NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Retail Federation (NRF) 100th Annual Convention & EXPO Convention -Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) announced that Canadian Tire Corporation, a leading Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) Customs Self Assessment (CSA) importer, has selected Descartes as their CSA service provider.
Canadian Tire and its leading brands are working with Descartes to help manage the organization's CSA and non-CSA imports. Descartes' software-as-a-service Canadian Customs Brokerage and Security solution, ITMR4, connects to the company's legacy and reporting systems as well as processes Canadian Tire's customs filing entries. Descartes' single-source solution provides Canadian Tire with a web-based portal to manage its customs filings and provide a comprehensive audit trail to improve the accuracy of import data.
The CSA program is a CBSA program for select importers that is designed for low-risk, pre-approved organizations. Importers can use business systems and processes, which must meet CBSA's detailed requirements, to forward trade data and to report and pay monthly taxes and duties to their own financial institutions. This self-assessment option can represent significant cost savings because importers don't have to pay at the time of each shipment. CSA is a prestigious program and, to qualify, CSA clients must have a detailed accurate data associated with their imports.
Descartes' ITMR4 Canadian Brokerage and Security solution, together with the CSA program, simplifies many of the import border requirements so that shipments can be processed more quickly and efficiently at the border, saving businesses time and money. Part of the Descartes Global Trade Compliance suite, ITMR4 is a unique, on-demand, enterprise-level technology that handles the functions that a customs broker, freight forwarder or self-filing importer needs to manage its operations, including accounting, financial reports, imaging, e-billing and Web tools for tracking and tracing, reporting and data entry. The solution's compliance-driven logic considers country of export, country of import, country of origin, rules and regulations, all in relation to the type of commodity. Operations and accounting management controls are performed in the background so operators can focus on exceptions. It allows brokers' and freight forwarders' clients to view their shipment status, view related documents, run reports and supply missing information over the web.
"Canadian Tire is a long-time and active CSA importer and strongly supports the need to have accurate and timely information to ensure the security of our shipments," said Jeff Thompson, Customs Officer and Manager at Canadian Tire Corporation. "By working with Descartes and being an active CSA importer, Canadian Tire can significantly reduce the cost of doing business, further automate our shipment process and have quick access to the detailed data associated with all our imports."
"Canadian Tire selected Descartes because of our in-depth experience in Global Trade Compliance and because Descartes can help Canadian Tire comply with global trade mandates for import and export and across modes of transportation," said Benn Bekic, Vice President, GLN at Descartes. "With the connectivity flexibility of our Global Logistics Network, we can quickly bring trading partners into a single information portal and manage the security and compliance filings through our software-as-service solution. We empower our customers to have better control over their shipments, ultimately helping them improve customer service and save money."
Descartes' Canadian Customs Brokerage solution (ITMR4) leverages the power of the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN), enabling brokers to electronically connect with shippers, carriers and regulatory authorities around the world. While designed to address the needs of Canadian operations, this solution is a Descartes Global Filer offering that integrates with a wide range of compliance solutions that prepare organizations around the world to meet current and emerging global trade mandates.
For more information about Descartes' solutions for retailers visit Descartes' representatives at the NRF 100th Annual Convention & EXPO Convention at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from January 10 to 12 at the Microsoft Booth #836.
About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is one of Canada's most shopped general retailers with 480 Canadian Tire stores across the country. Our core retail and automotive operation is strengthened by PartSource, an automotive parts specialty chain; Canadian Tire Petroleum, one of the country's largest independent retailers of gasoline; Mark's "Clothes That Work," a leading retailer of men's, women's and work apparel; and, Canadian Tire Financial Services, which has issued over five million Canadian Tire MasterCard credit cards. More than 58,000 Canadians work across Canadian Tire's organization from coast-to-coast in the enterprise's retail, financial services and petroleum businesses.
About Descartes
Descartes (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) is the premier provider of Global Trade Compliance, Supply Chain Execution and Mobile Resource Management services. Descartes' Global Logistics Network (GLN) unites global businesses and trading partners, allowing them to collaborate in a cost effective way and maximize productivity and efficiency. Trading partners that connect to the GLN join Descartes' Federated Network, the world's most extensive multi-modal business network with over 35,000 trading partners connected, including ground carriers, airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, third-party providers of logistics services customs house brokers, freight payment agencies, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, mobile services providers and regulatory agencies. Descartes is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and has offices in North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. More information and industry updates are available at http://www.descartes.com and http://blog.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.