LONDON, July 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that British diamond company Graff Diamonds has improved its customs declarations processes and saved significant time and money by using Descartes' cloud-based Import Customs Solution.
Graff is using Descartes' Import Customs Solution to automate and integrate its Outward Processing Relief (OPR) and Customs Warehouse procedures. OPR allows importers, like Graff, to claim duty relief for goods imported from non-European Union (EU) countries where the goods only temporarily left the EU for processing or repair. By integrating the OPR process with Customs Warehouse procedures, Graff can accurately track circumstances where duty relief may be available.
"As an organisation, we source diamonds and loose gems from a variety of sources worldwide and operate a complex process that involves importing, diverting and re-exporting," said Andrew Petherick, Head of International Shipping and Logistics, Graff. "Descartes' Import Customs Solution has enabled us to move away from our historic reliance on spreadsheets, and automated and integrated our OPR and Customs Warehouse systems, which in turn has brought real cost savings. Furthermore, it has given us much more control and allowed us to become far more self-sufficient."
Descartes provided Graff with a customs compliance solution that allows the company to self-manage warehouse diversion reporting, and integrates and automates Graff's warehouse and OPR procedures. This allows the retailer to have a clear picture of the duty that is due on each jewellery item and gem that it handles. The duty management functions in Descartes' Import Customs Solution are designed to meet the needs of the larger members of the UK trading community. The solution provides complete customs and warehousing functionality, including detailed audit trails and comprehensive management information.
"We're thrilled to have helped Graff achieve greater operational control, streamline its processes and save time and money," said Pól Sweeney, UK Vice President of Sales at Descartes. "Graff is an excellent example of how removing manual customs processes and introducing automation and integration of processes and systems can deliver significant supply chain operational efficiency while enhancing profitability."
About Graff Diamonds
A diamond company extraordinaire, Graff is involved in every stage of the jewellery making process - from the sourcing of each rough stone, right through to the cutting, polishing and final setting of each exquisite jewel. Throughout its rich history, Graff is said to have handled more diamonds of notable rarity and beauty than any other jeweller. Today, after more than five decades at the pinnacle of the luxury jewellery industry Graff continues to push the boundaries of ever-greater innovation and excellence. For further information, please visit www.graffdiamonds.com
About Descartes
Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) 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 200,000 connected 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; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com.
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