Air
Cargo & Ocean Transport Portals
The development of Internet-based
neutral trading platforms for the international
cargo transport industry can be traced back to
the year 1998. The initiative was started by airfreight
carriers and soon found its acceptance among ocean
transport carriers two (2) years later.
In todays's column, we shall review
the list of major commercially available portals
that are operational.
Air Cargo Portals
Global Freight Exchange (GF-X) claims it is now
transforming the $50-billion airfreight sector
through the development of a neutral trading platform
for airfreight carriers and forwarders. Founded
in 1998, GF-X's progress has been driven by its
commitment to a core set of values and skills:
neutrality, professionalism and an emphasis on
helping its clients manage and negotiate e-commerce
implementation.
The solution is a sophisticated platform that
enables forwarders to secure capacity with major
carriers quickly, simply and in a cost effective
way. This delivers substantial operating efficiencies,
faster transactions, dynamic pricing and access
to a wider range of global transactions for our
clients.
GF-X went on to secure strategic investment from
American Airlines, British Airways, Deutsche Post
World Net, Lufthansa Commercial Holdings, Panalpina
World Transport (Holdings) Ltd and SAirLogistics/Swisscargo.
Its participating members now include many of
the leading global carriers and freight forwarders.
In January 2003 Unisys Corporation, along with
Air Canada Cargo, Northwest Airlines Cargo, and
United Airlines Cargo, announced that Cargo Portal
Services (CPS) was ready for business. All freight
forwarders were invited to use the only Internet-based
portal that allows them to more easily book and
manage shipments through their lifecycles on these
carriers, while reducing transaction costs.
In March of this year, CPS announced the 1,000th
forwarder organization to join its group. The
top ten economies for CPS registrations in alphabetical
order are Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany,
Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand,
and US.
Ezycargo commenced operational trials last year
and is the third multi-user cargo booking portal
for the international air cargo industry. It projects
itself as a secure, carrier-neutral internet service
portal. It is co-developed by Cargo Community
Network Singapore (CCN) and Global Logistics System
Hong Kong (GLSHK). It offers forwarders and carriers
global online-access convenience to a comprehensive
range of functions used for their day-to-day time-critical
transactions.
There are currently four (4) participating carriers
for the Ezycargo Portal: Cathay Pacific Cargo,
Japan Airlines Cargo, Qantas Freight and Singapore
Airlines Cargo.
Ocean Transport Portals
In the year 2000, groups of ocean cargo carriers
began announcing internet portals to reduce inefficiencies
in the ocean shipping industry. These carriers
hoped to reduce inefficiencies and costs for themselves
and their customers by automating processes such
as access to sailing schedules, booking shipments,
tracking and tracing shipments, and others.
CargoSmart began service in October
2000. Member carriers include Orient Overseas
Container Line, China Ocean Shipping Company,
and Malaysian International Shipping Corp. It
launched its online portal on October 11, 2000,
and has since added offline, integration, and
mobile platforms to help customers manage their
shipment information. CargoSmart is working with
several other carriers to make their customers'
shipment information accessible through its portal.
CargoSmart also provides a Web site
designed to service the Chinese shipping community.
In addition to the features that are currently
available, customers can find information about
how CargoSmart solutions are tailored to bridge
the supply chain processes of Chinese importers
and exporters and their overseas counterparts.
The portal is reportedly enhancing its products
to meet the unique language and business requirements
for its Chinese customers.
Over 13,000 members use CargoSmart
to effectively manage their shipments. With its
advanced application services and close ties to
carrier and customer needs, CargoSmart provides
one of the most comprehensive shipment management
solutions.
GTN Ocean Portal began service with
a pilot program in April 2001. Member carriers
include APL Limited, CP Ships, Crowley Liner Services,
CSAV, Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine,
"K" Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Senator
Lines, Wan Hai, Yang Ming, and Zim Israel Navigation
Company.
GTN projects itself to be a leading
transportation portal providing shippers worldwide
with a common transaction platform for conducting
business with ocean lines. Backed by a consortium
of global carriers based in Europe, Asia and the
Americas, GTN provides integrated access to over
45% of the global market for containerized shipping.
GTN portal is powered by technology from GT Nexus,
a leading provider of software and services for
multimodal transportation and logistics management,
global supply chain visibility, and performance
management.
INTTRA began service with a pilot
program in April 2001. Founder carriers include
CMA GGM, Hamburg Süd, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk
Sealand, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and
P&O Nedlloyd. Others who now participate in
INTTRA include Alianca, ANL, Columbus Line, Crowley
American Transport, and Safmarine.
This portal enables shippers, freight
forwarders, third party logistics providers, brokers,
importers, and industry portals to manage the
scheduling, booking, documentation, Bills of Lading,
and tracking of cargo and the negotiation of freight
services across multiple shipping lines in a single
integrated process.
It is interesting to note that the name "INTTRA"
is a combination of several terms. The "INT"
is an abbreviation for International, which represents
the extent of INTTRA's customer reach. The "TRA"
is an abbreviation for both transportation and
trade, two terms that are essential to the driving
principles behind INTTRA. The double "T"
in the center of "INTTRA" also represents
Track & Trace, the first module offered to
the public.
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Insights on Some
of the Latest ICT Developments
SINCE the middle part of this year,
I have continuously taken note of a number of
really interesting insights with regard to on-going
information and communication technology (ICT)
developments in ports, shipping and logistics
industry that are either local initiatives or
directly impact Philippine port users.
Just to mention some of the highlights:
-
computerization projects of both the Philippine
Ports Authority and Bureau of Customs altogether
involve government ICT investments amounting
to not less than P1 billion between the period
2003 and 2006
-
both PPA and BOC technology initiatives
will institutionalize web-based systems for
conducting electronic government front-line
services and transactions
-
American President Lines' web site is adjudged
by internationally-known BtoB magazine as
one of its top 10 "great web sites"
(the only ocean transport carrier to make
it to the top 10)
-
Aboitiz Transport System elevates its e-commerce
strategy to another level of sophistication
with the launch of www.2go.gom.ph
that integrates into a single web-based acecss
to all its freight, express, logistics and
solutions business.
Latest Developments On PPA MIS
Computerization Project
PPA's web-based e-Port and e-Procurement
systems are already well underway based on milestones
reported during the latest PPA anniversary celebration
last July.
What I really find to be outstanding
in this initiative is the introduction of Internet-based
electronic submission of port documentation requirements
for notice of vessel arrival and berth application
in the North Harbor - a location that is not exactly
known for being "ICT-ready" in terms
of network infrastructure and extent of software
application usage among port users.
It will be interesting to know
later how PPA can futher expand the utilization
of these services to other ports under its direct
management and operation.
Rapid Progress In the New BOC
Computerization Project
During the 1st half of October,
this column featured some high-level features
of ASYCUDAWorld, the new web-based customs administration
system that will be implemented as a result of
the new BOC computerization project.
In contrast to the PPA IT project
which is funded by internally-generated funds,
the BOC project is one of the beneficiaries of
e-Government Fund that was specially set aside
to push e-governance initiatives among qualified
government agencies. As I highlighted above, the
combined government ICT investment for both initiatives
is not less that 1 billion pesos.
BOC has not made new official announcements
on the latest developments after awarding the
project consultancy to Pacific Consultants International
which will then prepare the Request For Proposal.
However, it is already well-known
within Philippine ICT industry circles that two
entities are already shortlisted to participate
in the contract bidding. Both of them possess
in-depth expertise in implementing IT projects
that are of the magnitude required by BOC. They
are likewise part of globally known technology
companies.
APL Web Site Uses "Show,
Don't Tell" Approach
In layman language, this means
that APL web site visitors and users are not merely
shown web pages to read. They are made to experience
how the services and solutions featured in the
web site actually work.
According to news reports and web
expert reviews, APL web site uses plenty of demos
and multimedia to get its point across and educate
customers. Webmaster Hank Moreira is reported
as saying that, "The demos and multimedia
provide a simple and highly effective visual introduction
to our e-commerce suite. The aim is for them to
be easily understood by customers across all industries
and countries". As an example, the use of
Shockwave Flash demos enhance customer leaning
of a particular tool and, more important, their
understanding of its benefits.
BtoB magazine particularly made
mention of the EBL feature that allows customers
from anywhere in the world to print their bills
of lading.
2GO: A New Brand Name &
e-Commerce Front-End
Aboitiz Transport System recently
unveiled its new brand 2GO for all of its freight
businesses, which includes freight, express, logistics
and solutions.
ATS President and Chief Executive
Officer Endika Aboitiz says that 2GO is "simple,
clear, distinctive, Filipino, fresh and creative.
We need to simplify and integrate our brands into
one…one brand, as well as one service."
The web site is designed as single
integrated portal for ATS customers and business
partners. Even the choice of web site color -
magenta - reveals a design strategy that not only
calls attention to itself but projects "action,
precision and passion".
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Latest News on
GPS Systems and Anti-Virus Software
During the 1st seafreight forwarders
awards event organized last week by PortCalls
and the Philippine Shippers' Bureau, I came across
the booth of a technology provider for global
positioning system (GPS)-based solution. I had
previously come across its name and company logo
but I did not really have much opportunity to
know more about them.
Upon closer look at its product
brochures, I realized that here is one pioneering
Filipino company that is providing real business
solutions. Star Communications Holdings Corporation
otherwise known as StarComm was founded in 1997
and is the proud developer and manufacturer of
the 3rdEye GPS Vehicle Monitoring System.
Since its inception in 1998, the
3rdEye solution is reported to have benefited
hundreds of companies in various industries by
providing the most cost-effective way of maximizing
their vehicle and personnel resources while increasing
revenue. It is a pioneer in providing GPS-based
solutions in the Philippines since 1997 and currently
exports its products to Hong Kong and Kuwait.
Its core product & solution - 3rdEye Vehicle
Monitoring System - is reported to the first locally-developed
GPS-based vehicle monitoring system with Philippine
patents.
In April of last year, I already
wrote about GPS technology in one of the issues
of this column. For many years now, most of the
real-world applications of GPS can be broadly
categorized into the following categories: location
(determining a basic location), navigation (getting
from one location to another), and tracking (monitoring
movements).
The use of GPS technology has found
some of its most important applications in international
ports, shipping and transport industry. GPS receivers
are now standard equipment onboard container ships,
passenger cruise vessels and luxury yachts. Some
of the biggest foreign ports use GPS-based container
tracking systems. Equipping a fleet of trucks
with GPS receivers provides many large transport
companies abroad with tangible operating cost
benefits as a result of efficient fleet scheduling
and deployment. Stringent physical security requirements
in the transport of high-value goods are satisfactorily
met by making it mandatory for such shipments
to be loaded only to truck carriers equipped with
GPS systems.
StarComm's 3rdEye system has two
(2) versions: Post Mission and Real-Time. Both
report the position of your vehicles as well as
additional information like engine on/off and
door open/ closed. This allows close monitoring
of the whereabouts of your vehicles and personnel.
Both versions also entail installation of a GPS
"Mobile Unit" in your vehicle and a
"Base Station" at your office.
The Post-Mission System (Version
1) effectively facilitates management and supervision
if client's requirement is to monitor movements
and locations of delivery trucks, sales agents,
and field personnel. When your personnel return
to the office at the end of the day, the 3rdEye
system provides a printed report on where the
vehicle went during the whole day. With this information,
you could schedule more trips, cut fuel and oil
expenses, cut long lunch breaks, cut unnecessary
overtime and do Time-and-Motion studies.
The Real-Time System (Version 2)
tells you right now where your vehicles are. It
is the appropriate solution if your cargo is time-sensitive
or of high-value. The 3rdEye Real-Time System
is reported to have special security features
that alert you right away if there is an emergency
in the vehicle. You will be able to know if the
vehicle goes out of route or stops somewhere where
it is not supposed to be.
On another development, I recently
received an advisory from Sophos anti-virus and
anti-spam software regarding several arrests made
by Brazilian federal police authorities of suspected
computer hackers who stole money from internet
bank accounts using a series of phishing Trojan
horses.
Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent
websites designed to fool recipients into divulging
personal financial data such as credit card numbers,
account usernames and passwords, social security
numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands
of well-known banks, online retailers and credit
card companies, phishers are reportedly able to
convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to
them.
The media advisory reports that
"Hackers and virus writers in Brazil seized
upon the opportunity to make significant amounts
of money by writing these Trojan horses,"
said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant
for Sophos. "The Trojans would lurk in the
background, waiting for innocent users to enter
their bank login details and then secretly pass
them back to the hackers. The Brazilian authorities
should be congratulated for taking swift action
against this activity - fifty arrests give some
idea of the huge scale of this kind of organised
internet crime."
Virus experts at Sophos reportedly
warned Brazilian computer users earlier this year
of the increasing trend of Trojan horses being
written specifically to target customers of Brazil's
online bank websites.
Even this week, Sophos has added detection for
several new Brazilian Trojans. Once a computer
is infected with one of the Trojans, internet
activity is monitored, and if it is determined
that the computer user is visiting one of a number
of Brazilian banking websites, a fake login page
is displayed and the confidential data emailed
back to the hacker's email addresss.
"All computer users should
be running up-to-date anti-virus as well as protecting
their PC with a firewall. This, combined with
the safe computing practice of exercising caution
over what you choose to run on your computer,
can dramatically reduce the risks of these kind
of attacks," continued Cluley.
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Looking Forward
to ASYCUDAWorld Implementation Next Year
The 04 October issue of PortCalls
reported that the Bureau of Cus-toms recently
awarded the project consultancy contract for its
new computer system to Pacific Consultants International
Philippines, Inc.
I understand that the output of
this consultancy work is the request for proposal
(RFP) which will be the basis for subsequent bidding
of the P500-million computerization project.
I was not surprised at all that
after this was reported, I received a number of
requests if I can suggest reference information
for those who may want to learn more about this
projected new customs automation initiative.
Since official information on this
project will emanate only from BOC itself, I can
only cite available information found on the web
as well as those intended for press releases.
We also have to bear in mind that the detailed
system functionalities BOC requires will still
be specified in the RFP document.
One of these is the National Computer
Center (NCC) web site which has a section on status
of existing government information & communications
technology (ICT) projects. Based on the latest
available update published by NCC, the ASYCUDAWorld
Project proposed by BOC is already approved for
funding from the e-Government Fund (specifically
created to finance mission-critical and high-impact
ICT projects of government agencies).
The NCC update further reports
that this project aims to intensify the mandate
of BOC to facilitate trade exchanges and generate
revenues for government.
A web-based applications system
using a portal/gateway shall be created to upgrade
BOC's operational facilities, as well as enhance
interfaces, streamline processes, and encourage
transparent transactions. The project will use
ASYCUDAWorld, the new e-customs web-based platform
launched by UNCTAD last year.
Based on UNCTAD web site information
made available to the press, the fourth version
of UNCTAD's automated system for Customs - dubbed
ASYCUDAWorld - is now taking off in Europe. Moldova
is the first country to implement ASYCUDAWorld,
with live operation planned by year-end. UNCTAD
expects that ASYCUDAWorld, which makes use of
state-of-the-art technologies such as electronic
signature and biometrics, has the potential to
reach well over 100 countries in just a few years.
In general, ASYCUDAWorld allows
the computerization of all Customs operations,
including risk-management, valuation control,
assessment of Tariff duties and automation and
control of transit operations. Unlike the existing
versions of ASYCUDA++ (such as the one currently
used by BOC ACOS system), ASYCUDAWorld makes full
use of Internet technology. A secondary benefit
of the distribution of ASYCUDAWorld processing
is its effectiveness in combating fraud, corruption
and illicit trafficking, as it gives Customs authorities
in different countries their first-ever tool for
working together online.
According to UNCTAD, the ASYCUDAWorld
system makes use of cutting-edge ICT technologies,
including e-signature, biometrics and XML to provide
governments and Customs administrations in particular
with new tools that will enable them to make dramatic
improvements in security, trade efficiency and
the fight against corruption. ASYCUDAWorld means
even greater tax revenue collection and lower
transaction costs, making it a showcase for e-government.
The ASYCUDAWorld database is fully
compatible with ASYCUDA++, thereby ensuring a
smooth transition to e-Customs for countries currently
using ASYCUDA++. This is eased by the built-in
implementation in all ASYCUDA systems of relevant
international standards, and in particular the
Harmonized System Tariff for classification of
goods (HS) and ISO codes.
Through the implementation of ASYCUDA
projects, Customs data requirements are harmonized
and simplified and Customs procedures re-engineered
and straight forwarded. That objective is also
being pursued by the Brussels-based World Customs
Organization (WCO), which is developing a global,
harmonized standard data set that uses uniform
electronic messages.
The WCO Customs Data Model, as
it is called, is likely to have a dramatic effect
on the processing of business-to-business, business-to-government
and government-to-government transactions. These
developments, combined with the fact that 85 countries
around the world are already using the same customs
IT system -ASYCUDA - represent a formidable opportunity
for using the Internet to make international trade
simpler and cheaper while also making international
markets more accessible to enterprises from developing
countries.
For those interested in the technical
specifications of this system, ASYCUDAWorld can
work with all major database management systems
- including Oracle, Sybase, DB2, Informix, SQLServer,
etc. - and most operating systems, such as Linux,
Solaris, AIX and Windows.
The choices of software and hardware
suppliers are thus left entirely to user countries.
The platform's use of XML (extensible mark-up
language) allows for the exchange of any document
inside and outside the system, between Customs
administrations and traders and between Customs
administrations in different countries. Entirely
Java-based, user countries can modify or extend
the ASYCUDAWorld system without requesting assistance
from UNCTAD.
The existing BOC ACOS system was
initially implemented during the mid-1990s. The
hardware configuration used by BOC such as servers
and workstations have already long exceeded their
maximum productive lifecycle. Once the new BOC
computerization project gets underway, we can
look forward to a new and modern customs computer
system by the end of next year.
The author has more than 20 years
experience in the development, project management
and implementation of IT projects in Philippine
ports, transport and logistics. He is presently
an independent consultant for IT projects and
initiatives in Philippine ports and transport
industries. For comments or inquiries, email him
at leo@morada.name.
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ITinerary Archives
: 2004 Q4
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