Descartes' Telematics Customer New World First Bus and Citybus Win Technology Innovation Award
Descartes Solution Provides Highly-Accurate Positioning and Arrival Time Notification
WATERLOO, Ontario, April 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that its customer, New World First Bus Services Limited ("NWFB") and Citybus Limited, won the "Best Public Service Application Grand Award" and "Best Public Service Application (Transformation) Gold Award" in The Hong Kong ICT Awards 2013. The award is based upon a solution for more effectively managing buses in transit and providing riders with accurate advanced notification of pending stops. The NWFB and Citybus system is based on the Descartes Telematics solution.
"As a major local public bus operator, we believe attracting more passengers on board is as important as effectively managing the bus fleet," said Newton Ng, Senior Operations Support Manager of NWFB and Citybus. "While bringing more convenience to our passengers, Descartes' solution also delivers accurate information to staff for effective control."
As part of Descartes Logistics Technology Platform, Descartes Telematics™ is a comprehensive mobile asset management service that uses advanced technologies to significantly raise the efficiency, and lower the operating costs, of vehicle fleets. Advanced telematics hardware, based on the Android operating system, is used to integrate to on-bus LED, video, and audio systems for automatic stop and trip announcements. The solution also includes Bluetooth and WIFI communications and an on-board programmable logic controller for customer specific configuration.
Descartes Telematics, for bus operators, features a robust user portal called Descartes Bus Center with extensive capabilities that go beyond basic tracking. This portal includes audio/video content management, wireless bus updates, bus route execution monitoring, and driver messaging. Bus Center also features a unique and sophisticated predictive estimated time of arrival engine that uses history and real-time information to provide highly-accurate bus arrival times. Bus Center provides the estimated time of arrival (ETA) information on the web, through mobile devices, and via stop and terminal displays.
"We would like to congratulate NWFB and Citybus on their award and are thrilled to work closely with such an innovative public transportation organization," said Ken Wood, Senior Vice President Product Strategy at Descartes. "Our advanced telematics hardware and fleet management software gives customers the ability to uniquely configure their solution to improve customer service and fleet safety, and reduce costs."
About NWFB and Citybus
NWFB and Citybus are jointly owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited and NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), embraces businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports & Logistics projects. Its services division comprises Facilities Management (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Free Duty), Construction & Transport (Hip Hing Construction and bus and ferry services) and Strategic Investments (Tricor, Haitong International, Newton Resources and securities investments).
About Descartes
Descartes (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Descartes has over 146,000 parties using its cloud based services. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, schedule, track and measure delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multi-modal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com.
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.
CONTACT: Media Contact
Mavi Silveira
+1(800) 419-8495 ext. 202416
msilveira@descartes.com
