Descartes Unveils Federated Platform to Accelerate Productivity and Performance of Logistics-Intensive Industries

CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSCMP Annual Conference -- Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), a federated global network logistics solutions provider, unveiled its federated business value network at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

This federated platform unites hardware, software, networks and a community of logistics organizations to help to manage resources in motion. The 'state of things united' platform enables participants to work together to automate multi-party business processes and share critical information to accelerate productivity improvements and cost savings.

Descartes' federated platform provides its broadest and most comprehensive footprint of capabilities across the broad array of logistics-intensive industries. While Descartes' solutions have historically focused on the delivery of goods, the new 'state of things united' business value network expands the scope of services to comprehensive management of resources in motion such as people, conveyance, assets, inventory and documents - all-in-one.

Descartes' federated network combines the power of the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN), a community of over 22,000 companies in over 165 countries exchanging logistics information, and value-added applications working together to standardize and streamline business processes. Customers with a broad range of logistics needs, including K Line, the Federated Group, Country Home Products, Cober Printing, America's Largest Food Companies and Saudi Airlines Cargo, as announced today, are among the major brands that have benefited from the rapid payback and value Descartes' solutions deliver.

Our federated platform accents the foundation of our business strategy. We believe that three existing markets are converging: mobile resource management; supply chain execution; and global trade management, said Art Mesher, CEO of Descartes. As these markets intersect, a new Resources in Motion Management Systems category emerges. It's in this congruence where we are focusing our business strategy.

There is also congruence in business delivery models, continued Mesher. We're seeing business process outsourcing, SaaS 2.0 and Web 2.0 intersect in a systems delivery model we refer to as a 'federating network' -- a network that pre-unites members of a business process so implementation times can be shortened and returns on investment accelerated.

Based on the convergence we're seeing, we designed our federated network to simplify the complexities that are compounding the logistics industry, noted Mesher. Never has there been a greater need for the logistics industry at large to collaborate as government regulations are imposed and the quest for productivity improvement and cost savings reaches critical levels. Our federated platform enables our customers to dramatically accelerate the time-to-value and the results our customers achieve. And, with our focus on developing 'nano'-applications on our Global Logistics Network, we allow our customers to start small with minimized risk as they quickly realize tangible results and savings.

Some highlights of the enhanced and new aspects of the federated platform to be demonstrated at the conference include:

* A yard management system that combines hardware, software and networks. Optimized for use with a touch screen tablet PC in-cab, walking, or in the guard shack, users can identify and validate loads to arrive and leave the yard, assign parking, find trailers, identify orders in those trailers, and run performance analysis like trailer aging.

* A web-based parcel/small packaged solution that provides a library of documents and information to support document and label compliance for leading parcel carriers and numerous North American less-than-truckload carriers. The solution includes integration to Descartes export customs filing solution.

* Enterprise fleet optimization supporting master route management, multi-trip driver and asset management. Complete or partial master routes can be managed and merged with daily orders to combine the benefits of static and dynamic route planning and dispatch. Multi-trip routing environments benefit from cross trip/route/and day schedule and resource views and data libraries for such things as mileage calculations to efficiently manage driver to route and trip assignments for hours of service compliance and driver retention.

* A sales & merchandiser management, tracking and reimbursement system. The systems supports smart phones and web access for tracking time, mileage and miscellaneous expenses and standard callable interfaces to integrate with back-office systems and payroll process solutions to standardize transactions and automate mileage payments.

* Wireless mobile solutions that run on smart phones of various form factors and, through Descartes' open network, integrate telematics devices which enables real-time highly configurable field data capture. Included features are in-cab, turn-by-turn navigation; new trailer and cab sensor integrations to support customizable monitors; and alerts of trailer actions such as temperature, movement, and other sensory inputs.

* A transportation management system that expands and streamlines the freight bill audit process, expanded carrier route guide rules, new freight pooling options, and support for Rand McNally MileMaker(TM) distance calculations.

* Rate Builder functionality that integrates with financial applications to streamline transportation invoice receipt, audit and payment authorization.

* Collaborative Dock Appointment Scheduler and Portal that supports carrier-friendly booking for high purchase order count deliveries, automatic scheduling factoring in unload times and door capabilities, and visual cues for discrepancy resolution. Carriers' loads and point-of-sale reservations requiring door scheduling are automatically validated against the Descartes Global Visibility purchase order and bill of lading database, and key information required to authorize and complete the appointment detail are automatically applied.

At Descartes we do special things for special people. Every member of the federated network is different with different needs and regardless of the size or complexity of our customers operations, Descartes' federated platform and value-added applications drive productivity improvements and operational savings for our customers, said Mesher. From the United States to Europe and Australia to Canada, logistics-intensive organizations are turning to Descartes' federated network and value-added applications to achieve operational excellence and deliver immediate payback. We thank our customers and user group members for their guidance as we continue to develop and release solutions that solve real problems for logistics-intensive industries.

For more information about Descartes' new federated platform, its other value-added logistics solutions, the customers announced today or more about 'The State of Things United' join Descartes in Chicago at CSCMP at one or more of the following events:

* Monday, September 21 9:30am - 7:00pm, booth 609 at the Learning Exchange

* Tuesday, September 22 7:00am - 7:45am, Descartes Press Conference Breakfast Meeting, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Regency D or via a teleconference using designated numbers 800-895-5087 for North America or +1 212-231-2929 for international or via an audio web cast on the Descartes Web site at www.descartes.com/company/investors.

* Tuesday, September 22 10:00am - 11:30am, presentation by Art Mesher, CEO, Descartes Systems Group The State of Things United - The Next Big Thing McCormick Place, West Building, Room 187C

* Tuesday, September 22 5:15pm - 7:00pm Networking Reception, Sponsored by Descartes, McCormick Place, West Building, Skyline Ballroom

About Descartes

Descartes (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) is making the world a better place by enabling global organizations with logistics-intensive businesses to save money by improving the productivity and performance of their operations. Underlying Descartes' offerings is the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN), one of the world's most extensive multi-modal business applications network. As a federated platform, the Descartes GLN combines with component-based 'nano' sized applications to provide messaging services between logistics trading partners, shipment management services to help manage third party carriers and private fleet management services for organizations of all sizes. Descartes' solutions and services deliver results by enabling organizations around the world to reduce administrative costs, billing cycles, fleet size, contract carrier costs, and mileage driven; improve pickup and delivery reliability; and optimize working capital through fleet visibility. Descartes' hosted, transactional and packaged solutions deliver repeatable, measurable results and fast time-to-value. Descartes customers include an estimated 1,600 ground carriers and more than 90 airlines, 30 ocean carriers, 900 freight forwarders and third-party providers of logistics services, and hundreds of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, private fleet owners and regulatory agencies. The company has more than 450 employees and is based in Waterloo, Ontario, with operations in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Montreal, Miami, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Derby, London, Stockholm, Shanghai, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.descartes.com.

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This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (forward-looking statements) that relate to Descartes' solution offering and potential benefits derived therefrom; Descartes' ability to help customers comply with emerging compliance initiatives; Descartes' business strategy; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the structure or deployment of compliance initiatives and the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.