WATERLOO, Ontario, Sept. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arthur Mesher, Chief Executive Officer of Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) and the recipient of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' (CSCMP) 2008 Distinguished Service Award, is scheduled to present "The State of Things United - The Next Big Thing" at the CSCMP's annual conference in Chicago on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.
More than 12 years ago, while at industry research and advisory firm Gartner Inc., Mr. Mesher published his outlook for the supply chain and logistics industry which defined what many supply chain professionals now refer to as the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. Mr. Mesher's upcoming presentation at CSCMP includes a new framework to analyze logistics systems and introduces how Mr. Mesher believes "federated networks" will contribute to the next big thing in logistics.
"Today, different historical markets and technologies are colliding. This 'state of things united' will radically upset the traditional ecosystems of users and vendors. The resulting chaos creates the possibility for the next big thing to emerge," said Art Mesher, CEO at Descartes. "The logistics industry and technology markets are in systemic shock, with rising costs and lower shipment volumes plaguing logistics-intensive organizations around the world. The need for immediate cost reduction and productivity improvements is radically changing how systems are sold, delivered and deployed."
Using analogies to Darwin's law, Mr. Mesher's presentation will analyze this convergence of SaaS 2.0, Web 2.0 and business process outsourcing, and provide his views on keys to success and failure in this new logistics world order.
The CSCMP annual conference gathers leaders from all segments of the supply chain sector, ranging from warehousing and freight forwarding to specialty areas like packaging and niche supply chain technology. The annual conference provides a setting for participants to explore ideas, learn about industry trends, network with top executives in the industry, and recognize top supply chain companies.
About CSCMP
Founded in 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is the preeminent association for individuals involved in supply chain management. CSCMP provides educational, career development, and networking opportunities to its over 9,000 members and to the entire profession. For more information, visit www.cscmp.org
About CSCMP Distinguished Service Award
The CSCMP Distinguished Service Award is given to an academic, consultant, or practitioner who exemplifies sustained, consistent, and excellent service to the development of the discipline of supply chain management. The selected individual must have shown high integrity and moral principles throughout their professional career. While many distinguished individuals have been nominated for the Distinguished Service Award, the emphasis of this award is on distinguished service. This award is considered by the CSCMP to be the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual for achievement in supply chain management. For more information, visit http://cscmp.org/aboutcscmp/inside/dsa.asp
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 software-as-a-service (SaaS) 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 pick up 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 400 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.
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This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") that relate to the contents and timing of Mr. Mesher's presentation at CSCMP, 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, changes in the structure or deployment of compliance initiatives and 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.