Descartes to Partner with Air Carrier

Staff -- Supply Chain Management Review, 9/24/2008 9:15:00 AM

Global on-demand software-as-a-service logistics technology provider Descartes Systems Group has joined forces with leading air cargo company SAS Cargo in order to streamline cargo shipment bookings.

According to a release from Descartes, SAS Cargo will be joining Descartes’ GF-X Exchange, an electronic booking system that sends product, routing, capacity and rate information in real time to Descartes’ forwarders worldwide. SAS will be on the exchange in Scandinavia this fall. 

The exchange is part of Descartes’ Global Logistics Network, a multimodal network of transportation providers and their customers that facilitates the interchange of logistics information and provides services that leverage information to help enterprises conduct logistics business more effectively, according to the company’s Website. Some GLN services offered include local haulage, fleet management, shipping management, track and trace, and rate management, among others.     

“SAS Cargo is a major carrier with an established market in air cargo,” said Jan Markill, European Director of the Global Logistics Network at Descartes. “Forwarders around the world are demanding more access to booking information and services in real time. With Descartes’ GF-X Exchange, SAS Cargo can extend its electronic booking reach to major forwarders throughout Europe and the rest of the world.”  

Nils Pries Knudsen, Vice President of global sales at SAS, said the partnership made sense. “Descartes has been our preferred provider for air messaging for almost 20 years so joining Descartes’ Global GF-X Exchange is a natural progression in our successful relationship and complements our use of existing Descartes services,” he said. “We are responding to the interest from freight forwarders in being able to book cargo shipments electronically through this channel as well. This is an integral part of our continuing commitment to improve service, accuracy and efficiency in the air cargo shipment management process.”