The Federated Group Saves Money and Improves Customer Service With Descartes

JOC Staff |
CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSCMP Annual Conference -- Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), a global on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics solutions provider, announced that The Federated Group has automated processes to succeed in tough financial times by leveraging the Descartes Global Logistics Network's (GLN) customs compliance services.

Using the Descartes GLN, Federated has transitioned most of its manual, paper-based customs processes to electronic information exchange, improving filing accuracy and speeding service. Descartes' Customs Compliance solution, available over the GLN, has enabled Federated to expand its automation efforts, engage with more partners and exchange information electronically with government agencies. Since working with Descartes, Federated has expanded its electronic document interchange capabilities by 50%; improved data accuracy by eliminating re-keying; reduced staffing requirements; reduced landing costs; and improved customer service by tracking shipments.

Descartes' GLN is a multimodal network of transportation providers and their customers that facilitates the electronic interchange of logistics information. Through the GLN, global transportation providers can connect to their trading partners and seamlessly and reliably exchange information to help drive delivery performance and high levels of customer satisfaction. The Descartes GLN connects thousands of shippers with 90+ air, 30+ ocean and 1,400+ truck carriers, along with regulatory agencies that include the Federal Maritime Commission and U.S., Canadian, Dutch and Indian customs agencies. Designed specifically to address logistics processes, the GLN handles numerous standards and message specifications for manufacturers, retailers and distributors.

Every government and trading partner wants to do things better, faster, and cheaper with less, said Greg Birley, Director of Customs Operations at Federated. At the same time, shipments are increasing every year and staffing is lower. By investing in Descartes' GLN solutions, we can move data quickly and accurately, stay at the forefront of our industry, and have compliance systems in place before the legislation even comes into effect.

Federated is a great example of how transitioning processes from manual, paper-based to electronic information exchange can improve accuracy and speed-up service, said Scott Sangster, Vice President of the GLN at Descartes. The Descartes GLN Customs Compliance solution enables customers like Federated to expand their electronic data interchange efforts, engage with more partners and exchange information electronically with government agencies giving them a differentiated service.

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 The Federated Group
Since 1953, The Federated Group has been providing clients around the globe with a complete range of customs and logistics services. These include international and transborder freight forwarding, Canadian and U.S. customs brokerage, expert customs consulting, bonded warehousing and distribution. The company's 113 employees work out of offices located in major port cities and border crossings in Canada and the U.S., including Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Fort Eerie, Niagara Falls, Windsor, Sarnia and Buffalo. It serves 300 to 500 active customers at any given time for both inbound and outbound shipments. For more information, visit www.federated-group.com.

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 DC, Derby, London, Stockholm, Shanghai, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.descartes.com.

The Descartes Systems Group logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4065

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.