eCommerce is a term that has numerous meanings depending on the context used. In its broadest sense, eCommerce deals with the marketing, buying, selling, distributing of products and services using the Internet or other communications networks. Viewed from an Information Technol-ogy perspective, the term generally refers to commercial transactions enabled by computer and internet based applications. Vilden Associates, Inc. offers the transportation industry development of eCommerce applications and processing and management of electronic transaction traffic Objectives of eCommerce in the Transportation industry To support and deploy the overall Corporate eCommerce strategy To reduce transactional costs with trading partners To provide vital supply chain track, trace and status information to trading partners anywhere in the world, 24X7 To provide electronic transactions and documents to trading partners to assist them and enable their eCommerce strategies Strengthen relationships To achieve operational and competitive advantages Types of eCommerce Applications Vilden develops and manages two general types eCommerce of applications. Electronic Data interchange (EDI) - sets of structured and standard data exchange formats that commercial trading partners use to exchange information of documents and operational transactions or events. Edifact and ANSII X.12 are the two dominant standards for the logistics and transportation industry. Web-based applications that allow customers and other interested parties check status of transactions or documents, or provide users the ability to enter or update informa-tion online Additionally, Vilden can convert "flat" files, proprietary formats, Excel spreadsheets and other file forms into standard EDI sets for seamless processing. Who can benefit from Vilden's eCommerce expertise? Every organization that is involved in any way with transportation and distribution can obtain significant benefits by outsourcing some or all of the eCommerce functions to Vilden. We can develop applications that will execute on the client's system or we run the job on our servers. We can host the web-based application on our platforms or we can act as a portal that will receive data, edit, reformat and forward it on to its destination. We can develop and manage a single transaction set to complete suites of eCommerce applications. Steamship lines, steamship agents, NVOCCs, Freight Forwarders, truckers, railroads, 3PLs, 4PLs, marine terminals and stevedores, Warehousing and Distribution Centers, shippers, con-signees, container depots, container and chassis repair facilities and container freight stations can all benefit from implementing an eCommerce strategy. At a minimum, organizations along the supply chain must be able to send and receive some EDI transactions to stay in the game. Typical EDI Transactions or Sets Booking Request Booking Confirmation Gate Moves Vessel Load and Discharge Moves Shipping Instructions Rated Bills of Lading Unrated Bills of Lading Rail Tracing Freight Release to Terminals Movement Orders to Truckers AMS Cargo Declaration Filing Customs Release Messages and Dispositions from Customs Invoices On-Line Web-based Applications Cargo Track and Trace Shipment Status Booking Request Marketing Campaigns Vessel Sailing Schedules The Benefits The benefits of eCommerce are both tangible and intangible and are easily quantified in dollar terms. Suffice to list here a few important benefits. Reduce transaction costs Improve timeliness of information Improve relationship with customers and vendors Improve customer service Improve organizational presence in the marketplace Please contact marketing@vilden.com for specific information about how we can help you with your eCommerce initiatives.