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Descartes Systems
Enterprise Software

Descartes Systems Company Overview

Descartes Systems logo

Descartes Systems

● Active
Enterprise Software · Waterloo, Ontario, Canada · Est. 1981
SaaSLogisticsSupply ChainGlobal TradeCloud↗ Website
$7.2B
Valuation
$590M
Revenue
2k+
Employees
1981
Founded

Descartes Systems Group is a Canadian logistics technology company providing cloud-based SaaS solutions for supply chain management, transportation management, customs compliance, and global trade intelligence. Its platform connects a network of logistics service providers, carriers, and importers/exporters to optimise freight movement, automate customs filings, and ensure regulatory compliance across global trade lanes.

Recent Press
5 items
Press Release·2025-12-03
Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Financial Results
Descartes reported Q3 FY2026 revenues of $187.7M (+11% YoY), with net income climbing 20% and income from operations rising 24%, driven by growth across its global logistics technology platform.
Award·2025-11-30
Descartes Named a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms
Gartner recognised Descartes as a Leader in its Magic Quadrant for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms, citing MacroPoint's carrier tracking breadth, Descartes GLN's network effect, and the company's strong vision for AI-powered freight exception management as key differentiators.
Product Launch·2025-10-14
Descartes Launches AI-Powered Trade Intelligence for Supply Chain Risk Management
Descartes launched its AI Trade Intelligence module within the Descartes CustomsInfo platform, providing importers and exporters with predictive tariff change alerts, supplier risk scoring, and automated HTS classification recommendations powered by machine learning trained on 10 years of global trade data.
Partnership·2025-09-05
Descartes Expands Partnership with Global Logistics Leader Kuehne+Nagel
Descartes expanded its strategic technology partnership with Kuehne+Nagel, deploying Descartes GLN messaging capabilities across Kuehne+Nagel's ocean freight network and integrating Descartes CustomsInfo into Kuehne+Nagel's global customs brokerage workflows serving 130+ countries.
Acquisition·2025-07-22
Descartes Acquires Aerospace Software Inc. to Strengthen Air Cargo Compliance
Descartes acquired Aerospace Software Inc., a provider of air cargo customs compliance and dangerous goods regulatory content, for approximately $40M. The acquisition extends Descartes' global customs filing capabilities into air freight and strengthens its compliance content library for regulated goods shipments.
Company History
8 milestones
Descartes was founded in Waterloo, Ontario to develop logistics software for optimising physical distribution networks, establishing one of Canada's earliest enterprise software companies focused on supply chain technology and planting roots in the same technology corridor that would produce OpenText and BlackBerry.

Descartes Systems Organization Structure & Team

Org Chart
2,100 employees · Click a leader to explore their team
2,400 across 12 departments
Chief Executive Officer
Edward Ryan
Allan Brett — Departments
· 2400 people across 12 depts

Descartes Systems Financials, Revenue & Market Share

Annual Revenue
$590M
+16% vs prior year
YoY Growth
+16%
From $395M to $590M
Revenue / Employee
$281K
Annual revenue per full-time employee
Revenue Growth
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
$395M
$450M
$500M
$509M
$590M
Market Share
Logistics Technology Network Platforms
18%
share
Descartes
18%
e2open
22%
project44
16%
SAP TM
24%
Others
20%
$50B
TAM
$12B
SAM
$590M
SOM
Revenue Streams
Network & Content Services72%
Services17%
Licence & Other11%
Business Units
Global Logistics Network (GLN)45%
The core messaging and connectivity network serving 85,000+ logistics organisations, processing EDI, API, and customs filing transactions for ocean, air, road, and rail freight across 140+ countries.
Customs & Trade Compliance25%
CustomsInfo and related trade management products providing automated customs filing, denied party screening, tariff classification, and duty management for importers, exporters, and customs brokers globally.
Transportation Management & Visibility20%
Descartes TMS, MacroPoint freight visibility, and Route Planner products serving shippers, 3PLs, and delivery fleet operators with freight planning, carrier tracking, and last-mile optimisation.
Professional Services10%
Implementation, integration, and training services delivered by Descartes' global professional services team for TMS, Route Planner, and GLN onboarding projects.

Descartes Systems Internal Tools & Processes

Internal Tools
12 departments
Global Logistics Network Engineering420 people · 3 roles
Standards & Certifications
10 standards
Compliance frameworks, security audits, and quality certifications this company maintains.
Security
SOC 2 Type II
Certified
Descartes maintains SOC 2 Type II attestation across its Global Logistics Network, TMS, and customs compliance cloud platforms, providing logistics service providers, importers, and carriers assurance that Descartes' security, availability, and confidentiality controls for processing sensitive trade and freight data are continuously effective.
Security
ISO 27001
Certified
Descartes holds ISO 27001 certification for its information security management system covering the development and operation of the Descartes Global Logistics Network, CustomsInfo, and MacroPoint platforms, demonstrating systematic security controls for protecting sensitive logistics and trade data processed on behalf of 85,000+ connected organisations.
Regulatory
US CBP ACE Certification
Certified
Descartes CustomsInfo is a certified US Customs and Border Protection Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) filer, enabling direct electronic submission of import and export customs filings, ISF 10+2 importer security filings, and AES Electronic Export Information to CBP on behalf of importers and exporters.
Privacy
GDPR
Compliant
Descartes complies with EU General Data Protection Regulation requirements across its European logistics network operations and CustomsInfo EU customs filing services, implementing data processing agreements, data residency controls, and privacy by design for the personal data of EU-based logistics professionals and trade contacts processed through Descartes GLN.
Privacy
PIPEDA
Compliant
As a Canadian company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Descartes complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act governing the collection and processing of personal data from Canadian logistics service provider customers and employees across its cloud platforms and professional services operations.
Regulatory
C-TPAT Partner
Certified
Descartes is a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) technology partner, enabling US importers who use Descartes CustomsInfo to manage their C-TPAT supply chain security programme requirements, minimum security criteria documentation, and CBP status validation through the Descartes platform.
Regulatory
AEO Programme Support
Compliant
Descartes CustomsInfo supports EU Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme compliance for European importers and exporters, providing automated customs filing, duty calculation, and trade data management capabilities aligned with AEO certification requirements across EU member state customs authorities.
Security
PCI DSS
Compliant
Descartes' billing and payment processing systems comply with PCI DSS standards, protecting credit card and payment data from logistics service provider customers subscribing to Descartes GLN, TMS, and CustomsInfo cloud platforms across North America and Europe.
Quality
ISO 9001:2015
Certified
Descartes holds ISO 9001:2015 quality management system certification covering its software development and professional services delivery processes, ensuring consistent quality standards for Descartes TMS and Route Planner implementations delivered by its global professional services team.
Environmental
Net Zero Commitment
In Progress
Descartes has committed to reducing its corporate carbon footprint through data centre energy efficiency improvements, remote work policies reducing employee commute emissions, and procurement of renewable energy for its Canadian and US cloud infrastructure, aligning with Waterloo Region's broader sustainability goals.

Descartes Systems Interview Preparation

Interview Prep
Role-specific interview questions and keywords. Select a department, then click any role to prepare.
Global Logistics Network Engineering· 3 roles

Descartes Systems Products & Competitors

Product Suite
5 products · select one to explore
Enterprise Software
Integration & Middleware
Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN)
The world's largest multimodal logistics messaging network

Descartes GLN is a cloud-based messaging and visibility network connecting over 85,000 carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and shippers to exchange shipment status updates, booking confirmations, and customs filings in real time. It serves as the central nervous system of global trade by enabling seamless data exchange across ocean, air, road, and rail logistics ecosystems.

Use Cases
Automating ocean carrier booking confirmations and bill of lading exchanges between a global freight forwarder and 200 shipping line partners via Descartes GLN EDI messagingTracking real-time container status events from port to door for a major retailer importing 50,000 TEUs annually across Asia-Pacific and European trade lanesEnabling a customs broker to receive and file electronic advance cargo data with US CBP for air freight shipments within minutes of airline departure confirmation
No image
Key Customers
DHL
DHL
K+N
Kuehne+Nagel
DBS
DB Schenker
Competitive Intelligence
VSproject44
THEM

project44 is a cloud-based supply chain visibility platform that aggregates real-time carrier tracking data for ocean, air, road, and rail shipments through direct carrier API integrations and IoT telematics for enterprise shippers and 3PLs.

EDGE

Deeper customs filing and regulatory compliance capabilities alongside logistics visibility on a single platform

VSFourKites
THEM

FourKites is a real-time supply chain visibility platform using predictive AI to provide estimated times of arrival for truckload, LTL, intermodal, and ocean shipments based on carrier telematics and AIS vessel tracking.

EDGE

Broader network of connected logistics partners (85,000+) with deeper EDI-based trade document exchange versus API-only tracking

VSSAP Transportation Management
THEM

SAP Transportation Management is an integrated TMS within the SAP ecosystem for planning, tendering, executing, and settling freight movements across all transportation modes for enterprise shippers.

EDGE

Network-centric model connecting shippers, carriers, and customs authorities on a shared cloud platform without requiring SAP ERP dependency

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