Descartes Port Flow Control Solutions: Extending the
Reach of Port Communities through Connectivity to Help
Make Ports More Efficient, Effective and Secure

Most seaports have a Port Community System (PCS) that provides nautical services, cargo handling, and terminal operations capabilities. These services tie together the multiple parties involved in the activities associated within the port facilities. The focus on global supply chain security and performance has increased the demand for port communities to expand their own focus beyond the port itself. Port communities are now expected to enable the supply chain processes in and out of the port for the broader set of supply chain participants including shippers, consignees and international logistic service providers.

The challenge for seaports and the port community is to economically extend their PCS to meet the new supply chain focus. These solutions need to address the requirements of the port community and the many customers and other constituents of the ocean-based supply chain. This requires an infrastructure that extends the port community and automates the flow of business data and documents across multiple business processes. These new business processes need to expand beyond the movement of goods within the port and include the regulatory and financial processes.

Descartes Port Flow Control

Descartes has combined its logistics cloud solutions to address the specific industry needs of port communities. Descartes provides the following integrated solutions that are available to port communities and can be interoperable with existing PCS's.

Ocean Shipment Lifecycle Suite

The Descartes Ocean Shipment Management™ solution covers the full end-to-end ocean shipment management process and operates on the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN), which brings multiple parties and processes together from the contract to booking phase, to tracking and financial settlement lifecycle. The following core functionalities of the Descartes Ocean Shipment Management solution are:

• Rate & contract management including profitability analysis & quote management capabilities.
• Standardized ocean transactions to all global carriers & Non-Vessel Operators (NVOs) through various solutions, using a single standard message format (SMF) for bookings, shipping instructions and status events.
• Data and document repository allows the sharing of transaction data and documents between all parties of the supply chain, including the port community.
• Shipment visibility with the ability to define milestones, track real-time status updates, generate alerts and create reports. PCS statuses can be easily integrated with this process.
• Content management for master reference data to enhance data quality and improve operational decisions around rates and vessel sailing schedules.
• Financial management automating freight audit and payment processes and electronic invoicing capabilities.

Inland Transport Management Solutions

The Descartes Inland Transport Management™ solution provides key features for managing the multi-modal and multi-leg pre- and on-carriage transport between the seaport and inland parties. The following core functionalities of the Descartes Inland Transport Management solution are:

• Transport tendering between the freight forwarder or ocean carrier and the inland transport company, utilizing available data from ocean booking or other transactions.
• Carrier portal enabling transport companies, of all sizes, to receive and respond to tenders or instructions.
• Dock appointment & scheduling and yard management, to increase the efficiency of terminal operations and distribution centers or warehouses within and around the seaport.
• Mobile route planning that optimizes the transportation to and from the terminals, warehouses and extended customer facilities.

Global Trade Compliance

Descartes' suite of Global Trade Compliance solutions support the ability to manage customs security and the fiscal compliance processes that interact closely with the logistics flow processes. The data or documents that are automatically moving through the Descartes GLN can be used for completing customs filings, including business rules like merging data from multiple documents or validating content through master reference data. Customs information such as the release of goods, can be integrated into the shipment monitoring service, or re-used in the logistic execution process.  Terminal operators can also benefit from knowing more about the origin or destination of the containers, both for logistics efficiency and security and trade compliance requirements.  The compliance functionality includes:

• Multi-country customs declaration services (e.g. brokerage) to include value-added capabilities such as bonded warehouse operations that can save duties costs and ensure filing compliance. Export declaration data can be re-used in port-related Customs services/notifications or, information from port-related import compliance services can be used in the import declarations.
• Multi-country customs security filing providing a compliant and integrated solution for the European Union’s entry summary declarations and other filings.

Collaborative Workflow Management

Descartes logistics solutions are built on a cloud-based technology framework that supports the multi-party process and collaboration required for efficient supply chain execution. Key components of the logistics cloud-based framework include:

• Logistics community services that enable customers to find and invite other parties that are connected to the network and define who should be able to view specific data or documents within the overall logistics process workflow.
• Collaborative document forwarding to share purchase orders and other relevant information by creating a two-way communication between the shippers, suppliers and the Logistics Service Providers.

Key Benefits and Capabilities of Port Flow Control

Ports can use the Descartes GLN to connect to other ports worldwide. Creating an improved information flow between ports streamlines the execution of trade agreements and facilitates establishing preferred "lanes" between ports. This leads to improved quality and efficiency in overseas transport, not only in the interaction between seaports, but also towards all parties involved in the global supply chain.

Benefits for the Seaport and Local Port Community

• Ports and port community systems can focus their resources on their core business of providing in-port operational services.
• Together with Descartes, ports can offer a broader range of solutions to the market through on-demand services as they become available to the community.
• Local port communities can collaborate with their worldwide customers and offer extra services and enhanced data and visibility.
• Through the re-use of the information that is already available within Descartes solutions, ports can increase operational efficiency and reduce delays associated with data discrepancies.
• Ports can focus on efficient planning of resources as a result of receiving more accurate and timely information on cargo and transports.

Benefits for Global Shippers and Logistics Service Providers

• Delivery of accurate and timely status information through the integration with the PCS. Includes compliance statuses such as customs release of goods, and alerts to proactively respond to potential service delays.
• Streamlined processes due to integration and re-use of data, eliminating the need to comply with different connections and port data formats.
• Standardized collaboration with the local port companies early in the shipping process, saving time and money.
• Interoperable and flexible solutions that supplement and optimize existing IT investments.
• Ensures future compliance requirements will be covered with a trusted global provider.