GE Information Services, London yesterday announced a global network based service called Cargo*Link, using its Mark III network and Edifact, UN-TDI, ANSI x12, TDCC or intercompany standards for communication, integrating real-time electronic data interchange, shipment data exchange, document management and consignment tracking to aid the freight transport and logistics industries. The services, which are MS-DOS-compatible, will be mounted on a central host computer and accessed via a remote personal computer, or a personal computer linked via another host using a single common user interface. Workstations may be sited within an exporter, importer, transporter or forwarding agent. GE have used their custom made systems, integrating them into the product in a multi-million sterling investment. Cargo*Link is aimed at shippers, freight forwarders, consigners, carriers, distributors and customs. Their aim is to improve information links between these people by improving electronic data interchange, providing the ability to track cargo throughout its route and producing reliability statistics for performance, quality and just in time delivery. Transport document management including bayplans management and proof of delivery documents. EDI systems have been developed to provide shippers with access via workstations to their own, or third party mainframe hosts using technical and application interfaces for communications. Shipment data exchange can move reservation, status and waybill data throughout the freight chain. At present Cargo*Link is being used in pilot schemes but it will be generally available to the market in May. GE hopes that the UK and continental transportation business will increase its use of electronic data interchange to the US level, where nearly 80% of importers and exporters use electronic documentation compared with 20% of Europeans. Over the next 10 years it is expected that Edifact will become the international standard.
