Trucking Technology Alert - Sept. 20
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Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
- SAPMarkets Enhances Services
- Sprint Widens Support for Java
- Technology Spending Portends Good News
- Packagers Shift to Private Exchanges
SAPMarkets Enhances Services
The SAP group's exchange company, SAPMarkets Inc., is now providing its customers with the ability to obtain and manage transportation services through NTE, an electronic-transportation portal.This new capability will provide public and private exchanges operating on MarketSet with integrated transportation services. MarketSet is a joint solution from Commerce One and SAPMarket. NTE has set up a flexible XML-based interface to automate process flows and communication between exchanges and shippers. XML integration gets rid of the need for manually contacting transportation service providers and allows for seamless transportation of goods procured through public and private exchanges.
Sprint Widens Support for Java
In an attempt to provide more features for its mobile phones, Sprint announced recently that it is adding support for the Java programming language to all of its next-generation mobile phones, which are due to come out around the middle of next year.The move comes after Sprint recently set up a Java developers program in conjunction with Sun Microsystems. The objective of the Java developers program is to build support around a compact version of the language called Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME). Sprint now joins Nextel Communications as Java proponents, and both companies are hoping that Java will enable them to provide users with more complex software choices and media functions on mobile phones.
Sprint's new wireless network will offer data transfer speeds of up to 144 kbps, making it much easier to download Java-based applications. Java has found considerable support in Europe and Asia through such company's as Finland's Nokia and Japan's NTT DoCoMo. Moreover, there are over 2.5 million Java developers in the world. PC World Online (09/19/01); Vance, Ashlee
Technology Spending Portends Good News
TMW Systems, which develops and integrates enterprise management software for transportation businesses, including over 500 trucking companies, said that motor carriers are optimistic that recent growth of the technology sector forecasts an improving economy.Trucking companies are focusing on implementing information systems to streamline operations and discover new competitive strategies. TMW President Tom Weisz reports trucking companies believe renewed growth is just around the corner. According to figures for the month of May, consumer spending for goods and services increased by 0.5%. Modern Bulk Transporter (September) Vol. 64, No. 3, P. 36
Packagers Shift to Private Exchanges
Packagers are starting to use private exchanges. While the emergence of private exchanges is nothing new, AMR research analyst Roddy Martin says for an industry as dedicated to the concept of shared public exchange as the consumer packaged good (CPG) sector--which includes such behemoths as Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, and Kraft--the shift in emphasis to private exchanges is extremely notable.The shift also indicates a more measured approach in constructing platforms to integrate the CPG supply chain and bring in more collaborative approaches already being tested in other industries, such as high tech and the automotive industry. According to Martin, the fact is that many CPG manufacturers are fairly bad at coordinating matters within their own organizations, let alone collaborating with their partners in the industry.
Accordingly, Martin says, these manufacturers are not yet ready to share information with retailers, distributors, or even their suppliers. Martin added that CPG companies have a lot of work to do in order to be able to deploy enterprise resource planning systems and other back-office applications. Over the next year to 18 months, CPG companies will have to concentrate on creating an integrated data layer on the back end, because only then will they be truly ready to place big numbers of transactions in public exchanges. InternetWeek (09/17/01) No. 878, P. 23; Karpinski, Richard
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