Software helps ocean carriers manage rates and contracts.
Press Release Summary:
Offering workflow management functionality, Ocean RateBuilder(TM) lets ocean carriers use one application to manage and retrieve regulated and non-regulated tariff rates as well as rate contracts. Software provides access to internal codes to facilitate integration of rate information into back office systems. It supports spreadsheet import/export and provides set of workflow tools for automating business process of managing negotiation of rates and contracts.
Original Press Release:
Descartes Launches New Ocean Rate Management Product
Ocean RateBuilder(TM) enables ocean carriers to manage open tariff rates, contracts and rate agreements in all trade lanes with one application
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, March 22, 2005 - The Descartes Systems Group Inc., (Nasdaq:DSGX), (TSX:DSG), a leading provider of on-demand technology and services that help distribution and logistics sensitive organizations deliver, announced today the launch of its new Ocean Rate Management product, Ocean RateBuilder(TM). The launch coincides with today's start of the National Institute for Transport and Logistics (NITL) ocean rate management conference.
Building on Descartes' strong ocean rate management product base, Ocean RateBuilder includes workflow management - functionality that enables ocean carriers to use a single application to negotiate rates with their customers. Ocean RateBuilder also allows ocean carriers to manage and retrieve both regulated and non-regulated tariff rates and rate contracts from a single application.
Other key features of Ocean RateBuilder include:
--The ability to use internal codes in the Ocean RateBuilder database, vastly simplifying integration of rate information into back office systems that handle booking, documentation, audit, demurrage and yield analysis;
--Support for importing and exporting spreadsheets, thereby simplifying the publishing of calculable contracts and rate agreements and streamlining the process of integrating shipper bids;
--Workflow tools to facilitate, automate and enhance the carrier's business process for managing the negotiation of rates and contracts between sales, pricing and trade management;
--The ability to edit rates, inlands, surcharges and contracts in real-time, enabling bills of lading and rate quotes to include the most current data;
--Integration of contracts prepared by shippers using Descartes' Ocean Negotiator bid management tool;
--The ability to generate quotes or contract proposals from templates for multiple and/or multi-factor rates to customers while keeping a record of the quote for future reference and booking;
--An integrated, flexible reporting module for enhanced rate analysis for pricing, sales, customer support and trade management personnel;
--Enhanced security features that enable protection of global rates by region, country or more specific geographic criteria.
"The new Ocean RateBuilder product has the potential to produce a quantum shift in the way carriers manage rates and contracts on a global basis," said Edward Ryan, General Manager of Descartes' Global Logistics Network. "Today, carriers typically have several different systems around the world in which they manage rates and contracts. Ocean RateBuilder will give carriers the ability to do this in one global system. Since effective rate management drives the carrier booking and documentation process, we see Ocean RateBuilder providing tremendous opportunities for carriers to improve customer service, rating accuracy, and workflow efficiency on a global scale."
About Descartes
The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is a leading provider of on-demand technology and services that help distribution and logistics sensitive organizations deliver. By enabling companies to efficiently and effectively manage the delivery of goods, Descartes' products and services help reduce costs, save time and enhance customer satisfaction. Descartes delivers trading partner connectivity and document exchange, rate management, route planning, wireless dispatch, inventory and asset visibility, transportation management and warehouse optimization solutions for industries such as retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, transportation, distribution and third-party logistics. These solutions help customers optimize and gain real-time control of their inventory, logistics assets and mobile workforce. Descartes' products and services are used by more than 2,500 customers in over 60 countries. For more information, visit www.descartes.com.
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