Descartes has acquired Exentra Transport Solutions Limited (“Exentra”), a leading UK-based provider of software-as-a-service solutions that help fleet operators in Europe meet government regulations for driver compliance. Their cloud-based compliance management platform, Smartanalysis, helps customers monitor and adhere to driver rules related to vehicle speed, distance and time worked (EU working time directive).
Descartes’ strategy is focused on growing and operating the most complete and interoperable global Logistics Technology Platform. Descartes’ Logistics Technology Platform uniquely combines the Global Logistics Network, a wide range of modular and interoperable logistics applications and the largest community of logistics-intensive companies in the world. The acquisition advances Descartes’ strategic objective to strengthen its global presence and leadership position by:
Expanding Descartes’ network capabilities to improve the scope of commercial transactions processed;- Strengthening Descartes’ forwarder and broker applications footprint to include a fully integrated enterprise system; and
- Growing Descartes’ global multimodal logistics community by adding a significant Asia Pacific logistics community, with thousands of logistics service providers processing shipments originating from the region.
Expanding the Descartes Global Logistics Network™
Descartes Global Logistics Network™ (Descartes GLN™) is the foundation on which the applications and community are built. The Descartes GLN provides community members the flexibility to easily connect and collaborate with global trading partners. The Exentra acquisition broadens the scope Descartes’ network to include EU driver compliance transactions. The combination also provides the ability to leverage the data in conjunction with route planning applications to improve route planning and reduce working-time driver violations.
Enhancing Descartes’ offering of logistics management applications
Descartes’ product strategy is focused on expanding its logistics application functional footprint to provide its customers with the most comprehensive logistics management solutions in the industry. Exentra has been a leader in the UK driver compliance market for nearly twenty years and brings a wealth of EU compliance domain expertise to Descartes. The cloud-based compliance solution, when added to Descartes Routing, Mobile and Telematics suite, will allow Descartes to launch a fully integrated solution for the European market: Route. Track. Comply.
Growing Descartes’ global multimodal logistics community
Descartes’ logistics community is the largest multimodal network of logistics intensive companies in the world, with over 220,000 connected parties collaborating in over 160 countries. It is Descartes’ mission to create the world’s most comprehensive networked logistics community. The acquisition will add thousands of routing-centric customers in the UK representing a collective fleet of approximately 65,000 trucks.
Is driver compliance different in Europe than it is in North America?
In Europe, every vehicle over 3.5 tons is required by law to have a tachograph installed during manufacturing. A tachograph is a hardware device fitted to a vehicle that automatically records its speed and distance, together with the driver's activity. Europe’s driver hours of service legislation is called the EU working-time directive. In North America, there is some similar legislation governing driver behaviour, but it is not a mandate for every vehicle to have an on-board hardware recording device, such as a tachograph, fitted directly to a vehicle.
About Exentra
Exentra provides software-as-a-service solutions that help fleet operators in Europe manage government regulations for driver compliance. Their cloud-based compliance management platform, Smartanalysis, helps customers leverage the data from a vehicle’s tachograph tomonitor and adhere to driver rules related to vehicle speed, distance and time worked (EU working time directive). Exentra delivers its solutions to more than 2,500 end customers through a combination of direct sales and partners in the UK.
How is this acquisition good for Exentra’s customers?
The acquisition makes Exentra’s customers members of the world’s premier global logistics community – The Global Logistics Network – facilitating improved performance and productivity of logistics operations around the world. As part of this community Exentra’s customers will have access to additional solutions via Descartes’ Logistics Technology Platform to improve route planning and execution, as well as transportation management, dock appointment scheduling, and in-transit inventory visibility. In particular, customers will immediately benefit from the opportunity to combine route planning and compliance to improve the quality and safety of route plans while reducing working-time driver violations.
Where is Exentra located?
Exentra has two offices in the United Kingdom (Chippenham and Stockport).
Where can I find more information on Exentra?
You can visit the Exentra website at www.exentra.co.uk.
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