Transportation Management System centralizes shipping data.
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Press Release Summary:
Web-based eTMSä software manages transportation processes of multiple warehouses and distribution centers from centralized server, while permitting access and distributed processing from any remote location. Applet may be downloaded for running local printing, scanning, and weighing devices. Administration, configuration, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance tasks are conducted at central server, eliminating needs for local upgrades.
Original Press Release:
Vertex Interactive Introduces Enterprise-Wide Transportation Management System
Vertex eTMS Web-based solution centralizes and consolidates enterprise-wide shipment processing and data
Fairfield, New Jersey, November 14, 2001 - Vertex Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:VETX), a leading provider of supply chain execution and order fulfillment technologies, today announced the availability of its eTMSä software. The transportation management system is a Web-based, enterprise-wide multi-carrier system operated from a centralized server. Vertex and Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions division, co-market this solution.
Vertex's eTMS software manages the transportation processes of multiple warehouses and distribution centers from a centralized server location while permitting access and distributed processing over the Web, from any remote location. By centralizing the application and all enterprise-wide data at one location, eTMS saves money and reduces shipping and operating costs for companies with more than one warehouse or distribution center.
"Customers with multiple warehouses have access to complete transportation processing, visibility and reporting capabilities with eTMS," said Stephen Smith, president of Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions. "Access to shipping data from any location within your company is essential for accurate supply chain reporting. When negotiating carrier rates, presenting the data from all warehouses can result in larger discounts and better carrier service."
The application is installed on a central server and accessed from remote locations through a Web browser without any specialized software. A simple applet can be downloaded for running local printing, scanning and weighing devices. Administration, configuration, upgrades and ongoing maintenance tasks are conducted at the central server location and immediately applied to all processing locations. This eliminates the need for consultants or extra travel expenses for IT staff to perform upgrades. In addition, by maintaining business rules, carrier rates and shipping settings at one location, users can set guidelines on an enterprise-wide basis or customize guidelines for each location. "With eTMS technology, we can set our shipping guidelines at our main InSTEP warehouse and know those guidelines are implemented in our other warehouses," said Tim Galligan, CFO of InSTEP, Inc., a Minnesota-based manufacturer of jogging strollers. "So, if we are able to negotiate a carrier discount, that discount is immediately reflected in shipments across the board, saving our customers money and helping us run more cost-effective shipping operations." The benefits and strength of eTMS comes from its Web-based architecture. Web-based applications incorporate Web-interfaces within each functional component of the application to provide full processing and visibility of that function to anyone in supply chain with secure access, including partners and customers. Most other enterprise TMS products are not Web-based, but Web-enabled. While many of these programs can be accessed using an attached Web interface, their Web capabilities are restricted due to the limitations of the underlying technology. Sophisticated e-business operations between these "Web-enabled" programs, from inside company walls to outside trading partners, often requires custom data-exchange and translation programming and support. Although Web-enabled software can provide visibility and even transactions from the legacy application to partners and customers, it cannot provide real-time collaboration across the supply chain network. eTMS is a fully scalable shipping solution that can support hundreds of processing locations and thousands of users. As business and shipping volumes grow, the software has the ability to use separate application versus database servers, multiple CPUs within each server and load balancing across multiple application servers.
Additional features of eTMS include:
EQuery eQuery is a browser-independent Web-based feature that provides employees, customers and partners around-the-clock global supply chain visibility.
Any user that has access to an Internet connection and Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser versions 4.0 or higher can view real-time shipping information and order fulfillment status.
Employees, customers and partners can access shipment information by tracking number or bill number, check delivery status and view packing information from their desktops.
The application is hosted on the central server and can be accessed from LAN, Intranet or Internet connections.
Upfront rating
The rate shopping screen allows users to view carrier's rates, discounts, routes, destination ZIP codes and delivery requirements. From a single screen, users can compare carrier prices and then select a carrier that complies with business standards and fulfills customer and partner shipping requirements.
Vertex's eTMS can be used simultaneously with Pitney Bowes TMS Client/Server Edition to centralize pack verification and export and retail compliance labeling features. eTMS is a true Web-based version of Pitney Bowes' industry leading PB TMS client server application. The software supports small package, less than truckload (LTL), truckload (TL) and local carriers.
About eTMSä
Vertex eTMS is a multi-carrier order processing and shipment management software system that provides visibility to logistics information to customers, trading partners and employees. The transportation management system automates all order and shipment processes, from pack verification and shipping to delivery tracking and export documentation and provides real-time data access through a web browser. Vertex eTMS integrates with most ERP, WMS and accounting systems to seamlessly share data between different business departments. The application runs on Windows 2000 Server and uses Microsoft SQL Server database. About Vertex Interactive Vertex Interactive is a global provider of business-to-business, supply chain execution technologies and enterprise applications integration. Vertex 's solutions enhance productivity across the supply chain, with a portfolio of products that includes fixed and mobile order entry, order processing and fulfillment, inventory, warehouse, and transportation management systems. To support its broad range of software systems, Vertex provides consulting services and systems integration as well as fixed and mobile hardware solutions. Vertex's inventory and warehousing applications include "light-directed" systems for picking and packing, technology for handheld devices including auto ID and printing solutions (for standard, 2D and 3D bar coding), and a suite of mobile data collection solutions for SAP R/3 implementations. Vertex has a rapidly growing international presence, with operations currently throughout North America and Europe. Vertex's customers include leading companies such as Andrew Corporation, Air Express International, Applied Materials, Avery Dennison, Bacardi Martini, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daimler Chrysler, Express Dairies, Georg von Opel, IBM, Kraft Foods, Maastricht University, Merck, Nestle, North Sea Ferries, Parts Express, Pfizer, Warner Lambert and Wal-Mart. For additional information, please visit their web site at www.vertexinteractive.com
