TruckandTrackAutumn2019

Truck and Track Autumn 2019 www.truckandtrack.com 6 BUSINESS NEWS This year’s Multimodal exhibition gave us the chance to catch up with some of the leading players in the UK’s vibrant and challenging logistics industry. One of these is Descartes Systems Group which has its headquarters in Ontario and, since its inception in 1981, has grown steadily. Today, the Group employs an international workforce of over 1300 and has in excess of 10,000 customers in more than 160 countries throughout the world. Barbara Ryan, Publishing Director of Truck and Track, managed to meet up with Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing at Descartes Systems UK and posed some questions to discover more about the Group, the secret to its continuing success and its plans for the future. Barbara Ryan (BR): Are you able to identify those aspects of the operation that have contributed most to the successful establishment and ongoing growth of Descartes Systems UK? Andrew Tavener (AT): At Descartes our customers’ success is our success. We focus on delivering value to our customers which helps to make themmore successful. This means we have long and established relationships where we can bring best practice from our customers worldwide for the benefit of our clients in the UK. The breadth of solutions that Descartes provides for logistics and supply chain operations allows Descartes to join up traditional siloed operations for the benefit of the entire organisation. Innovation is key and Descartes financial strength enables us to dedicate on average 17% of revenue to research and development. This is more than twice the average for our industry. Our close customer relationships help Descartes focus our development program on the issues that matter to our customers today and well into the future. BR: As deadline day draws ever closer, do you see Brexit as a challenge to be overcome or as an opportunity to be grasped? AT: It is both a challenge and an opportunity. One thing is certain in business and that is change. It is the companies that adapt to change and realise the opportunities that survive and prosper. When big disruptions like Brexit happen, things never return to how they were before it happened. There will be winners and survivors but, unfortunately, there may be some losers. There are many challenges right now including HMRC’s new Customs Declaration Continuing Success - Brexit & Beyond InterviewQ&A with Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing for Descartes Systems UK Ltd Andrew Tavener Descartes Systems Group