In 25 years, international trade and transportation software publisher DDS Logistics carved itself out a sizeable share of the French TMS (Transport Management System) market. Now the French leader, it is speeding up its expansion on the international scene.

• 1984, an up-and-coming publisher

The birth of DDS (Data Dynamic Systems) coincides with that of a new concept: Supply Chain Management. The company positions itself on this market right away, first with its operation management software for forwarders, “Pro Transit Data”, and then with its supply and distribution flow optimization tools “Shipper Supply” and “Shipper Distribution”.

The move is a winning one: corporate clients come to size up the ever-growing importance of the logistic function and the savings that can be made on it. LA REDOUTE and a few years later CARREFOUR (for its Asian import/export activities) choose DDS solutions.

• 2000, a new era of growth

A strategic milestone. The company is bought up and chaired by former Daher group CIO Jérôme Bour. DDS becomes DDS Logistics. The offer is entirely restructured around new technologies. The objective is to develop easier to implement, more logistics-focused solutions. Funds are raised on a massive scale, boosting the project. Dassault Développement and Odyssée Venture jointly pump 2 million Euros into the company in equal shares, a feat in those days! The teams are then reinforced: between 2000 and 2006, staffs at the “Research and Development” department in Rennes and the head office in Paris go from 8 to 50. The customer portfolio fills up: GEFCO, HEPPNER, GRAVELEAU, TOTAL, NEXANS, MANITOU, LE GROUPEMENT DES MOUSQUETAIRES, SYSTEME U, LEROY MERLIN…

• 2005, a French TMS leader

DDS Logistics wins the SITL’s logistic innovation prize (Information systems category) for its International Sourcing solution. To further strengthen its position as TMS leader, the company buys up French publisher Forum Trafic (solutions for logistic processes management), and integrates its solutions to its software suite. DDS Logistics’ offer is divided up into two solutions: DDS Shipper for shippers and DDS Freight for forwarders. The company initiates numerous partnerships to optimize its technologies and facilitate collaboration between shippers and forwarders. DDS Logistics becomes a “Microsoft Certified Partner” in 2007, which enables it to make its solutions evolve with Microsoft’s new products before they are put on the market ; the company also interfaces its solutions with the new Conex DELTApass system to simplify custom clearance procedures…

• 2008, going international

DDS Logistics’ international deployment begins. The publisher opens a subsidiary in Hong Kong and an office in Shanghai. The start is promising despite the economic downturn. DDS Logistics can boast a sustained growth: its consolidated turnover grows by 20% to reach nearly 20 million Euros. Great results that allow the funding of new R&D projects, such as the new CO2 freight emission control module.

DDS Logistics intends to speed up its development by acquiring the capacity to be quickly present on the main European markets, in Spain and Belgium particularly and on the international markets (North Africa, Asia) with sales and partnership offices. The objective is to set the standard for TMS in Europe and support its clients’ international deployment.

Testimonials:

Ghislain Esquerre, head of Carrefour group’s international purchasing department
“We chose the DDS Logistics solution about ten years ago to drive our import flows, mainly from North Africa and Asia to France. The company’s vision of international flows was coherent and far-sighted. When Carrefour and Promodès merged, there were more countries for the import department to deal with and the core issue was the multiplicity of countries, no longer flows. DDS’ strength was its ability to tailor its model to Carrefour’s needs. We jointly developed a new “International Sourcing” module. The DDS Logistics solution now acts as an International purchases ERP which, used both in-house and with our partners covers all the aspects of the international trade business. DDS Logistics has all it takes to become a key player, no longer exclusively on the TMS scene but also on that of international purchasing, a far vaster sector encompassing flow management as well as the issues of purchasing. It is no longer possible to dissociate and segment the players. A global approach is necessary. DDS Logistics is capable of going along with this evolution that is to say of providing a business-segmented offer and modeling its solutions to support a company as a whole.”

Philippe Souloumiac, Operations Manager of Kintetsu World Express France (International freight forwarding company)

« Our first contact with DDS Logistics dates back to the early 90s when KWE arrived in France. We needed a tool to manage our transport activities that was able to handle Japanese and US accounting rules. DDS helped us set it up. Our group then developed its own system at the end of the 90s. We had to adopt it instead of the DDS solution. DDS Logistics didn’t believe in our system and wouldn’t stop telling us so. They were right! Our system didn’t deliver as expected. We turned to them once more: our teams were familiar with their solution and their teams and systems had taken an interesting direction. Within a month, the DDS Logistics team put us on track and the system was up and running in our four Paris CDG, Lyons, Toulouse and Mulhouse branches.

Our responsiveness and production improved for all transport modes. In addition to the product itself, the service delivered by DDS Logistics and the bounds that developed between our teams played a key role in our partnership. On its 25^th birthday, I wish DDS Logistics to keep on thriving, and stay as attentive to its clients and involved in their projects.”

Gilles Simon, DDS Logistics R&D manager

“I joined DDS Logistics as a young computer engineer. I saw the company grow. With the arrival of Jérôme Bour and the 2002 fundraiser we entered a phase of sustained growth. We were already working with corporate customers but the company acquired more means and in the process it became able to put together a force that put it in the position to initiate and innovate. There were initially only 3 or 4 of us and now it’s about 20 people in Rennes who are in charge of all developments. The company’s controlled growth has made it possible to ensure the team’s permanence and pave the way for continued customer relationships.”

Anne Lasserre, DDS Logistics Customer department manager

“I joined DDS Logistics 22 years ago as a trainee. The very first version of the software that is now on the market and that we owe our TMS leader position to was then being released. Our team was essentially made up of developers. A trainer was needed, I was given the job. With the then CEO, I was the only contact person for customers. With the developers we would be away for several weeks on customer’s sites implementing the solutions. We had wonderful experiences abroad, in the Netherlands, Spain, Russia. It was the start-up spirit before start-ups existed. When Jérôme Bour came along, the company went through a complete overhaul and we created a customer department in its own right, focused on products and customer’s needs. DDS Logistics’ leadership comes from hard work, dedication on the part of its teams and maybe a little luck too. We went to China and very quickly signed important deals. My wish on this 25th birthday is for the structure to develop in Europe without losing what makes it special, stay a publisher that is close to its clients, at the forefront, and with its finger on the market’s pulse. Let the adventure continue!”