Trucking Technology Report - June 5

"Just shooting data at each other is not going to solve some of the problems of conflicting objectives that exist today across functions and across network partners," says report co-author Anne Chung.

Supply chains are build on tension and competition between firms, and the report authors expect that Internet-based supply chains in reality will be formed by companies that will design their contributions in order to gain competitive advantage.

This type of supply chain will see companies limiting the number of partners they will collaborate with, then negotiate with them, each having to trade off some preferences in order to reach agreement. It will also be based on an alignment of business objectives, rather than profuse and detailed data, and it will not offer a one-time solution but will be interactive as well as reactive to the market. Traffic World (06/04/01) Vol. 265, No. 23, P. 15; Cottrill, Ken

The Dulles-based operation, called OneSource4All, will mean one stop shopping for customers looking for warehouse design and construction, facilities layout, third party logistics, and supply chain management software systems. Journal of Commerce (06/04/01); Atkinson, Helen

In 1997, when Encompass finally closed its doors, CSX decided to go it alone with a technologically slimmed down version. In January of this year, Wal-Mart contracted with BridgePoint for an expansion of inbound tracking and tracing of global shipments and the company's analytical software tools.

Later, in March, BridgePoint announced a contractual arrangement with PacMil Logistics, one of the largest exporters of U.S. lumber to Asia.

In the meantime, the broad effects of CSX's influence will be to expand BridgePoint's customer base, assist with organizational growth, and enhance capabilities with a goal of creating an industry standard solution that can be used as a basis for any integrated supply chain network.

i>Journal of Commerce (06/04/01); Atkinson, Helen

David MacNeil, executive editor of Pen Computing Magazine, says Palm, Handspring, and Pocket PC devices have familiarized consumers with the pen-based technology. MacNeil adds that pen-based computing has led to renewed enthusiasm for the "original dream of the keyboard-less computer."

The firm A.T. Cross is a leader in the category, having introduced the early print-to-PC technology CrossPad, which is featured in the new IBM ThinkPad and the Seiko SmartPad.

Digital Ink is a competitor with its n-scribe pen, which enables users to send handwritten messages to and from wireless devices; the firm's technology is seen as an all-in-one, universal communication system that may eliminate the need for bulky electronic tablets. Potomac Tech Journal (05/28/01) Vol. 2, No. 22, P. 17; Davis, Jeffrey S.