WATERLOO, Ontario, Feb. 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), a global on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics solutions provider, announced that Crate and Barrel has deployed Descartes' on-demand logistics management solution to support approximately 80% of its delivery volume across the United States.
Crate and Barrel has deployed Descartes' On-Demand Routing and Visibility solution. This Internet-based, software-as-a-service solution provides Crate and Barrel with real-time access to delivery information and a scalable solution. The hosted solution eliminates the need for Crate and Barrel to install software at every site or continually update maps as the retailer expands to new markets.
The majority of Crate and Barrel's deliveries are handled by third-party carriers. With the Descartes on-demand logistics platform deployed at its distribution facilities located in regional centers throughout the U.S., Crate and Barrel now has real-time visibility into the status of its deliveries across the country. Descartes also helps Crate and Barrel capture and report on its delivery operations. Insight into the carrier's delivery operations enables service representatives to more effectively manage the customer experience, and respond in real-time to customer delivery queries. Crate and Barrel's operations team can now also establish benchmarks by which the carriers must operate and ensure consistency throughout its operations.
"Crate and Barrel's commitment to its customers has never been stronger. With the Descartes on-demand solution, we now have greater control over our delivery processes, which in turn enables us to more effectively manage the customer service experience," said Pat Gottmann, home delivery manager at Crate and Barrel. "Descartes provides us with a flexible solution that enables us to improve our service delivery and, at the same time, lower our cost of getting goods from our distribution facilities right to the customer's door. Our customers win and so does our bottom line."
"Crate and Barrel sets an ideal example for other retailers that are looking to optimize their delivery operations and truly put their customers first," said Art Mesher, CEO of Descartes. "Our solutions enable organizations like Crate and Barrel to simplify their complex delivery operations, and gain greater control over essential processes, including those that are outsourced to third party carriers."
With Descartes, Crate and Barrel has been able to optimize routes to ensure on-time delivery, use fewer trucks to handle increasingly more deliveries, narrow delivery windows for customers from four hours to two, gain real-time visibility into delivery status for dispatch and stores and provide customer surveys immediately after a delivery is made.
About Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel first opened their doors in 1962 as a family business. A husband and wife team named Gordon and Carole Segal, and one eager sales associate who was enthusiastic about their vision. Today's Crate and Barrel family has grown to 160 stores and over 7,000 associates nationwide and still growing. For more information visit www.crateandbarrel.com
About Descartes
Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), 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 more than 300 employees and is based in Waterloo, Ontario, with operations in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, 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; 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.