INTTRA, Descartes Form Service Alliance

Trade and transport technology providers INTTRA and the Descartes Systems Group are forming an alliance to provide a global network capable of managing the entire ocean cargo shipment lifecycle.

The two companies, which provide different services to the international trade community, announced their alliance Tuesday at The Journal of Commerce's 5th Annual Canada Maritime Conference at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal.

Through the alliance formed by the two companies, shippers using the Descartes Global Logistics Network will now be able to electronically manage the entire ocean cargo shipment lifecycle, including connectivity to a broader community of carriers to submit bookings as well as contract and rate management, visibility to shipment status, electronic document exchange, and the submission and management of customs filings and more.

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Descartes provides a suite of supply-chain execution and compliance services powered by the Global Logistics Network, one of the largest multi-modal logistics networks in the industry.

INTTRA provides access to a large network of ocean container freight carriers and enables shippers of all types to manage bookings and shipping instructions with any carrier on the network through an accepted standard business process.

The companies said members of the federated INTTRA and Descartes community can benefit from streamlined and standardized ocean shipping processes, increased visibility and faster time-to-value for all parties within the ocean community.

"By teaming with INTTRA, we now have a comprehensive shipment management service that standardizes and automates the entire shipment management process and can improve efficiencies for all stakeholders in the ocean freight community," said Eric Bossdorf, vice president, Global Logistics Network at Descartes.

"By Descartes joining INTTRA's Alliance network we can enable more shippers to connect electronically to their container lines and further standardize ocean shipment business processes and increase efficiencies," said Ronald DeBlis, INTTRA's vice president, regional sales and professional services."

-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com.