Goto AZ Planning Automates Home Delivery Service in Japan With Cloud-Based Descartes/CTC Solution

JOC Staff |

WATERLOO, Ontario, Sept. 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems
Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting
logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that Goto AZ
Planning, a leading home care rental company in Japan, has automated
its home delivery operations with a combined cloud-based solution from
Descartes and ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC), a Descartes
'United by Design' partner.

The cloud-based home delivery solution, called Supply Chain Network
Controller, includes Descartes' Reservations, Route Planner and Mobile
applications. It allows Japanese retailers to quickly deploy a
comprehensive home delivery solution that starts with real-time
delivery appointment scheduling during the customer ordering process
and finishes with Android-based mobile proof-of-delivery at customer
receipt. Currently, Goto AZ is using Descartes' Reservations and Route
Planner solutions as part of its overall delivery system.

"At Goto AZ Planning, we aim to provide our customers with what is
needed such as the information, the service and the products when they
are needed," said Sae Hamaguchi, Senior Director of System Planning at
Goto AZ. "Our delivery system's innovation allows us to clearly know
the status of each resource and share the planning information between
the sales drivers at the customers' sites and the operators at the call
center. And that can drastically reduce the workload of the people who
are in charge of the route planning and dispatching."

"We've worked with Descartes to deliver a cloud-based solution for the
Japanese market that provides differentiated customer service," said
Shun Ando, General Manager, SaaS division of CTC. "Because of our
prepackaged approach and the solution's comprehensive functionality and
cloud infrastructure, customers are able to quickly adopt the superior
home delivery capabilities and cost reduction benefits."

"Our alliance with CTC extends Descartes' advanced home delivery
solution to include Japanese retail market requirements, such as
prebuilt consumer delivery appointment scheduling screens that can be
embedded directly in the customer's website or point-of-sale systems,"
said Chris Varney, Vice President Global Alliances & Channels. "We're
pleased that the combination of our unique home delivery technology and
CTC's cloud-based service is delivering significant value to customers
like Goto AZ Planning."

About Goto AZ Planning

Goto AZ Planning was established in 1991. The company operates retail
stores in western Japan and provides delivery of the home care
products, bedding and water dispensers direct to homes and facilities
for the elderly. Its aim is to support the family member to have a more
comfortable life by caring for the elderly. More information on Goto AZ
Planning is available at www.goto-az.co.jp.

About CTC

Established in 1972, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) provides
advanced IT solutions to enhance enterprise network systems, and offers
various outsourcing services, such as operations by its own data
centers. CTC supports such market segments as telecommunications,
broadcasting, finance, retail, distribution, manufacturing, education,
government, medicine, pharmaceutical, chemicals and apparel. CTC has
formed partnerships with hundreds of leading IT companies from all over
the world. These partnerships range from those with global
multinational IT companies to those with highly focused venture
businesses. Around 7,000 people work for CTC throughout Japan, and our
service edge lies in offering one-stop 7 x 24 support in approximately
100 service centers.

About Descartes

Descartes (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) is the global leader in providing
on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the
productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive
businesses. Descartes has over 147,000 parties using its cloud based
services. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to
route, schedule, track and measure delivery resources; plan, allocate
and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices;
file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and
complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the
world's largest, collaborative multi-modal logistics community. Our
headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and
partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com.