Trucking Technology Report - Sept. 22
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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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Syncra, Rightworks Enter Logistics Software Venture
Syncra Systems and RightWorks Corp. are entering a joint venture to combine Syncra's business-collaboration software with the eMarketplace software from RightWorks. The intent is for trading communities that use the eMarketplace software to be able to use Syncra's software to share planning and forecasting data between trading partners. Journal of Commerce Online (09/22/00)
IBM Unit Fine-Tunes Supply Chain Management
IBM Personal Systems Group's customers and business partners are benefiting from the group's supply chain management upgrade. "We [realized two years ago] that we really needed to engage in a collaboration process with our channel partners," says Lisa Koenig, director of the Personal Systems' Group's supply chain engineering. IBM used i2 Technology's Rhythm solution to create a real-time, Web-based, collaborative system that automates and coordinates supply and demand.
Channel partners' EDI systems feeds point-of-sale data to the new system, which integrates it with other associated data to produce a forecast. That forecast is submitted to the partners for changes, which then go to IBM planners to be incorporated into the supply chain planning system.
IBM can now deliver orders with precision, says Koeing, as channel inventory has been reduced over the last 16 months, order scheduling cycle time is three days instead of ten days, forecast accuracy has raised to 70%, and channel partners' order fulfillment rate is almost 100%. Supply Chain Technology News (09/00) Vol. 2, No. 9, P. 38
Nextlink Targets Smaller Firms With Flat-Rate Package
Nextlink Communications will unveil a flat-rate service package for small corporate customers.Nextlink, which is one of the leading local phone and data start-up companies, formed a $2.5 billion merger with Concentric Network that has improved its ability to provide Internet hosting and broadband data
onnections to small and medium sized firms. The company also announced that it would change its name to XO Communications.
Its new rate plan is similar to AT&T Wireless' Digital One rate that began in 1998. But the new rate could lead to additional price cuts by other telecom service providers. Telecom analysts are concerned that further price wars between phone companies could cause the stocks of many telecom firms to fall. Wall Street Journal (09/22/00) P. B2; Young, Shawn
Dell to Show off Laptops With Wireless Networking
Dell Computer will roll out its new Latitude C series of laptop computers. The computers will have the ability to handle the integrated IEEE 802.11B wireless network. Apple Computer has provided customers with that option for over a year and Dell is following its lead, hoping to increase sales in sectors like government and healthcare. The computers have the ability to maintain an Internet connection if moved from place to place, via a wireless transceiver. According to Dataquest analyst Mike McGuire, a system with a wireless connection meets the demand for equipment that allows employees to work from various places.
Dell will offer the C600 version of the Latitude beginning next week and the C800 sometime in the next two months. The entry-level model of the C600 is priced at $2,599. Lucent will provide the wireless LAN device.
IBM is also launching a wireless system as part of its ThinkPad I series 1300. Various analysts say the market for such systems will continue to expand. CNet (09/21/00); Wilcox, Joe
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