WATERLOO, Ontario, June 24, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), a global on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) logistics solutions provider, announced that Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Crystal Cargo has selected Descartes Cargo 2000 to help the airline comply with business process and automation standards established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Cargo 2000, an industry initiative led by IATA, was created to standardize processes that improve efficiencies for the worldwide air cargo industry. Descartes has supported IATA's Cargo 2000 initiative since 1998 and provides a highly effective offering that leverages the power of Descartes' Global Logistics Network (GLN) to help users, such as Etihad Crystal Cargo, comply with Cargo 2000 certification requirements.
"Etihad Crystal Cargo continues to improve the efficiency of our operations and service and we are proud to take this step towards gaining full Cargo 2000 certification," said Des Vertannes, Etihad Airways' Executive Vice President Cargo. "Descartes' Cargo 2000 will help us make greater use of the GLN and to quickly identify and respond to transportation and shipments."
Using Descartes Cargo 2000, Etihad Crystal Cargo can monitor shipments at a master air waybill level between airports; monitor events and match route map milestones against actual event timing; consolidate status data of multiple route maps to obtain statistical data about transportation quality; and use route maps to describe transportation milestones from origin to destination.
"Etihad Crystal Cargo is a valued Descartes customer, and we are pleased that we could extend the value of our GLN to help them comply with Cargo 2000," said Edward Ryan, EVP, Global Field Operations for Descartes. "Descartes is committed to delivering results for our customers and we believe Cargo 2000, together with IATA's e-freight initiative, are important steps in air cargo process standardization."
About Etihad Crystal Cargo
Launched in 2004, Etihad Crystal Cargo is the fast growing cargo division of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The company's goal is to build a truly 21st Century airline offering sophisticated and innovative air cargo services, based on three core promises: Ultimate Information Transparency; 21st Century Technology; and Total Customer Focus. With its home base at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Crystal Cargo offers its valued customers an extensive range of cargo services on all flights of Etihad Airways' rapidly expanding network. In addition, a regional freighter fleet operates scheduled all-cargo destinations and worldwide charter services. Etihad Crystal Cargo is working with carefully selected, experienced General Sales and Services Agents (GSSAs) worldwide.
About Descartes
Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) 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 networks. 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 350 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 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.