Trucking Technology Report - Dec. 26
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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:
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Hong Kong Terminal Launches Logistics-Enhancing Web Site
Hong Kong's Modern Terminals has introduced what it says is the first Internet portal designed to provide comprehensive online services for those using the company's terminals. The site, ww.ModernPorts.com, offers an electronic platform used to exchange shipping information and documentation.
In the future it will have inventory inquiries, an appointment system, import and export logistics, ship schedules, declarations, and equipment and cargo management. According to Christensen, the portal will help the shipping community re-engineer its business processes and will increase the city's competitive edge.
Modern Terminals Director Sou Veng-kong says the city must improve its supply chain through information technology to maintain its trade with China. Journal of Commerce (12/22/00) Bangsberg, P.T.
VeriSign, Telcordia Start Test of Data Links to Phones
On Dec. 20, VeriSign and Telcordia Technologies together announced the opening of the first public trial to test applications and services that utilize the ENUM standard in anffort that might one day allow individuals to access a person's phone number, fax number, cell phone number, and email information from a single number.
The ENUM standard was created to bring telephone numbers and data services together. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed the system in order to map addresses from the domain name server to the International Telecommunication Union convention for the worldwide telephone numbering system.
The problem is that this is a public domain, so the information will be available to all, says Forrester Research senior analyst Frank Prince.
"This is one of those things that seems simple, but could turn out to be pivotal," says Prince, noting that ENUM could eventually alter the way people meet with one another.
The trial can be accessed via the ENUM resource site. Trial participants will receive free access to an open source software development kit and can utilize the trial registry. Internet.com (12/21/00); Singer, Michael
Software Firm Tradiant Goes Global With Ship Lines
Software developer Tradiant is joining a variety of ocean carriers to launch the Global Transportation Network (GTN) platform in 2001's first quarter.The GTN platform is intended to facilitate transactions among the parties involved in international trade and to allow importers and exporters to simplify the process of containerized transportation.
It uses Tradiant's Trans-Commerce technology, which company officials say should reduce the amount of paperwork the shipping industry requires. It can book, track, trace, and schedule shipments, and offers
apabilities customized for shippers and carriers, like allocation, rate and contract management, and cargo forecasting.
The carriers--Zim Israel Navigation, Canadian Pacific, Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Senator Lines, APL, and Mitsui OSK Lines--will contribute industry expertise and will have a minority equity stake in the venture, with Tradiant holding the majority stake.
Tradiant officials insist that GTN will be a neutral platform, not owned or controlled by specific carriers. eWeek (12/11/00); Ferguson, Renee Boucher
Moving Health Information, Supplies Faster
Cardinal Health has launched its cardinal.com Web site, which it hopes will not only improve existing customer relationships, but also gain ground in new sectors.The pharmaceutical distributor previously used paper, phone, and EDI systems to manage its orders for drugs and medical supplies from many disparate entities in the medical field.
With the recent acquisition of Bergen Brunswig Medical, Pyxis, and Allegiance Healthcare, Cardinal has new customer bases and different products to market. The Internet will allow the company to offer these new services and products to existing customers through its Web site and take advantage of current delivery systems.
Even established customers who are entrenched in their EDI systems are making use of cardinal.com to research supply prices and availability, and check the status of orders.
But Cardinal plans to add greater value-services, such as Netquote, a service that allows health care organizations to tailor the contents of sterile packs containing necessary materials to complete a surgical procedure.
Netquote will also let customers check how up-to-date price changes in individual components affect the overall price of a package.
Cardinal.com is much stronger than some newer Internet startups. It registered over $15 million in sales in September, compared to only $5.6 million generated by Neoforma.com in the first nine months of 2000.
Cardinal expects that within the next 12 months more than $1 billion in new and existing business will be done through the site. Internet Health Care Magazine (12/01/00) P. 50; Bazzoli, Fred
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