IDII News - New Website Features

• Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory (Edition 6) is Available! Expanded Edition Sample Pages. Order Now
  

• Free Book!
• New - The Auto ID Book (Bar Coding)
• New White Papers!
• New - Practical Guide to WMS - Good History & Insights of WMS Vertical
• New - Guide to Inventory Accuracy
• New - Cycle Counting and Physical Inventories
• New - Warehouse Optimization . . . The Little Things
• In the last newsletter, IDII announced these white papers:
• New - WMS Market Outlook - Excellent!
• New - Dynamic Carrier Selection
• New - The Logistics Modeling White Paper - from TLI
• New - Selecting - Keeping Warehouse Employees - Great Points to Ponder!
  

Software Company News

• Berger Software (WMS, TMS, CRM) releases Berger Local Freight.to augment its suite of Logistics applications. Berger Local Freight provides the following:
  1. Estimate the local freight cost and update the sales order with this cost or optionally apply a margin
  2. Upon receipt of the carriers invoice the data will be automatically reviewed for accuracy against the calculated estimate
  3. Printing of labels and consignment notes
  4. Production of manifests in paper or electronic form. This opens the way for electronic trading with carriers.
  Berger Software has designed flexibility into the module so that it can cater for rates and charging zones for each carrier. Additionally multiple pricing options accommodate the format of popular freight contracts.
  
  

• Catalyst International Inc. (2 WMS, Nasdaq: CLYS) Unveils CatalystCommand 9.0. CatalystCommand 9.0 is an open technology solution featuring browser independence and new functionality including event management, advanced standard material handling interfaces, conformance to key industry standards, and enhanced collaborative commerce functionality.

  The CatalystCommand 9.0 platform features the Apache web server to provide a simplified, homogeneous architecture and a stable and secure solution set. The new architecture also includes a complete event management backbone that will allow for system-generated notification of alerts when exception conditions occur within the supply chain. These alerts can be received via e-mail, pager, cell phone, PDA, or any other SMTP device.

  Features of CatalystCommand 9.0 also include standard material handling equipment interfaces to pick-to-light, carousels, and speech recognition technology. With speech recognition technology, the system can be run in a completely hands free environment. Additionally, the simplified architecture provides for seamless integration with partner solutions, including shipping and manifesting, transportation management systems, collaboration and EAI, visibility and reporting tools. CatalystCommand 9.0 supports XML for application-to-application integration with other supply chain solutions, and system security.

• Categoric Software (SCEM) announce OEM relationship with Aspen Technology (NASDAQ: AZPN). Categoric's Xalerts will be embedded as the real-time notification and event control engine inside AspenTech supply chain products. The Aspen ProfitAdvantage solution encompasses engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and e-business collaboration technologies. Aspen has 1,200 companies
  

• HighJump Software (WMS, TMS, SECM) Selects Jeeves Solutions (Ask Jeeves). At www.highjumpsoftware.com, JeevesOne answers general inquiries about the company and its SCE software suite. HighJump Software will also use Jeeves Analytics(TM) to better understand what Web site visitors are interested in through analysis of the questions they ask. HighJump will use this critical information to improve site content and enhance its solutions, services and marketing programs.
  
  "Unlike keyword search solutions, JeevesOne delivers an intuitive question answering interface that feeds every customer question into more than 15 analytics reports. These reports provide companies with valuable information about customers' needs and interests," said Claudio Pinkus, president of Jeeves Solutions. "As a perpetually licensed product that is automated and easy to maintain, we believe JeevesOne will continue to gain traction among companies that use the Web to improve customer loyalty and decrease support costs." Editor's note: Very smart thinking for HighJump to do this!

• iXmatch (TMS Optimization) and HighJump Software (WMS, TMS) Sign OEM Agreement - to integrate iXmatch's matching and optimization technology into HighJump Software's Transportation Advantage solution. HighJump will use XML and SOAP to send trailer types and orders to be shipped to the iXmatch optimization engine, which will return optimized loads to be shipped. "Our software makes the process of determining exactly what goes where extremely efficient," stated Dan Bork, iXmatch's chief technology officer. "HighJump plans to offer the optimization module as a Web service, which is a perfect application of our joint solution."
  

• LOG (Optimization, NASDAQ: ILOG) announced it is developing a new product ILOG OEK (Optimization Extension Kit) that will work with Oracle Advanced Planning™.

  ILOG Expands Partnership with Oracle. Oracle is currently utilizing ILOG optimization engines to enable companies to optimize their "extended" supply chain, including customers and suppliers. This is through a unique holistic planning and scheduling solution that generates a single plan to support even the most complex environments, from high-level strategic planning to detailed shop floor scheduling.

  Serving as an extension of Oracle Advanced Planning, ILOG OEK is expected to take customer-specific knowledge and store it in the form of "cartridges." These cartridges would integrate with the Oracle Advanced Planning environment, helping to facilitate seamless data access and retrieval.
  
  ILOG OEK is based on ILOG's Cartridge Development Environment (CDE) technology, which combines an internal data model, methodology, automatic code generation tools, and state-of-the-art ILOG optimization engines (ILOG CPLEX and ILOG Solver) to build ISV-specific extensions. CDE technology enables ILOG's ISV partners to leverage ILOG's optimization expertise in order to provide industry-specific extensions to their supply chain platforms.

• NxTrend Technology Inc, (ERP, WMS, e-commerce) announced its bizLinx eCatalog version 2.0 product. The bizLinx eCatalog addresses all the online sales needs of a dealer or
  distributor by providing:
  • Order pad functionality enabling customers to save shopping carts
    based on past purchase history or the creation of item favorite folders.
  • Hierarchical search functions enabling users to drill down into
    specific categories of product data.
  • Parametric search functions allowing users to answer a series of product questions, getting a list of suggested product matches in return.
  • Additional fields of information for improved product searches, including product descriptions up to 2000 characters long, and attributes such as size, color, weight, etc.
  • Unlimited links from the catalog records to images, specification documents, MSDS sheets, web page references, etc.
  • Authorized-to-buy capabilities, where a table of products and
    customers can be validated for a selected group of customers, to control
    access of certain products.
  • Routing rules based on the user or the product selected which sends
    that user's information to a specific distributor.
  
  

• Pfastship (SMS) & V3 Systems (WMS) Form Alliance to Integrate Pfastship-2000 Shipping system and V3's WMS/SCE Applications. By allying with V3 Systems, Pfastship has embedded its advanced shipping and shipment tracking technology in an enterprise supply chain execution application that offers a wide variety of functionality, including modules that manage receiving, multi-owner inventory management, order management, RF-directed picking and packing, shipping, billing, querying and reporting. V3 Systems also accommodates multi-tiered Web-based supply chain visibility through the “V3 Digital Dashboard,” which allows anyone with a secure login to view supply chain information, key performance measurements and—now through the Pfastship alliance—the disposition of shipments from anywhere they have access to a Web browser.
  
  

• Pitney Bowes (TMS) has reacquired ownership of the PB TMS transportation management system (formerly our Conquest(tm) solution). To support this action, all engineering and development responsibility for PB TMS is back in the Pitney Bowes organization.

  For the past fourteen months Vertex Interactive (WMS) has been responsible for the development and engineering support of the product. This arrangement was made to facilitate the integration of PB TMS with a multiple WMS & SAP solutions. In the process, the Vertex engineering team completed the integration, completed the development of an enterprise version, created an interface to SAP, and enhanced its understanding of how PB TMS adds value to complementary modules. Pitney Bowes will now resume full responsibility and ownership of PB TMS, its ongoing development, enhancement, and engineering support.

• Savi Technology (RFID) has agreed to acquire CanTRACK, a manufacturer of software that automatically manages, monitors, and ensures the security of the full life cycle of air cargo containers and their contents. This software, combined with Savi's real-time systems, Savi SmartChain software platform, and Savi SmartSeal electronic seal for air cargo unit loading devices (ULDs), enables air freight carriers, shippers, supply chain asset providers, and third-party logistics companies to help protect air cargo shipments while improving asset utilization and operational efficiency. CanTRACK's Web-native software will be incorporated into the Savi Asset Management application, alongside existing modules for rail and reusable transportation containers (RTCs), to be followed soon by configurations for supply chain assets used in intermodal, truck, and ocean modes.

• Swisslog Software (www.swisslog.com) Adds Streamsoft's FlowTrak Slotting Software To it's WarehouseManager Supply Chain Execution Suite. As a component of the Swisslog Supply Chain Execution suite, FlowTrak will be integrated with Swisslog's WarehouseManager (WMS). FlowTrak will provide Swisslog customers with warehouse design and layout analysis, optimization of pick and storage locations in initial warehouse setup, and ongoing analysis of pick locations to maintain operational efficiencies. Customers will be able to effectively address product profiling and seasonal inventory issues.

  
  
  

Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.

• "A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.""
  - Dutch Proverb
  

• "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?"
  - Amos 3:3
  

• FindArticles.com - Great site for any type of magazine article search!
• BetterManagement.com - White papers & resources on all aspects of improving operations!
• IOMA Management Library - White papers & newsletter archive on business information. Includes many newsletter archives --- Inventory Reduction Report, Managing Logistics, Managing Exports... more! Small fee on articles.

"ADVANCED WMS RFI Search Bundle" Available from IDII only
Obal, Philip	Advanced Version is available only from IDII

"Warehouse Management Handbook" See Reviews & Order From Amazon
"Warehouse & Distribution Automation Handbook" See Reviews & Order From Amazon
"Warehousing Tips" by Ken Ackerman See Reviews & Order From Amazon

"What To Look For In Warehouse Management System Software" Order From Amazon or IDII
Obal, Philip	See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com

Valuable Future Events - List Your Event or Convention

The 20th annual Distribution/Computer EXPO is the largest trade show featuring software and systems for Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Distribution, Transportation and Warehousing. Over 1,000 information management system for those applications will be exhibited. 61 Educational Seminars on using software and systems and the Internet for those applications will take place on May 21-22. The EXPO exhibit is on May 22-23. For complete EXPO and Seminar details go to http://www.logistar2.com/THESHOW.htm

ASRS/AGVS Users' Association 2002 Annual Conference - "Integrating ASRS/AGV's/Carousels Into Facility Operations" - June 9-12, 2002 - Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA

The ASRS/AGVS Users' Association will host its annual conference in Newport Beach, California in June. Twelve presentations, plant tours, numerous breakout sessions and special interest sessions will offer many opportunities to meet with fellow ASRS – AGVS – Carousel users and system suppliers to hear the latest information regarding technology advances and warehouse management systems, and to see solutions to operational and management problems for your organization. Special features of the 2002 conference are the keynote breakfast, plant tours and lunch that follows, and the annual conference vendors' night. Past attendees have said that the ASRS/AGVS Users' Conference is like no other in that it gives all attendees, both users and vendors, many opportunities to discuss common problems, company system needs, etc., and to hear what other users have done to implement their systems of ASRS – AGV's – Carousels into their operations. More information at www.ASRS.org
www.ASRS.org