Internet-based EC: a variety of solutions

As discussed in last month's column, Tibersoft's NetPOS and Instill's e•store both concentrate on the distributor-customer interface. Another firm, InterTrade Sytems Corp., offers services aimed at facilitating a global range of e-commerce solutions utilizing the Internet. Via its Electronic Transaction System software and TradeLinks Center e-commerce processing facility, the Campbell, Calif.-based company provides any-to-any translation and transmission of all manner of electronic commerce transactions, in a secure, reliable, Internet-based environment. Documents can be sent or received in any format required by trading partners, including EDI standard transmissions, binary data, fax, e-mail, electronic forms and web-based applications, with InterTrade handling all the intermediary mapping and translation.

A recent improvement to InterTrade's system is designed to facilitate company-wide adoption of electronic commerce. ECServer 3.0, introduced earlier this year, is a centralized application that enables companies to link all departments and applications systems to one centralized electronic commerce engine, with a web-based management console that provides a uniform, easy-to-use interface for all users.

"This system can drastically reduce administrative overhead, the cost of maintaining different software and training requirements, making it easier for companies to become fully EDI capable throughout their organizations," says David Salehinia, president of InterTrade.

While standard EDI applications usually function in batch mode, InterTrade's Internet-based EC solution enables real-time exchange of information, Salehinia adds. This feature is enhanced by ECServer's capabilities for easily extracting data residing in core applications anywhere in the company on a real-time basis, to feed information flows with trading partners.

Companies can develop their own front-end interfaces for specific functions, using InterTrade's service solely as an EC conduit, or utilize application modules from InterTrade to conduct business with trading partners. Among the application systems InterTrade offers is an electronic invoicing system, "E-Invoice," which notifies trading partners via e-mail whenever an invoice is received. The system links them to a secured website where they can review the invoice, respond and complete the transaction through the banking cycle.

InterTrade also offers a preconfigured order-entry application.

Among companies that have recently signed with InterTrade is the Boise, Idaho-based Golbon distributor group, which will use its ETS system to interface business processes with distributor members and other trading partners. Golbon's accounts receivable systems manager Cecilia Faull cited the solution's speed and simplicity in explaining