Kilometre-long queues of trucks at the German-Polish border are currently a familiar sight. The reintroduction of stationary border controls is regularly causing significant traffic jams. This disruption to the flow of goods results in measurable economic losses for the logistics industry. However, Estonia’s innovative digital queue management system by GoSwift offers a promising solution. By managing lines virtually, it reduces congestion, enhances traffic flow and minimises environmental impact.
For over a decade, the digital queue management system developed by GoSwift has proven itself as a practical addition to traditional border control. The system does not replace border checks but moves the waiting line from the road into a virtual space, with measurable effects on traffic, the environment, and efficiency.
Digital queue instead of physical congestion
In practice, truck drivers book a time slot for their border crossing online. This reduces the congestion on site, spreads traffic more evenly throughout the day, and saves resources. In Estonia, physical waiting times at heavily frequented borders were reduced from over 60 hours to an average of just one hour. At the same time, the system enables better planning for companies and drivers, without increasing border capacity.
“The system will just change the queue to the virtual one, which means, that the system allows the users arrive to the border exact time which was booked.”
Madis Sassiad, GoSwift Solutions spokesperson
The ecological impact is also evident: less idling and shorter queue times mean lower CO₂ emissions. According to Estonian transport companies, more efficient logistics processes have led to annual savings worth millions of euros.
Flexible, scalable, and data-secure
The system is already in use in several countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland. It complies with international IT security standards (ISO 27001) and, according to the provider, can be implemented at a new site within three months.
The solution is not a substitute for comprehensive infrastructure investment or political decisions on border policy, but a functional supplement.
“Still, the system will just change the queue to the virtual one, which means, that the system allows the users arrive to the border exact time which was booked, ” says a GoSwift Solutions spokesperson Madis Sassiad. “But it doesn’t remove the queue and doesn’t increase the capacity of one border checkpoint.”
Estonia as a driver of digital government
The digital queueing solution is part of Estonia’s comprehensive digital strategy, which has earned international recognition. Whether in digital identity, public administration, or cybersecurity, Estonia has been setting standards for citizen-centered digitalisation for years. Success stories like Bolt and Bercman Technologies demonstrate just how far-reaching and influential this culture of innovation has become.
“Estonia aims to leverage regional ITS cooperation networks as well as capitalise on the increasing focus on automation and personalisation of the intelligent transportation systems.”
Lili Kuusk, CEO of ITS Estonia
In the transport sector, GoSwift Solutions, a member of ITS Estonia (part of the Estonian ICT Cluster), showcases how smart mobility solutions can work in practice.
“In Estonia, it is possible to quickly move from testing in a closed territory to an urban environment, which is why, for instance, autonomous vehicles have developed rapidly, and they already exist on the streets today. In the broader context of ITS, Estonia aims to leverage regional ITS cooperation networks as well as capitalise on the increasing focus on automation and personalisation of the intelligent transportation systems,” said Lili Kuusk, CEO of ITS Estonia.
In times of increasing geopolitical tension and growing traffic at the EU’s external borders, Estonia demonstrates how technology can ease the burden on existing systems without compromising control. As congestion at key border points continues, the demand for digital traffic management solutions is becoming increasingly urgent.
This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
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