NEWS\\\ FullScreen View Descartes swallows up Impatex


Pioneer supplier


forwarding Impatex


soſtware surprised


anyone who was still in the office on Christmas eve by announcing its sale to Canadian-based logistics technology solutions provider Descartes Systems.


Although


the deal became effective on 16 December 2013, it was obviously a case of good (or is it bad?) tidings being buried under the Christmas wrapping; had it been announced a week earlier, it would have made headline news in the freight press. Impatex was founded by ex-


forwarder Peter Day in 1980, one of the first to specialise in soſtware for forwarders at a time when they were just beginning to have to grapple with computerised customs. In those days, before the single market eliminated the need for European duties, quotas and other restrictions, few understood how to use a computer at all, let alone get to grips with the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of submitting electronic customs entries. As technology - and the


forwarder’s comprehension and use of it - developed so did the systems produced for them (although even today some would question the freight industry’s proficiency in the use of technology, compared to other sectors). Today, Impatex’s iCE (Integrated


Customs for Europe) customs processing system for high-volume users is progressively replacing its


well-established Customs Manager predecessor, which is used by hundreds of


freight forwarders,


shipping lines and shippers. The company also continues


to develop its browser-based NetFreight forwarding and customs system, designed for small to mid-size companies, now used by over 100 freight agents in the UK and a growing number in the US, Europe and the Middle East. Impatex will continue to be involved with NetFreight, acting as a reseller of the product to forwarding networks in the UK and US. Day is setting up a new company, Freight Network Soſtware, for the purpose, where he will be joined by Evgeni Pantchev, who sold NetFreight to Impatex in 2007. “We have known for a long time


that the future of our company lies in international expansion, as more and more customers seek single, uniform solutions that can operate globally,” says Day, explaining his decision to sell Impatex. “Providing a pan-European customs solution in particular requires the development of a communications link to every EU member state’s customs system. Although iCE was designed as a pan-European system, we only had links in place for UK customs.


It would have


been a very long and expensive project to develop customs links for all the European nations. The global development of Impatex as


By Marcia Macleod


an independent would also have required the establishment of a much larger, international support structure, involving additional high costs.


“I would have preferred to


wait until all our customers were transferred from the old Impatex soſtware to either iCE or NetFreight before new owners came on board, but Descartes was looking to acquire a UK customs soſtware company, with Impatex being their preferred choice. Norwegian- based KSD, which was also recently acquired by Descartes, has already developed the necessary links to European customs, and the integration of this with our own iCE system provides a very effective pan-European customs solution. If we didn’t go with them, they would have approached another soſtware company and that could have been detrimental to our business.” Impatex will continue to operate


with its current management and staff, and will be based in its present offices near Southampton until further notice. Peter Day and his wife Sue will assist in the transition to Descartes ownership during this


time. But what the ultimate effect


on users will be remains to be seen: Descartes may call itself a major global logistics technology supplier, but its approach and philosophy have always been very North American - and its focus has previously been more on the shipper than on the forwarder. Day believes Descartes wants to break into the multi-national forwarder sector, as these companies have links with the shipping companies and airlines that its shipper clients need. “Most of our multi-national forwarder customers are already customers of Descartes,” he points out. But how much Descartes truly


understand the forwarder’s needs and the European perspective remains to be seen. How much can it change? How much does it really want to? Will Impatex customers appreciate being thrown to the wolves of a North American corporate culture, losing the more personal touch gained from working with a small European specialist company? Watch this space.


Succour for the weary trucker A New Truck Parking App


for Europe aims to end truck drivers’ daily struggle to find a place to stop. German-based transport software specialist PTV Group is offering a free web-based search application that is free of charge giving over 10,000 parking options along the main roads in Europe. Users can also rate truck parking facilities. PTV says that its application


was specifically designed to support


commercial vehicle


traffic and therefore shows truck parking locations only. The app can be downloaded


free and is available for iOS devices, and an Android version


was due to follow in December 2013. It is available


in Czech, Italian


displaying them on a digital map.


English,


German, French, Dutch, Polish,


and Spanish. Users can post


a comment or add information through Facebook, GooglePlus or Twitter. With spaces available


for trucks still scarce, despite efforts by some Brussels politicians to increase the number, Truck Parking Europe can


also provide


information on spaces off the main roads,


forwardcomputers.co.uk


Fast Forward your business Forward Computers continue to develop new


ideas and more efficient ways for us to process jobs, as well as keeping abreast of changes.


We see Forward Computers and ForwardOffice as an integral part of our future.


Dave Byard, EFS Group Financial Director.


Issue 1 2014 - FBJ


Online safety for the road haulier


The International Road Union, the global governing body of passenger and freight road operators, has issued guidelines for the safe use of online freight exchange


services. The IRU’s


Goods Transport Council adopted the guidelines aſter finding its members have been frequently confronted with fraudulent and even organised criminal practices, ranging from false or invalid documentation to non-payment. In some cases, information about the road operator have been used to plan vehicle and/or load theſt. Online freight exchange


services represent between 10 and 15% of day-to-day transport business, according to the IRU. They are oſten used by small and medium sized carriers to search for freight, increase the general load factor of their vehicles and reduce empty return trips. “Freight


exchanges are a


reality,” emphasises Pere Padrosa, president of the IRU CTM, “but


21


there are certain risks in using them and a lack of guidance in dealing with these risks. That is why we have developed guidelines on the business opportunities, challenges, fraudulent practices and general safe use of freight exchanges.” Peter Cullum, head of


international affairs at the Road Haulage Association, confirms that there have been problems: “Members have reported some jobs being quoted that were illegal - drivers could not deliver in the time scale required without breaking the law. There’s also been problems getting paid for some hauliers, particularly for jobs involving Central Europe.” The guidelines focus on


choosing a reliable freight exchange; checking who the haulier is working with and providing instructions; preventing information leaks; using standard contracts with dedicated amendments; and reporting fraudulent incidents.


New chair for soſtware group


Gordon Tutt has taken over from Ken Gower as the chair of the Association of Freight Soſtware Suppliers (AFSS). He is only the third chair for the AFSS; Brian Friday was the original holder when the Association was formed in 1993. Ken Gower has been chairman of the AFSS for the past eight years. AFSS brings together and


represents nearly 30 of the leading suppliers of soſtware to the freight and transportation industry and also represents members on the main HMRC


Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC). It also plays an active role in various working groups, keeping an eye on any developments affecting EU Customs procedures, and cargo security issues will have an impact on software development. Membership is open to any


company providing soſtware or related services


to companies


within the fields of freight, transportation, warehousing and international trade.


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