WATERLOO, Ontario, Sept. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group, a global on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics solutions provider, announced that Air Canada has signed on with Descartes' GF-X Exchange to provide an additional electronic booking option. The rollout of the service will begin in Europe in October, where Descartes will begin allotment booking for major freight forwarders working with Air Canada.
"Joining Descartes' Global GF-X Exchange is a natural progression for Air Canada and will complement our existing portal services which have been very successful to date," said Claude Morin, President Air Canada Cargo. "We are responding to the growing demand from freight forwarders to book cargo shipments electronically. Electronic commerce is the way of the world and it makes good business sense to invest and participate in services which will benefit our customers. Making allotment bookings electronically turns a repetitive, time-consuming exchange of data into a much more efficient task for both Air Canada and the freight forwarder. This is an integral part of our continuing commitment to improve service, reduce costs, and improve accuracy and efficiency in the booking process."
"Air Canada is a global carrier with a long and established history in air cargo," said Demetrios Zoppos, Managing Director of the Descartes GF-X Exchange. "As international trade continues to grow, forwarders are demanding more access to booking information and services in real time. With Descartes' GF-X Exchange, Air Canada can extend its electronic booking reach to major forwarders throughout the world."
Descartes GF-X Exchange is one of the largest electronic information and reservation systems in the airfreight industry. Airfreight carriers can distribute real-time product, routing, capacity and rate information to their forwarders worldwide. Airfreight forwarders can access carrier information, make electronic bookings and track shipments via a web browser (no software installation required), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Descartes GF-X Exchange service is part of the Descartes Global Logistics Network(tm) (GLN). The GLN enables transportation providers to connect to their trading partners and reliably exchange information to drive delivery performance and high levels of customer satisfaction. With the Descartes GLN, companies can better manage their logistics book-to-bill process, track inventory, meet regulatory requirements, optimize fleet performance, and effectively communicate with their logistics partners.
About Air Canada
Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and serves over 32 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of 335 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada Cargo is a leading provider of air cargo transportation services to international markets and founding member of Cargo 2000.
About Descartes
Descartes (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics solutions, is delivering results across the globe today for organizations that operate logistics-intensive businesses. Descartes' logistics management solutions combine a multi-modal network, the Descartes Global Logistics Network, 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. These solutions and services help Descartes' customers reduce administrative costs, billing cycles, fleet size, contract carrier costs, and mileage driven and improve pick up and delivery reliability. Our 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 almost 300 employees and is based in Waterloo, Ontario, with operations in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Washington DC, Derby, London, Stockholm, Shanghai, Singapore and Melbourne. 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; Air Canada's rollout of the GF-X Exchange; 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.