Blujay Global Trade Network

Supply chain software vendor BluJay Solutions today said it has acquired the rail transportation management system (TMS) and managed services vendor Raven Logistics in a move to complement BluJay’s existing global trade network and enable “frictionless supply chains” for multi-modal freight routes.Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies said the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.Naples, Florida-based Raven says it offers shippers a rate optimization tool for complex moves, and helps their data flow from rating to billing, tracking, demurrage, audit, and pay, for both inbound and outbound transportation.“Shippers today are facing capacity challenges, cost pressures, and environmental concerns that continue to drive demand for rail as a mode of transportation within North America. BluJay will be at the forefront of meeting these demands, and Raven will play a central role in this effort,” Doug Surrett, BluJay’s chief strategy officer, said in a release. The acquisition deepens an existing relationship between the two firms, which first linked their platforms in 2019 and expanded that integration in 2020 in a move to build one joint TMS for shippers’ truck, rail, and ocean data visibility. Today’s acquisition advances that same vision, according to Raven CEO Duane Kuzak, who said: “Raven is excited to join forces with BluJay. Our combined capabilities present a unique value to our customers – one multi-modal solution to rate, ship and track across all transportation modes.”The deal marks the latest effort by Holland, Michigan-based BluJay to extend its software platform across the broader supply chain, following moves in 2020 like launching a partnership with the digital freight matching (DFM) vendor Loadsmart and acquiring the Australian logistics software firm Expedient Software.

From a single platform. Capabilities include warehouse management systems (WMS), supply chain planning, control tower, and labor management. The company works with enterprises worldwide and specializes in large organizations in manufacturing, consumer products, retail, and third-party logistics (3PL). Strengths include successful sales execution, industry strategies, and a growing product suite.SAP’s transportation management solution focuses on equipping clients with tools for optimizing freight procurement, transportation planning, freight settlement, and transportation execution. Its operations focus on enterprise-level organizations in consumer products, automotive, retail, and chemical industries. While SAP’s transportation management customers are concentrated in Western Europe, Gartner notes that it still has one of the most extensive distributions of customers worldwide. Other standout qualities of SAP’s TM offering include its global go-to-market strategy, an ecosystem of partners and integrators, and its track record of product development.Manhattan Associates rounds out the Leader category with the Manhattan Active Transportation Management (TM) solution, which is included in its Manhattan Active Supply Chain product suite, consisting of warehouse management systems, order management, supplier enablement tools, and supply chain planning. It focuses on global clients in the retail, grocery, manufacturing, and wholesale distribution industries. Despite trailing behind other Leaders with its product strategy, Gartner reports that Manhattan Associates has an in-depth understanding of the marketplace and is expanding its extensive capabilities accordingly.ChallengersE2open kicks off the Challenger quadrant with E2open TMS, which focuses on bringing a company’s transportation management efforts together with visibility, connectivity, and global trade management features collected on a cohesive platform. The company works with large enterprises worldwide but focuses most of its outreach on small and midsize manufacturing, logistics, retail, and food and beverage businesses. While Gartner notes that E2open is lagging behind other vendors in innovation, it makes up for it with a strong vision, solid market understanding, and competitive price point. Its acquisition of BluJay Solutions in 2021 has also helped the brand provide additional support to clients with expanded functionalities.With Alpega Group’s TMS, companies of all sizes can access a solution that broadly focuses on supply chain operations with product bundles that can be scaled to meet the needs of each client. The scalable solution benefits from Alpega Group’s industry-specific expertise, helping it support a diverse range of verticals for shippers and logistics service providers. Other strengths that Gartner identifies include Alpega Group’s market responsiveness and software bundles, which enable buyers to create customized products that bundle the applications they need.Widget

WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, March 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that it has acquired OCR Services, Inc. (“OCR”), a leading provider of global trade compliance solutions and content.OCR specializes in solutions and content for export compliance and controlled commodities, helping customers streamline and automate processes around denied party screening, license procurement / management, and product classification. Their core platform, GlobalEASE, is used by blue-chip, multinational organizations around the world to stay current in a rapidly changing regulatory environment. Similar to Descartes, OCR monitors regulatory sources and updates their trade data content libraries daily. OCR’s controlled exports data expands Descartes’ extensive global trade content library for customers and partners, such as SAP and Oracle.“The OCR team brings a wealth of domain expertise in global trade compliance to Descartes, including experience leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in the content management process,” said Andrew Roszko, Chief Commercial Officer at Descartes. “By adding OCR’s solutions and content to our Global Logistics Network, we see an opportunity to bring new functionality and enhanced content to our customers and partners around the world. With our combined solutions and team, we also see an opportunity to further penetrate markets in Europe and Asia.”“We continue to invest in solutions and content to help our customers manage the complete lifecycle of shipments in what is an increasingly dynamic global regulatory environment,” said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes’ CEO. “OCR complements our Global Trade Intelligence business, particularly our Visual Compliance and MK Data investments. We’re thrilled to welcome the OCR employees, customers and partners into the Descartes family.”OCR is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Descartes acquired OCR for approximately $US 90 million, satisfied from cash on hand.

System, a single platform for processing and managing trade data.How do I stay ahead of customs modernization efforts?Customs modernization provides significant opportunities and poses challenges for companies, who must comply with complex and dynamic regulatory requirements, manage multiple data sources and formats, and ensure timely and accurate information exchange with customs authorities and other stakeholders. These challenges can result in increased costs, delays, penalties, and risks. As customs modernization efforts evolve, organizations must adapt to the changing landscape to ensure smooth cross-border operations. Here are a few steps they can take to prepare themselves:Stay InformedKeep abreast of customs regulations, policy changes, and modernization initiatives in countries/regions of your trade. Regularly monitor updates from customs authorities, industry associations, and trade organizations.Invest in TechnologyEmbrace digital solutions and global trade management software that integrates with customs systems. This ensures seamless data exchange, automation of processes, and compliance with evolving requirements.Enhance Data ManagementEstablish robust data management practices to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely submission of customs information. Emphasize data integrity throughout the supply chain, enabling efficient customs clearance and minimizing delays.Foster CollaborationEngage in dialogue with customs authorities, industry peers, and service providers to foster collaboration and stay informed about best practices and emerging trends. Participate in programs such as Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) to benefit from trade facilitation advantages.Helping you be compliantE2open delivers everything companies need to efficiently manage global trade on a single platform. The e2open Global Trade application suite is a cloud-based solution that helps companies adapt to the changing trade environment and leverage the opportunities offered by customs modernization efforts. It enables them to be automatically compliant with customs-related changes by adopting incremental product releases every quarter. The e2open Customs Filing application automates customs declarations and filings in accordance with the latest regulations and agency requirements in more than 25 countries around the world with greater efficiency and peace of mind from compliance risk. The capabilities in this application are continually maintained to comply with each country’s modernization actions and keep your goods flowing without customs delays.Part of the e2open connected supply chain platform, our global trade functionality is used to efficiently plan, execute and administer international trade compliance activities, backed by the world’s most comprehensive database of regulations and business rules, covering 98% of world trade. The software automatically applies these regulatory rules to all cross-border transactions, mitigating non-compliance risks such as border clearance delays, fines, loss of trade privileges, and criminal liability. Organizations also gain the ability to minimize duty costs and speed up imports and exports by accessing the connections in e2open’s robust network of global trade partners.Sign up for our weekly Global Trade Newsletter to receive the latest regulatory updates, trade-related news, and information in your email