Product Information

Descartes

™

Messaging Services

Enabling Global Trading Partner Connectivity

In today’s global economy, quickly implemented, cost-effective logistics strategies are becoming more and more important. This requires trading communities to easily connect and exchange information that drives high levels of customer satisfaction and delivery performance.

The Descartes Global Logistics Network™ (GLN) is the definitive electronic communication service for logistics and supply chain trading partners. The Descartes GLN connects thousands of shippers with 90+ air, 30+ ocean, and 1,400+ truck carriers, along with regulatory agencies such as the Federal Maritime Commission and U.S., Canadian, Dutch and Indian customs agencies. Designed specifically for logistics processes and their users, yet able to handle all standards and message specifications for manufacturers, retailers and distributors, the Descartes GLN is differentiated by its management of data semantics, message delivery and transformation of data pertaining to regional or global operations.

Making connectivity easy — regardless of a company’s technology sophistication—is the goal of Descartes Messaging Services. Ranging from dial-up options to Internet-based transaction processing, Descartes supports connections via Extensible Markup Language (XML), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), turnaround documents/E-forms, or EDI-to-fax and fax-to-EDI translation services, providing an unparalleled range of connectivity solutions.

Easily Connect your Logistics and Supply Chain Trading Partners

Descartes Messaging Services provides solutions that can enable 100% connectivity of a trading partner community.

Summary

Descartes Messaging Services provides messaging services through one of the most comprehensive trading connectivity programs in the industry, and offers connectivity options for companies with all levels of sophistication. These network-based solutions go well beyond other more traditional Value-Added Network (VAN) providers that have struggled to connect the majority of companies within multiple trading partner communities.

Benefits

• Improve data quality and data completeness
• Reduce the IT complexity of connecting to your trading partners
• Implement trading partners faster and easier through repeatable and re-usable connections with over 6,000 connected companies

Features

Basic Services. Includes connections to other public and private VANs, an Internet-based operations and message tracking center, initialization and start up, proactive error detection and resolution, basic trading partner implementation, on-line and off-line archival, base-level compliance checking, and multi-level security.

Data Management. Manages electronic documents, including advance shipping notices, booking requests and confirmations, cargo status updates and tracking requests, freight invoices, bills of lading, originating and derived purchase orders and invoices. Supports standards such as ANSIX12, XML, UN/EDIfact, Cargo-IMP, ebXML, NWDA, RosettaNet, flat and CSV files.

Trading Partner Implementation Services. Helps companies move away from EDI testing/setup requirements and focus on their core business requirements by allowing Descartes to provide onboarding and activation services for trading partners. Once specific transactions for exchange are defined, Descartes provides a smooth and efficient transition for:

• Initiating and maintaining communications concerning implementation progress
• Assisting the customer’s personnel with preparation and distribution of documentation
• Helping the customer prepare trading partner notification letters or questionnaires
• Providing education on proper use of EDI standards
• Explaining network operation and access options

High Tech, Low Tech, No Tech Connectivity Options. Descartes gives companies of all technology levels options for connectivity:

• High tech solutions connect partners using electronic messages including EDI, XML, community or proprietary flat files
• Low tech solutions allow companies to connect with their trading partners using Web forms (turnaround documents) and e-mail-based E-Forms over the Internet.
• No tech solutions offer connectivity across an entire trading community by using traditional fax and phone methods to share critical information. Descartes’ fax-to-EDI data entry conversion service allows fax-based communications to be shared with high tech partners.