MarketWatch

May 16, 2007

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Axeda Develops New Hosted Service to Boost Web Access, Connecting to Network of Global Servers
Axeda Corp., a provider of service and support for secure remote internet and server access, has developed the Axeda Global Access Hosted Service. The offering allows companies with widely dispersed global customers and limited I.T. resources to access servers in locations near their customers. Long distances between service technicians and devices can slow down internet connections, the vendor noted. Drawing on Axeda servers hosted in key locations around the world, devices are automatically directed to the nearest server with the most session capacity. For example, users starting a remote access session in Europe will be directed to a server in Europe, instead of communicating with one in North America. As a result, support teams can work "locally" and diagnose and resolve product issues at a faster rate, Axeda said. With the vendor's new service, customers do not need to purchase and maintain hardware and software at points all around the world.
http://www.axeda.com

Procuri Enhances On-Demand Software for Supply Management
Procuri Inc. has issued enhancements to Procuri TotalSupplier, on-demand software for supplier management. The new release features improved capabilities related to scorecarding, risk management, multi-tier supply chain performance and diversity management. Supply managers get a holistic view of supplier capabilities, interactions and performance across multi-tier supply chains. TotalSupplier includes a Web-based portal which allows suppliers to self-register and manage critical profile and certification information. The tool also automates the collection and scoring of quantitative and qualitative performance measures, resulting in an ongoing balanced scorecard of supplier performance. Buyers and suppliers can collaborate on the definition and tracking of performance improvements and waste-reduction programs. TotalSupplier is available as a fully Web-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.
http://www.procuri.com

American Express Unveils New Tools for Supply-Chain Compliance
American Express has introduced two new corporate purchasing services as part of its S2S (Source-to-Settle) product suite. Both S2S Contract Audit Recovery and S2S Catalog Pro are intended to help companies optimize performance, realize savings and increase compliance within their supply chains. Contract Audit & Recovery is an analytic service which provides best practices to help companies achieve negotiated contract savings, and recover money lost through non-compliance. Following an analysis of contracts, billing data and business processes, it allows for the development of an action plan by the audit and recovery team, who can also advise on best practices for addressing future contract situations. Catalog Pro is an online service which integrates with a company's existing procurement software to add business-to-consumer (B2C) features. The product improves the ability of employees to order from preferred suppliers and secure negotiated rates, the vendor said. CatalogPro was originally a B2C application that was acquired by American Express, which added business-to-business functionality.
http://home3.americanexpress.com

Vocollect Offers New Version of VoiceLink Software Application
Vocollect, Inc. has created version 3.0 of VoiceLink, its voice software application combining open-source technology with industry-leading voice applications. Drawing on Vocollect's Voice Integration Platform, the tool is designed to improve distribution center and I.T. operations on a global scale. The platform allows Vocollect voice applications to fit within a company-wide I.T. strategy, providing easy integration with existing architectures. VoiceLink 3.0 comes with more than 400,000 configuration options, tying it to a wide range of standard and custom warehouse-management systems. Offered with more than 22 language options, version 3.0 is available now from Vocollect and its network of certified resellers on six continents.
http://www.vocollect.com

Lawson Releases Pre-Configured QuickStep App for Distribution
Lawson Software has made generally available Lawson QuickStep for Distribution, a preconfigured enterprise resource planning (ERP) application package created expressly for distribution companies. The tool is designed to help users cut traditional ERP implementation time by up to 50 percent, the vendor said. It combines Lawson's industry-specific functionality with expertise in software implementation. Companies can manage a high velocity of transactions, handle complexities associated with multiple product types and measuring units, and coordinate a variety of delivery methods, including drop-ship, buyer collect and joint delivery. The system also supports flexible pricing, discounts, rebates and promotions. Users can better control specialized "buy-to-order" situations, especially for goods that are outside of their standard product catalogs. Also supported are value-added services such as light manufacturing and servicing. QuickStep for Distribution provides online sales statistics, including overall sales, margins and service analysis at the organizational and product levels.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net

RAND Corp. Sets Up Research Center for Global Freight Issues
The RAND Corp. has created a research center to address the challenges confronting worldwide freight transportation. The RAND Supply Chain Policy Center will examine critical issues facing the transportation and global logistics industries, focusing on the movement of goods by land, sea and air. Martin Wachs will serve as director of the center, which will draw on the expertise of researchers at RAND headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., as well as offices in Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh, Penn., and Cambridge, U.K. Wachs is director of the RAND Transportation, Space and Technology Program. Among the issues to be addressed by the new policy center include growing congestion at ports, borders and within urban areas, a problem that is slowing the flow of freight throughout North America and other major gateway locations worldwide, RAND said. The RAND Supply Chain Center is a member-sponsored research initiative, with an executive committee of sponsors directing its agenda. Founding partners include The Dow Chemical Co., Port of Los Angeles and The UPS Foundation.
http://www.rand.org

GAC Group Teams Up With Partners in Virtual University
GAC Group, a provider of global shipping, logistics and marine services, has partnered with SkillSoft and Catalyst to create an online global training venture, the GAC Corporate Academy. SkillSoft is a provider of electronic learning content, offering courseware to a large number of companies. Catalyst is GAC's partner in the Modular Object-Orientated Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle), an open-source learning-management system. The internet-based tool is used by universities, schools, companies and independent teachers worldwide. GAC said it hopes eventually to provide access to Academy courses to partners, customers and other entities wishing to benefit from expertise in various aspects of shipping, logistics and marine services. The idea for the Academy, dating back to early 2006, sprang from the company's ongoing globalization strategy. The selection of SkillSoft and Catalyst followed an in-depth analysis of the venture's human-resource development requirements, and extensive research into the best e-learning options available, GAC said.
http://www.gacworld.com

Trans-Soft Forges Strategic Alliance With Cargowise edi
Trans-Soft, Inc. has joined with CargoWise edi to market I.T. services to businesses around the world. Trans-Soft is a vendor of software and services for U.S. domestic freight forwarders. Cargowise is a provider of forwarding and customs brokerage software to the international marketplace. According to the partners, the alliance will deliver the next generation of software applications for the freight forwarding and logistics industry. Trans-Soft, founded in 1998, will continue to service its existing customers under the agreement, while working with the Cargowise edi sales and development team to expand the ediEnterprise product with features required by the U.S. domestic forwarding market. Trans-Soft will also offer expanded services at its managed data center in Phoenix, Ariz., which will become the preferred hosting hub for Cargowise edi clients. Built on Microsoft .NET 2.0 technology, ediEnterprise is the flagship product of Cargowise, which was founded in 1995.
http://www.cargowise.com

RoadLink Acquisitions Extend Company's North American Reach
RoadLink USA, Inc., a provider of independent intermodal logistics services in North America, has made two acquisitions that expand the company's presence in the Midwest. RoadLink picked up Chicago-based Unity Distribution Group and Ohio-based Reserve Transportation Services, both vendors of intermodal trucking. Unity operates drayage services primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Reserve's intermodal trucking services draw on customers primarily from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Chicago metro area. Together the two companies will add some 400 independent contractor drivers to RoadLink's fleet, bringing its total truck count to over 2,000, while beefing up services in the Midwest. RoadLink previously announced the acquisition of World S.S. Inc., a North American freight-handling company. In January, RoadLink acquired Transus Intermodal, LLC, an intermodal trucking services provider in the southeastern U.S.
http://www.roadlinkusa.com

SATO Integrates RFID Tools Into Microsoft BizTalk Platform
SATO, a vendor of technology related to barcode printing, labeling and radio frequency identification, is working to integrate its RFID products into the BizTalk RFID platform of Microsoft Corp. SATO's RFID printers and devices, consumables and software can now use BizTalk RFID to help customers identify products and materials in real time, then track and trace them throughout the supply chain. The SATO-developed RFID Device Provider software works with BizTalk Server 2006 R2 to provide a uniform means of remotely connecting, communicating and managing the SATO CL408e RFID printer on the Windows platform. The Device Service Provider makes use of the abstract classes in the Microsoft BizTalk RFID platform to find, configure and connect SATO printers. Companies looking to implement RFID-enabled systems are often frustrated by a lack of standards, differing access protocols and limited integration with third-party or legacy systems, SATO noted. SATO's integration into Microsoft is intended to align RFID technology with business-information systems.
http://www.satoamerica.com

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