice to product owners considering outsourcing—or who already have—on how to get the most out of it.”

Johan Orest will speak at the seminar “3PL – The Key Player in Flexible and Scalable Logistics”, part of the fair’s extensive conference program. The seminar focuses on how 3PL providers enable smooth, data-driven, and customer-focused logistics, and how partnerships between brands and logistics providers are evolving beyond operations—toward innovation, analytics, and value creation. 3PL providers are no longer just external resources—they are strategic partners helping companies grow, streamline, and adapt in a rapidly changing world.

“I’ll also share my experiences from both sides—customer and provider—to help product owners learn from that and offer a glimpse into what I believe lies ahead.”

“Even if it sounds like a cliché, I want to emphasize that people are the key. Good staff, leadership, and engagement lead to satisfied customers, which in turn leads to even more motivated staff—because people want their customers to be happy. If we get that right, we create a positive spiral. But if we don’t, there’s a risk of a negative one.”

What has changed in 3PL in Sweden in recent years?

“3PL has evolved over the past 20 years, but Sweden still has a much lower outsourcing rate than other European countries. I don’t know why that is. Many industries in Sweden manage their own warehouse logistics. Some do it well, but most would benefit from focusing on their core business—I’m convinced of that. More companies, especially in manufacturing, should consider outsourcing.”

How can 3PL improve efficiency for customers?

“It’s mainly about data—operational data that improves visibility for both the customer and their customers. There’s also a lot of data that can support tactical and strategic decisions, either by the customer or in collaboration. I believe 3PL providers can do more here and better understand what customers truly need. We have more to offer than the industry currently delivers.”

“There’s also a lot happening in automation. Today’s solutions are often inflexible, which is a challenge for 3PL providers investing for ten years when contracts last only three. But now, with robotics and AI, I believe we’ll see a lot of flexible automation in the next ten years. These solutions will suit the 3PL industry much better than the heavy, fixed installations that can’t be repurposed.”

“I’m convinced these flexible solutions will be very important in the future.”

Are flexible automation solutions already available?

“Not in practice—there are a few pilot projects, but the development is coming. It’s a good match, though. The challenge for 3PL providers is offering automation when the required investments outlast the contract terms, making it hard to justify financially. It’s a big risk.”

“Some 3PL providers already have automation solutions, and I believe we’ll see many more in the future. I’ll talk more about that at the seminar at Svenska Mässan in November.”

What does the Logistics & Transport fair mean to you?

“No matter how you look at it, the fair is the logistics event in Sweden. If you’re going to be anywhere, it’s there,” says Johan Orest.

Read more about the conference

About Kuehne+Nagel

With more than 82,000 employees at almost 1,300 sites in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland, Kuehne+Nagel is listed in the Swiss blue-chip stock market index, the SMI. The Group is the global number one in air and sea logistics and has strong market positions in road and contract logistics. Kuehne+Nagel is the logistics partner of choice for 400,000 customers worldwide. Using its global network, logistics expertise and data-based insights, the Group provides end-to-end supply chain solutions for global companies and industries.

In Sweden, Kuehne + Nagel AB is headquartered in Kista, northern Stockholm. The company has around 400 employees (seasonally adjusted) across sites in Malmö, Gothenburg, Jönköping, Norrköping, Eskilstuna, and Umeå.