CarrierPoint Delivers Rapid-Integration Capabilities
to its Web-Based Logistics Management Tools
New Toolkit Provides Quickly-Implemented, Secure,
Scalable Interfaces
ATLANTA, GA, February 6, 2001 /BusinessWire/
CarrierPoint(SM), Inc., a leading provider of Web-based
logistics software to the $154 billion less-than-truckload
and full-truckload freight market, today announced the
general availability of its Open Marketplace Services
Interface(SM)(OMSISM) toolkit.
The OMSI toolkit provides rapidly-deployed, flexible-integration
capabilities between CarrierPoint's logistics solutions
and customers' legacy or packaged systems. Using a platform-
and technology-independent architecture, the toolkit
provides a number of options for integration that can
be chosen based on the customers' existing technology
infrastructure and talent.
The OMSI toolkit employs secure communications, authentication
services and guaranteed message delivery, yet can be
implemented and maintained by customer personnel without
the assistance of in-house Internet technology experts.
The toolkit utilizes industry-leading Internet communication
and security technology to enable a platform- and language-independent
API (Application Programming Interface) through which
the customer interacts with CarrierPoint. This allows
a simple, low-cost link to CarrierPoint's logistics
solutions. Although the toolkit can also be used in
conjunction with third-party integration tools or EDI
systems, they are not required for its use.
According to an industry-wide survey performed by the
Journal of Commerce, in which Optimum Logistics and
Mercer Management Consulting analyze how Internet technology
will transform the global supply chain, integration
costs and complexities are often cited as obstacles
to the adoption of Internet technology. Of the respondents
not using the Internet, 25-30 percent cite upfront costs,
including integration with legacy systems, as an obstacle
to adopting Internet technology. In addition, half of
those not yet using the Internet plan to use the Internet
for their logistics needs within 12 months, if their
needs, including integration issues, are addressed.
"CarrierPoint recognizes and understands customer hesitation
when it comes to integration efforts; this toolkit has
been developed to address that reluctance," said
Wendy Tacker, CarrierPoint's manager of integration
services. "Companies have developed substantial
in-house IT expertise over the years, and, understandably,
want to utilize these talents to the fullest. CarrierPoint's
OMSI toolkit provides substantial flexibility in this
area. Our approach to addressing integration issues
has been very well received by our customers. They seem
relieved and impressed that we do not talk about expensive
third-party integration packages or consulting engagements.
We come prepared with some real-world alternatives that
they can employ and maintain as part of their normal
processes, and find a solution that can be realistically
deployed. This product is a powerful enabling adjunct
to our Web-based logistics tools."
CarrierPoint's OMSI toolkit can be used to integrate
a customer's system with any of CarrierPoint's logistics
solutions, and can be used with various platforms and
operating systems, including OS/400, Sun Solaris, Microsoft
NT and Linux. The toolkit can also be used regardless
of the way in which the customer has implemented a CarrierPoint
solution - as a private licensed installation, hosted
solution or ASP installation.
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