Peabody, MA June 25, 2001 Agilent Technologies, a global technology provider for the communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare industries, has signed a definitive agreement to utilize a collaborative logistics solution from Converge, an e-marketplace for the high-tech industry, according to an announcement today from the solution provider.
Also today Converge announced the release of its suite of collaboration and trading services, of which ConvergeMove is a component.
Agilent will use ConvergeMove, which allows for real-time logistics monitoring and alerting, workflow automation and global trade compliance. ConvergeMove offers logistics automation, aggregation and optimization services through an industry-wide network.
Converge says that its logistics solution improves shipping capacity management and logistics visibility, reducing transportation costs and inventory levels, both on-hand and in-transit.
"We not only see tremendous value in ConvergeMove's functionality, but also in its logistics data management capabilities and two-way connectivity with many of our leading transportation providers worldwide," said Sean Burke, Agilent Technologies' logistics services manager.
Besides ConvergeMove, the solution provider's suite of services includes ConvergePlan, a service that enables members to centrally aggregate, interpret and respond to supply and demand signals, coupling inventory visibility across multiple supply chain partners with real-time monitoring and alerting; ConvergeTrade, a global marketplace offering a range of trading services designed to help pre-qualified buyers and suppliers connect, negotiate competitive pricing and optimize delivery schedules; and ConvergeOrder, which enables members to collaborate electronically on price, quantity and delivery date with trading partners in their supply chain.
Other services include ConvergeConnect, a professional services and technology offering that integrates supply chain partners' systems; and ConvergeKnowledge, a source of information and services for the high-technology industry.
Converge says that users of the suite of services should be able to share regular updates on inventories and customer purchases; share supply and demand forecasts, including cost and pricing trends; monitor inventory levels and rectify shortage and oversupply conditions; track inventory pipeline shipments from manufacturing to warehouses or final customers; and respond to shipment delays and maintain accurate transaction histories with trading partners.
Users can also apply global market information and pricing trends against inventory positions and requirements; and renegotiate, reschedule or otherwise modify existing orders.
Collectively, these capabilities should enable supply web participants to reduce on-hand and buffer inventories, gain early warning of potential material shortages, avoid overproduction and overtime runs, eliminate costly and unnecessary product expedites, reduce administrative errors associated with frequent change orders and proactively anticipate changes in product availability and pricing, Converge claims.
