Page 300 - DMGT546_INTERNATIONAL_TRADE_PROCEDURE_AND_DOCUMENTATION

Unit 14: Information Technology in International Business

3. Remote Bill of Lading Printing: The main benefits of this facility are reduced production Notes
and distribution costs for the carriers. The shipper’s gain is fast and error-free receipt of
documents. More and more shippers are using this facility and are demanding simplified
transmission of transport documents. One of the reasons for this is error-free transmission
of Bill of Lading. Shipping lines normally dispatch the Bill of Lading within 48 hours of
vessel sailing.

4. Single Data Entry Reporting: With the aligned system of documentation, the format of
various shipping documents is now standardized. Information once keyed in any document
will automatically appear in all aligned documents. This system saves repetitive data
entries and also saves substantial time and cost.

5. Exception Reporting: Shippers across the world, who work tirelessly towards manufacture
of quality products, also want reliable delivery schedules. Exception reporting by the
shipping line helps the shipper to know if there are any deviations from the instructions,
which he/she has given to the shipping line.

6. Online Tendering: To find out the ocean freight rates from various shipping lines, the
shipper has to send an enquiry separately to each shipper. Online tendering helps the
shipper to send out rate enquiries to as many shipping lines as desired by merely pressing
a button. Today, in the era of rationalization, mergers and acquisitions, the shipper’s
global requirements are getting increasingly complex. Online tendering helps them get
competitive quotations from shipping lines operating on various routes. These
multinationals maintain databases of such quotations in order to choose the most
competitive rates on various routes.

14.3.2 Benefits of E-commerce

One main element of web-based logistics supply management is electronic commerce, or simply
E-Commerce. Through this method, supply chain managers are now able to track product
orders and shipments in real time; disseminate information rapidly and trade documents instantly
instead of waiting for several days to complete documented transactions; and resolve logistics
issues and other concerns remotely. They can also enable chat or discussion boards on their
business-to-business (B2B) websites to allow their consumers to give their feedback, which
could help them improve online operations and service delivery.

Efficient Delivery: Service and goods delivery is far less complicated to set up over the
Internet than with traditional document delivery systems. With the use of web-based
communications, logistics managers and transportation companies can now exchange
cargo documents electronically in a matter of seconds. They can exchange bill of lading
instructions, freight invoices and other documents with increased accuracy and efficiency
because these forms are all available online. Best of all, the only tools required to
experience this powerful business solution are a personal computer and an Internet
browser.

Global Networking: The Internet gives logistics supply managers the opportunity to reach
out to thousands of contingent business partners worldwide through online networking.
Logistics managers can participate in the Global Logistics Network, which includes
participants such as major enterprises (shippers of goods and their customers), freight
forwarders, customs brokers, transportation providers, third-party logistics providers,
transportation e-marketplaces and other logistics intermediaries, to expand their business
network and to establish formidable partnership with the industry’s key players.

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