Marine Industry EDI Initiative Jim Taylor - MarineNET February 4, 2009
Today s Objectives Understand the Why for EDI Provide information regarding standardization efforts within the Barging Industry Provide information regarding progress to date Foster support to expand the use of EDI within our Industry
Traffic errors What got us started: Barge Company Issues Incorrect information from Service Provider Data incorrectly entered at Barge Company Traffic data delays Received from Service Providers next day Entered into Barge company 24 36 hours after event Employee s skill sets not utilized Dispatchers & Planners performing data entry Employees under utilized Frustrated employees
Three Barging Companies Formed a consortium and discovered the following:
Consortium Discovery No Data standardization (from Barge Companies or Service Providers) Information requirements varied Multiple formats for data fields (e.g. barge names) Data sent to multiple sources (e.g. Dispatchers, Planners) Structure of data varied (e.g. excel, word, email) Time of day varied for sent data
Consortium Discovery Standard Method of Communication Service Provider traffic invoice invoice traffic invoice invoice FAX, Email or Phone traffic invoice invoice order traffic invoice invoice Barge Companies
Consortium Discovery Business Process Flow Barge Companies Work manually communicated to Service Providers Service Providers Work is delegated to individuals Work is completed and logged Logs reviewed and transferred to operational sheets Computer systems updated with operational data Data email/fax to Barge Company next day Invoices produced & sent days or weeks later Barge Companies Dispatcher updates computer systems by mid morning
Problems Service Providers Work communication time (telephone/email) Possible miscommunication/interpretation of work required Rework Completed work logged/recorded multiple times Completed work transferred to email/fax Invoices Produced much later than work event Possible inaccuracies Invoice disputed with Barge Companies Delayed payments
Dispatcher work communication time (telephone/email) Completed work recorded up 36 hours after event Missed opportunities for barge availability with Customer Missed opportunities for Pickup with Mainline boat Completed work entered manually into computer Possible inaccuracies Invoice disputed with Service Providers Delayed payments Problems Barge Companies
Challenge: How to Standardize the data between Service Providers & Barge Cos traffic invoice invoice traffic invoice invoice? traffic invoice invoice order traffic invoice invoice Dispatch Barge Companies Service Provider
The Three Consortium Actions Contracted with Cornerstone Solutions Group to build BargeEx Join ASC X 12 Accredited Standards Committee Internationally standards body Form MarineNET
MarineNET Who is MarineNET? What started as a common initiative of AEP River Operations, American Commercial Lines and Ingram Barge Company in 2005 is now an organization called MarineNet. MarineNET s purpose is to facilitate the initiative on electronic business standards within the marine industry. MarineNET s Vision MarineNet s vision is to achieve marine industry and enterprise wide integration of business processes through seamless electronic business communication. MarineNET s Mission MarineNet s mission is to influence the architecture and facilitate implementation of effective standards and processes for electronic business communications within the marine industry community. In addition, MarineNet seeks to leverage the inherent value in existing EDI standards as well as actively pursue the benefits of emerging e Business technologies.
BargeEx BargeEx, a service provided by MarineNET, is a Value Added Network (VAN) that currently delivers over 65,000 Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages per month between barge service providers and their customers. BargeEx gives you the ability to electronically exchange order, status and invoice information between your organization s system and your customer s internal system.
Barge Companies Benefits with BargeEx Work is electronically communicated to Service Providers Service Providers Work can be electronically delegated to individuals When work is completed Electronically update status to Barge Companies Electronically send Invoices to Barge Companies All data electronically sent in real time Barge Companies Computer systems available for auto updating
Dispatch Service Provider traffic invoice invoice EDI Communication BargeEx traffic invoice invoice traffic invoice invoice ( EDI based communication) order traffic invoice invoice Barge Companies
BargeEx Trading Partners Service Providers CGB AEP River Operations Cooper C&C Barge Companies AEP River Operations American Commercial Lines Ingram Barge Company Testing McGinnis IMT Hunter Triangle Signed On Brennan Calumet Decatur Transport Jantran Muscle Shoals TVT Upper River Yazoo River Towing
ASC X 12 Marine Industry Task Group Understand the business and operation needs of the Barging Industry Develop data standardization that will provide crossfunctional utilization Customers, Service Providers, Suppliers, Inter modal transportation companies, governmental organizations
Future Steps Take Standardization to the next level Encompassing EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) methodology Moving data between companies in a recognized, standardized and approved format Not limited to a single industry segment National standards Crossing all businesses and transportation modes Recognized within private and governmental organizations
Future Steps Involvement with additional sectors Governmental organizations Industry groups Multi mode Transportation companies Vendors (non service providers) Customers
Questions? Thank you for your time and attention For additional information contact: Jim Taylor MarineNET 1730 Clarkson Rd #242 St. Louis, MO 63017 314 495 5055 jim@bargeex.com