Descartes Unveils Mobile Resource Management 2.0 Initiative and Solutions
WATERLOO, Ontario, June 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), a federated global network logistics solutions provider, announced its Mobile Resource Management (MRM) 2.0 initiative to combine real-time planning with wireless mobile technology to manage resources in motion.
Working with leading customers, Descartes has launched advanced technology with functionality that spans from optimized planning to dispatch and automated vehicle location (AVL), integrated with mobile technology that addresses a wide array of global positioning satellite (GPS)-enabled requirements. The integrated solutions are used to manage private and dedicated fleets, sales forces, merchandisers and other types of mobile workers.
The traditional market view has been that route planning and MRM were two separate technologies and markets, with neither technology set designed with the other set in mind, said Chris Jones, Executive Vice President, Solutions and Services at Descartes. This created two significant problems for customers. First, the architecture of the two technologies sets only allowed for simple, non-real-time integration because route planning solutions were batch-based and MRM solution interfaces used historically-oriented performance data. Second, integration of the technologies was left to the customer, resulting in potentially costly, time-consuming and fragile implementations that had limited value.
Descartes Resources in Motion Management Systems (RiMMS) initiative recognizes the convergence of route planning and MRM technologies into a single technology stack and market it calls MRM 2.0. MRM 2.0 leverages the power of real time planning and wireless mobile technology as if they were designed to work as one from the beginning. The optimized planning and wireless mobile technology within Descartes MRM 2.0 solutions are built on event-based architectures that allow for the bi-directional propagation of messages as they occur, from planning through the mobile applications. This architecture provides new, real-time capabilities that allow for more dynamic and effective control of resources in motion.
In support of customers' desires to have pre-integrated solutions, especially where there is diversity of communications and wireless mobile technologies, Descartes' United by Design alliance program helps to address the MRM 2.0 initiative. The United by Design alliance program brings together software, hardware and wireless network partners together in a unified solution for customers. Using Descartes' wireless Global Logistics Network (wGLN) and open standard callable interfaces (open SCIs), historically disparate solution providers can work together to deliver value to customers.
We believe that the days of simply bolting together disparate route planning and MRM technologies are over, said Art Mesher, Descartes' CEO. We've worked with our customers to focus on a new strategy for, and generation of, MRM solutions to provide them with the command and control they need to manage their mobile resources in real-time.
In addition to its MRM 2.0 initiative, Descartes announced the availability of three MRM 2.0 solutions designed as part of the initiative. The solutions, described in more details at Descartes' website www.descartes.com, are as follows:
Route Planner is a web-native MRM 2.0 solution designed to scale for large enterprises or complex routing problems. The enterprise architecture of Route Planner allows it to be deployed across the organization in a single instance, standardizing operations and providing comprehensive operational visibility. The advanced incremental optimization capabilities of Route Planner are ideally suited for real-time planning decisions, such as delivery appointment scheduling and in-route deviations. Route Planner has planning, dispatch and AVL functionality that was designed to work with real-time updates from mobile devices in the field and maintain master data in a single repository, as opposed to multiple disparate systems.
Sales & Merchandiser Management and Route Planner On-demand are web-native planning, dispatching and tracking solutions designed to scale for small- to large-enterprises that have more basic routing and resource tracking problems. Sales and Merchandiser Management On-demand is a closed-loop system to plan, track and approve sales and merchandiser activity and authorize payment. Route Planner On-demand is an end-to-end solution that combines route optimization, dispatching, AVL and GPS mobile technology. The two solutions can be implemented independently or together to synchronize sales and merchandiser activity with delivery operations. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) architecture of the on demand solutions allows deployment with minimal technology infrastructure, making them cost-effective fit for organizations to track their numerous resources in the field.
Descartes Area Planner uniquely addresses the variability in volume, demand and customer locations faced by couriers, and small package and less-than-truckload (LTL) operators. The variable network approach of Descartes Area Planner helps more accurately reflect the demand, pickup and delivery density and capacity. Using advanced simulation techniques and evaluation of historical and predicted demand, the solution can determine the proper number of vehicles needed and the requirements to support time-critical services. The mobile-enabled tracking allows Descartes Area Planner to record and evaluate the actual performance of drivers and areas to ensure that operational strategies deliver the greatest value. The SaaS architecture requires minimal infrastructure to use the solution, so customers can quickly deploy Descartes Area Planner and begin to see results soon thereafter.
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 application networks. Descartes' logistics management solutions provide messaging services between logistics trading partners, shipment management services to help manage third party carriers, global customs filing and compliance services to meet regulatory requirements 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 has over 6,000 customers that include ground carriers, airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders and third-party providers of logistics services, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, mobile services providers, private fleet owners and regulatory agencies. The company has more than 600 employees and is based in Waterloo, Ontario, with operations in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Copenhagen, Eindhoven, Gent, Lier, Namestovo, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Montreal, Miami, Washington DC, London, Silver Spring, Stockholm, Suzhou, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto, Windsor, and Zilina. 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 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, 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.
CONTACT: Descartes Systems Group
Media contact:
Nicole German
1-416-741-2838 ext. 298