Southwest Airlines Cargo Selects Descartes to Provide its Customers with Real-Time Cargo Visibility
WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada – June 29, 2011 - Descartes Systems Group (TSX: DSG) (NASDAQ: DSGX) announced that Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) has deployed Descartes’ cloud-based Air Messaging Service to its Cargo Customers. Descartes shipment status messaging allows Southwest Airlines Cargo to deliver real-time alerts to its freight forwarders and direct shipper Customers. With Descartes’ extensive community of freight forwarders already connected to Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN), Southwest Airlines Cargo was able to quickly connect to its Customers, dramatically reducing the time to improve Customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and streamline operational processes.
Electronic messaging services, including status messaging, are provided by Descartes GLN, which processes over 1 billion electronic messages annually. The GLN is a cloud-based logistics platform that connects 35,000 trading partners and leverages over 50 value-added services. The GLN spans the entire shipment management process, from contract management, to freight bookings, shipment tracking, security and trade compliance filings, mobile resource management, and more.
“We initially launched Descartes Air Messaging Service to select freight forwarder trading partners,” said Kevin Russell, Director of Cargo Revenue Management and Automation at Southwest Airlines Cargo. “The cloud-based service was fast and easy to implement and delivered immediate service improvements to our Customers and provided full transparency into their shipments. Based on the positive Customer feedback that we received about the improved Customer Service, we are pleased to now offer shipment status messaging to all of our Cargo Customers.”
“Descartes is very pleased to work with the award winning cargo division of Southwest Airlines to continue their great tradition of outstanding Customer Service by adding Air Messaging Service to their Customers,” said Cindy Yamamoto, VP Product Management at Descartes. “The strength of our federated network of pre-connected freight forwarders has allowed Southwest Airlines Cargo to reduce the time-to-value for its Customers.”
About Descartes
Descartes (TSX: DSG) (NASDAQ: DSGX) is a premier provider of Global Trade Compliance, Supply Chain Execution and Mobile Resource Management services. Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN) unites global businesses and trading partners, allowing them to collaborate in a cost effective way and maximize productivity and efficiency. Trading partners that connect to the GLN join Descartes’ Federated Network, the world’s most extensive multi-modal business network with over 35,000 trading partners connected, including ground carriers, airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, third-party providers of logistics services customs house brokers, freight payment agencies, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, mobile services providers and regulatory agencies. Descartes is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and has offices in North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. More information and industry updates are available at http://www.descartes.com and http://blog.descartes.com.
About Southwest Airlines Co.
In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.
Electronic messaging services, including status messaging, are provided by Descartes GLN, which processes over 1 billion electronic messages annually. The GLN is a cloud-based logistics platform that connects 35,000 trading partners and leverages over 50 value-added services. The GLN spans the entire shipment management process, from contract management, to freight bookings, shipment tracking, security and trade compliance filings, mobile resource management, and more.
“We initially launched Descartes Air Messaging Service to select freight forwarder trading partners,” said Kevin Russell, Director of Cargo Revenue Management and Automation at Southwest Airlines Cargo. “The cloud-based service was fast and easy to implement and delivered immediate service improvements to our Customers and provided full transparency into their shipments. Based on the positive Customer feedback that we received about the improved Customer Service, we are pleased to now offer shipment status messaging to all of our Cargo Customers.”
“Descartes is very pleased to work with the award winning cargo division of Southwest Airlines to continue their great tradition of outstanding Customer Service by adding Air Messaging Service to their Customers,” said Cindy Yamamoto, VP Product Management at Descartes. “The strength of our federated network of pre-connected freight forwarders has allowed Southwest Airlines Cargo to reduce the time-to-value for its Customers.”
About Descartes
Descartes (TSX: DSG) (NASDAQ: DSGX) is a premier provider of Global Trade Compliance, Supply Chain Execution and Mobile Resource Management services. Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN) unites global businesses and trading partners, allowing them to collaborate in a cost effective way and maximize productivity and efficiency. Trading partners that connect to the GLN join Descartes’ Federated Network, the world’s most extensive multi-modal business network with over 35,000 trading partners connected, including ground carriers, airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, third-party providers of logistics services customs house brokers, freight payment agencies, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, mobile services providers and regulatory agencies. Descartes is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and has offices in North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. More information and industry updates are available at http://www.descartes.com and http://blog.descartes.com.
About Southwest Airlines Co.
In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.