Freightgate would like to invite you to be our guest at the SCOPE West conference at Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, August 19th - 21st, 2009.

SCOPE is the freshest approach to Supply Chain Industry conferences, enjoying tremendous growth in attendance when many other events are down. Expect a unique mixture of cutting edge educational content, research appointments with leading vendors and excellent peer networking opportunities at this senior level, invitation-only event.

To qualify for one of our complimentary conference passes, you should be a senior level executive involved in supply chain management, logistics or materials handling. Offer is not valid for suppliers of solutions. Register Today for a complimentary VIP pass www.scopewest.com and use invitation Number: FR1819

As our guest, you will have full access to:
World-class Educational Program
New supply chain Solutions to Meet Your Unique Needs
Excellent Networking Opportunities With Your Peers

The speaker faculty includes senior level supply chain executives from leading manufacturers, retailers and distributors sharing their insights from supply chain triumphs and challenges. For a list of past speakers, please go to www.scopewest.com.

Your VIP Conference Pass includes:
* Conference Pass with full access to all the Educational Tracks

* Overnight Hotel accommodation at the Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa on the night of August 20th.

* Gourmet Lunches available

* VIP Networking Drinks Reception

* Two Full Breakfasts

* Full Access to the Exhibit Halls

* Use of the VIP Meeting System

Your code for complimentary event registration including all of the above benefits is " FR1819 ". Spaces are limited, so register today at: www.scopewest.com.

The Freightgate Team looks forward to seeing you at the conference! If you have any questions about this event please contact Martin Hubert at Freightgate at 714-799-2833.

About Freightgate
Based in Huntington Beach, California, the Freightgate team has been developing Internet solutions for the freight and logistics since 1994, such as its industry-leading PLTX(tm) Platform, with I-Trek!(R) Internet Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; GTM-Trek!(tm) for RFQ and tender management; Tariff-Trek!(tm) for service contract and quote management; FMC-Trek!(tm) for fulfilling FMC publishing requirements; Pay-Trek!(tm) for automated freight bill audit and payment; WISA(tm) innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; I-Sail!(tm) interactive online sailing schedule; Compliance-Trek!(tm) for compliance management with FMC and U.S. Customs. Freightgate's customer portfolio contains companies such as Agility (formerly GeoLogistics), Alliance International, APL Logistics, CaroTrans, Dedola International, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Nippon Express, Panalpina, Primary Freight, Top Ocean, and Dow Corning. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2000 certified. Visit the Freightgate website: www.freightgate.com and follow Freightgate Twitter feeds www.twitter.com/freightgate

Freightgate is now on Twitter

Huntington Beach, California - May 04, 2009 - Freightgate, a global technology leader in SaaS Web 2.0 Software Solutions for the transportation and logistics industries, has now joined Twitter. Find out what is going on at Freightgate through their Twitter feeds. Check out what is new with the Freightgate services and products.

Finding Freightgate on Twitter is as easy as going to Twitter.com opening an account and doing a search for Freightgate. Or, simply go to: http://twitter.com/freightgate

"This will allow our customers to stay in touch with updates and allow them to see what we are doing on a day by day basis," said Martin Hubert, Freightgate's President. "It's an easy way for customers to stay current with the latest logistics and supply chain news as we strive to stay ahead with the newest advancements in logistics management software technology."

Recently, Freightgate was selected as a 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Software Provider. "Freightgate's mission is to design and implement software solutions that are highly functional in productivity, collaboration and user-friendly. The Freightgate Technology Team is continuously researching and creating software solutions to enhance supply chain management with advanced on-demand visibility and SaaS Web 2.0 functionality" said Hubert.

Companies using Freightgate's innovative carbon footprint functionality will be able to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and total supply chain costs in a collaborative initiative. Freightgate understands a supply chain is optimized when it is meeting or exceeding its customer service objectives and it is operating at minimal carbon footprint with minimal total transportation spend. Carbon footprint functionality is another example how Freightgate's software is helping companies with the challenges of supply chain optimization and carbon emissions compliance.

For additional information on Freightgate visit them on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

About Freightgate
Based in Huntington Beach, California, the Freightgate team has been developing Internet solutions for the freight and logistics since 1994, such as its industry-leading PLTX(tm) Platform, with I-Trek!(R) Internet Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; GTM-Trek!(tm) for RFQ and tender management; Tariff-Trek!(tm) for service contract and quote management; FMC-Trek!(tm) for fulfilling FMC publishing requirements; Pay-Trek!(tm) for automated freight bill audit and payment; WISA(tm) innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; I-Sail!(tm) interactive online sailing schedule; Compliance-Trek!(tm) for compliance management with FMC and U.S. Customs 10+2 ISF.

Freightgate's customer portfolio contains companies such as Alliance International, APL Logistics, CaroTrans, GeoLogistics (now Agility), Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Nippon Express, Panalpina, Primary Freight, Top Ocean, and Dow Corning. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2000 certified. Visit Freightgate on Twitter: www.twitter.com/freightgate

Freightgate Appoints Industry Veteran Gary Chisamore as Vice President

Huntington Beach, California - May 06, 2009 - Freightgate, Inc., a global leader in SaaS Web 2.0 Technology Solutions for the Freight & Logistics Industry, announced today that Gary Chisamore has joined the firm as Vice President reporting to CEO Martin Hubert. In his position Gary Chisamore will focus on Carrier Relations, Product Management and Business Development.

Gary Chisamore is a well known and respected Logistics industry veteran who has extensive experience in Logistics, E Commerce and the Ocean shipping industry. Gary had a distinguished tenure with Canada Customs, specializing in International Trade and Supply Chain. In addition, he has held Supply Chain Management positions with Molson's Brewery (Canada's oldest & largest) and the BC State Liquor Authority. As the founder of Garwen Management, Gary provided senior Logistics consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Chisamore has held management roles in Product Management, Professional Services and Sales with ClearCross (NY) a provider of ecommerce Supply Chain Management solutions. He has worked with INTTRA (NJ) the leading ecommerce Ocean Shipping Portal.

Most recently, Chisamore founded OceanTender.com. Gary Chisamore is recognized as an industry expert for ocean tendering systems.

"I look forward to working with the Freightgate Team", Chisamore said. "There are tremendous opportunities ahead for Freightgate to help logistics firms and manufacturers improve their supply chain productivity, global collaboration and procurement practices to achieve lower transportation spend".

"Hiring Gary represents a major step for us" said Freightgate CEO Martin Hubert. "With his extensive logistics background, impressive credentials and reputation, Gary will be a natural for enhancing the growth of the Freightgate brand and portfolio. Gary will have a major role in expanding into new markets and developing relations with carriers".

For additional information on Freightgate visit them on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

About Freightgate
Based in Huntington Beach, California, the Freightgate team has been developing Internet solutions for the freight and logistics since 1994, such as its industry-leading PLTX(tm) Platform, with I-Trek!(R) Internet Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; GTM-Trek!(tm) for RFQ and tender management; Tariff-Trek!(tm) for service contract and quote management; FMC-Trek!(tm) for fulfilling FMC publishing requirements; Pay-Trek!(tm) for automated freight bill audit and payment; WISA(tm) innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; I-Sail!(tm) interactive online sailing schedule; Compliance-Trek!(tm) for compliance management with FMC and U.S. Customs ISF 10+2.

Freightgate's customer portfolio contains companies such as Alliance International, APL Logistics, CaroTrans, GeoLogistics (now Agility), Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Nippon Express, Panalpina, Primary Freight, Top Ocean, and Dow Corning. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

Freightgate Achieves "Excellence Award" as 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider

Huntington Beach, California - April 21, 2009 - Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Freightgate as a 2009 Top 100 Logistics Information Technology (IT) Software Provider. Freightgate, a global technology leader in SaaS Web 2.0 Software Solutions for the transportation and logistics industries, has achieved this distinguished recognition of excellence for last consecutive years.

Freightgate consistently provided software technology solutions Inbound Logistics readers need to successfully manage their global enterprises. As shippers, carriers, and 3PLs increase their use of logistics IT, Freightgate continues to be flexible and responsive, anticipating customers' evolving needs. The award validates Freightgate's success in delivering innovative software solutions that help transportation service providers and manufacturers achieve improved productivity, on-demand global collaboration and procurement efficiency to yield better service with lower transportation spend.

Freightgate recently launched innovative carbon footprint functionality in it's signature PLTX Platform for the Logistics Management Lifecycle. This new carbon footprint functionality will help organizations capture, analyze and optimize the carbon footprint of their logistics and supply chains. For the first time supply chain executives will have operational efficiency, financial cost control and carbon emissions perspectives in one integrated SaaS+plus(tm) PLTX platform.

Companies using Freightgate's innovative carbon footprint functionality will be able to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and total supply chain costs in a collaborative initiative. Freightgate understands a supply chain is optimized when it is meeting or exceeding its customer service objectives and it is operating at minimal carbon footprint with minimal total transportation spend. Carbon footprint functionality is another example how Freightgate's software is helping companies with the challenges of supply chain optimization and carbon emissions compliance.

"Being selected as a 2009 Top 100 Logistics IT Software Provider is recognition that Freightgate's Technology and Software Solutions are highly valued by transportation and logistics service providers and trusted by manufacturers," said Martin Hubert, Freightgate's President. "Freightgate's mission is to design and implement software solutions that are highly functional in productivity, collaboration and user-friendly. The Freightgate Technology Team is continuously researching and creating software solutions to enhance supply chain management with advanced on-demand visibility and Web 2.0 functionality" said Hubert.

Every year, Inbound Logistics editors recognize 100 logistics IT companies that support and enable logistics excellence. The Inbound Logistics Top 100 IT Providers list, comprised of logistics technology companies of all sizes, is based on criteria including "simplicity, ROI, efficient implementation, and a dual emphasis on best-of-breed or end-to-end solutions," according to Inbound Logistics. The list was compiled through interviews, surveys, and other industry research.

For additional information on Freightgate visit them on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

About Freightgate
Based in Huntington Beach, California, the Freightgate team has been developing Internet solutions for the freight and logistics since 1994, such as its industry-leading PLTX(tm) Platform, with I-Trek!(R) Internet Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; GTM-Trek!(tm) for RFQ and tender management; Tariff-Trek!(tm) for service contract and quote management; FMC-Trek!(tm) for fulfilling FMC publishing requirements; Pay-Trek!(tm) for automated freight bill audit and payment; WISA(tm) innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; I-Sail!(tm) interactive online sailing schedule; Compliance-Trek!(tm) for compliance management with FMC and U.S. Customs. Freightgate's customer portfolio contains companies such as Alliance International, APL Logistics, CaroTrans, GeoLogistics (now Agility), Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Nippon Express, Panalpina, Primary Freight, Top Ocean, and Dow Corning. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

Visit Freightgate on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/freightgate

Press Release March 10, 2009

Dedola Global Logistics Selects Freightgate’s Compliance-Trek!™ for 10+2 Importer Security Filings

Freightgate announced today that its Compliance-Trek!™ Platform has been selected by Dedola Global Logistics as its solutions for the new 10+2 Importer Security Filing requirements. The Compliance-Trek!™, using Web 2.0 SaaS+plus™ on-demand technology, streamlines the 10+2 Importer Security Filing process providing an integrated supply chain data hub for U.S. Customs compliance and global collaboration.

Founded in 1976, Dedola Global Logistics has provided logistics and freight management solutions for importers and exporters worldwide. The company began as a non-vessel operating common carrier providing cost effective consolidation services to shippers importing freight from around the world to the United States. Today Dedola Global Logistics manages and coordinates freight movements with a full matrix of logistics services within all trade lanes of the world, in the air, over land and on the sea.

In addition to being a member of the IATA and FIATA, Dedola Global Logistics was one of the first NVOCCs to obtain C-TPAT certification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2007. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) premier trade security program.

"Dedola Global Logistics has been on our radar for quite some time now," said Martin Hubert, President at Freightgate. "We look forward to helping them strengthen their global leadership position by providing cutting-edge supply chain technology and global compliance services."

Martin continues “U.S. importers and service providers are faced with the enormous challenge of collecting data elements and electronically transmitting these to U.S. Customs at least 24 hours before loading any ocean shipments in a vessel bound for the United States.”

Compliance-Trek!™ will enable Dedola Global Logistics to synchronize import data from any worldwide location collaborating more closely with customers, overseas suppliers, carriers and service providers to fulfill the 10+2 Importer Security Filing responsibilities avoiding penalties and shipment delays. The Compliance-Trek!™ platform will be integrated into the Dedola Global Logistics ERP system. Compliance-Trek!™ exclusive features makes information available to the people who need to know in real time with integrated RDV (Role Dependent View) technology ensuring data confidentially and security.

For more specifics on Compliance-Trek!™ and the 10+2 Importer Security Filing requirements, contact Freightgate on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

About Freightgate
Based in Huntington Beach, California, the Freightgate team has been developing Internet solutions for the freight and logistics since 1994, such as its industry-leading PLTX(tm) Platform, with I-Trek!(R) Internet Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; GTM-Trek!(tm) for RFQ and tender management; Tariff-Trek!(tm) for service contract and quote management; FMC-Trek!(tm) for fulfilling FMC publishing requirements; Pay-Trek!(tm) for automated freight bill audit and payment; WISA(tm) innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; I-Sail!(tm) interactive online sailing schedule; Compliance-Trek!(tm) for compliance management with FMC and U.S. Customs. Freightgate's customer portfolio contains companies such as Alliance International, APL Logistics, CaroTrans, GeoLogistics (now Agility), Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Nippon Express, Panalpina, Primary Freight, Top Ocean, and Dow Corning. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

About Dedola Global Logistics
Founded in 1976, Dedola Global Logistics provides logistics and freight management solutions for importers and exporters worldwide. Headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, Dedola is conveniently located near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. There are also two U.S. regional office locations; San Francisco, California and Greensboro, North Carolina and a Business Development liaison office in Shanghai, China. Dedola places a strong emphasis on providing exporters and importers with value-added service and customized solutions.

Press Release - January 21, 2009

Freightgate's Logistics Management Lifecycle PLTX

Freightgate, a global industry leader in Web 2.0 technology supply chain software solutions, today announced that it has launched innovative carbon footprint functionality in it's signature PLTX Platform for the Logistics Management Lifecycle. This new carbon footprint functionality will help organizations capture, analyze and optimize the carbon footprint of their logistics and supply chains. For the first time supply chain executives will have operational efficiency, financial cost control and carbon emissions perspectives in one integrated SaaS+plus(tm) PLTX platform. 

"There is growing interest in understanding the impact of various supply chain decisions on a company's carbon emission footprint" states Martin Hubert, Freightgate President and CEO. Hubert continues by saying "companies have numerous options in how to address their energy use and environmental impact. However, analyzing the carbon impact for various sourcing decisions and logistics options has been difficult to impossible until now. Our technology provides a quick way of analyzing the carbon footprint of various logistics alternatives within the Logistics Management Lifecycle."

Using Freightgate's WISA module within it's PLTX Platform, a company will be able to generate different supply change scenarios that compare operational, financial and environmental impact of their supply chain. The WISA results will help determine which scenario is environmentally sound while at the same time being financially and operationally viable.

Companies can no longer ignore their impact on the environment. Just recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it might hold discussions on a proposed carbon tax to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Companies using Freightgate's innovative carbon footprint functionality will be able to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and total supply chain costs in a collaborative initiative. Freightgate understands a supply chain is optimized when it is meeting or exceeding its customer service objectives and it is operating at minimal carbon footprint with minimal total transportation spend. Carbon footprint functionality is another example how Freightgate is helping companies with the challenges of supply chain optimization and carbon emissions compliance.

For more specifics regarding Freightgate's innovative carbon footprint functionality, contact Freightgate on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

Press Release - January 13, 2009

Freightgate's Compliance-Trek!™ supports U.S. Customs 10+2 Importer Security Filing Compliance

Freightgate, a global industry leader in Web 2.0 technology supply chain software solutions, today announced that Compliance-Trek!™, its compliance management system, now supports and ensures compliance with the new U.S. Customs and Border Protection 10+2 Importer Security Filing requirements.

U.S. importers are faced with the enormous challenge of collecting ten data elements and electronically transmitting these to U.S. Customs at least 24 hours before loading any ocean shipments in a vessel bound for the United States.

Compliance-Trek!™ will enable importers to file information from any worldwide location collaborating more closely with their suppliers, forwarders, customs brokers and ocean vessel carriers to fulfill their Importer Security Filing responsibilities avoiding penalties and shipment delays. Compliance-Trek!™ exclusive features makes information available to the people who need to know in real time with integrated RDV (Role Dependent View) technology. The re-usable templates eliminate duplicate data entry by storing parties, items, HTSUS numbers and all other pertinent information.

Martin Hubert, President and CEO of Freightgate, points to Compliance-Trek!™ as the logistics industry's best 10+2 Solution which will enable importers to improve the seamlessness of their supply chain visibility while at the same time complying with the new regulations. " With 10+2 importer Security Filing scheduled to begin January 26, 2009, we feel it only a matter of time when other countries will implement the same security requirements as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We want our customers to be fully prepared when that happens," said Hubert.

Compliance-Trek!™ simplifies customs and trade compliance of your global supply chain. Compliance-Trek!™ is a stand-alone SaaS module of Freightgate's innovative PLTX platform which can also be integrated in your other systems by leveraging EDI and file input and export capabilities. With over a decade of integration history Freightgate can provide deep integration into your business processes allowing collaborate control of your entire order in the Logistics Management Lifecycle!

For more specifics on Compliance-Trek!™ and the 10+2 Importer Security Filing requirements, contact Freightgate on the web at www.freightgate.com, email sales@freightgate.com or call (714) 799-2833.

Press Release - November 18, 2008

Freightgate's Tariff-Trek! Supports New Multi-level Surcharges>

Freightgate today announced that Tariff-Trek!, its contract rate and tariff management system, now supports multi-level surcharge structures that are emerging in the Steamship industry. Most notable is Maersk's October announcement of a newly calculated CAF (currency adjustment factor) that will apply not only to the ocean freight, but to other transportation related surcharges as well.

According to Maersk's published information, the new CAF will apply to any and all of the following that may be part of an ocean move:

• Basic Ocean Freight
• Transport (or feeder) Additional
• Congestion
• War Risk
• Dangerous Cargo
• Special Equipment
• Peak Season Charge
• Winter Surcharge

In order to keep pace on behalf of its customers, Freightgate has built into Tariff-Trek! the flexibility to designate to which surcharges adjustment factors such as CAF should apply. This is important because it will affect everything from rating and routing decisions the ability to properly audit incoming freight bills.

Martin Hubert, President and CEO of Freightgate, points to this quick response to a fundamental market shift as further evidence of Freightgate's customer commitment. "With Maersk's position as a Steamship market leader, we feel it is only a matter of time before other lines follow suit with their own versions of multi-level surcharges. We want our customers to be fully prepared when that happens," said Hubert.

For more specifics on the Maersk CAF formula and how it will be applied got to: http://www.maerskline.com

Press Release - October 14, 2008

Freightgate launches "FMC-Trek! /Enterprise"

Freightgate announces the launch of FMC-Trek! /Enterprise which contains significant enhancements to their already feature rich FMC-Trek! rate filing system. Traditional FMC-Trek! is a fully integrated component of Freightgate's PLTX platform. It uses fuzzy logic to identify potentially duplicate rates BEFORE they are filed and works seamlessly with the industry leading Tariff-Trek! rate management system to auto-file accepted quotes.

Available immediately, FMC-Trek! Enterprise goes the next step of addressing the security concerns of big corporations and companies using agents.

"Since it is essential for a compliant operation to verify that a valid rate is on file before accepting cargo, controlling and granting access to the rates is absolutely necessary," said Martin Hubert, Freightgate president and CEO. "With FMC-Trek! /Enterprise our customers can now balance this equation by limiting access by country or port code," added Hubert.

FMC-Trek! /Enterprise also has enhanced web-services access, making integration into an operational system as part of a service oriented architecture (SOA) even easier.

News Article - Logistics Management - August 01, 2008

SaaS is on the map
Called the polar opposite of traditional license-based software, software as a service (SaaS) is gaining momentum as shippers become more comfortable with the model and vendors add more relevant modules. Here’s how it works and a look at two shippers who’ve taken the road less traveled.
By Bridget McCrea, Contributing Editor -- Logistics Management

The days when buying new supply chain software meant shelling out a large sum of money and waiting patiently for a vendor team to converge onsite to install the new system are long gone, especially for users of transportation management systems (TMS), global trade management systems (GTM), as well as a few warehouse management system (WMS) users.

Credit the growth of software as a service (SaaS) solutions with helping to eradicate—for most companies—the need for traditional purchase-and-install software.

At its most basic, SaaS is software that, instead of being installed on any computer or server, is accessed from a third party on the Internet. “Things get a little muddied from here, as other terms such as 'hosted,’ 'on demand,’ and 'ASP’ are used synonymously with SaaS,” explains Adrian Gonzalez, director of ARC Advisory Group’s Logistics Executive Council. “But all of these terms don’t necessarily refer to the same thing.”

According to Gonzalez, hosted and ASP (application service provider) imply each company gets its own instance of the software application and associated hardware. “It’s like traditional IT outsourcing, where a company’s IT environment is simply transferred to, and managed by, a third party,” he explains. “SaaS and on demand, on the other hand, generally imply a multi-tenant model, where multiple companies share a single instance of the software application and associated hardware and infrastructure.”

For most SaaS systems, pricing models remain a work in progress, with the most common approach being a one- to three-year subscription with monthly payments, and with implementation services paid for upfront. According to Gonzalez, the SaaS subscription fee is based on the number of users, locations, and modules, as well as transaction volumes that are typically linked to freight volume.

With the bulk of SaaS systems developed within the TMS and GTM spaces, Gonzalez says the model makes the most sense for business processes that are inherently network centric and involve extensive communication and collaboration between many different trading partners. “Transportation fits this requirement perfectly,” says Gonzalez, “as does global trade management.”

Where SaaS has clear advantages over purchase-and-install options is that it puts little or no strain on capital budgets, which are already stretched to the max in today’s challenging economic times. “Logistics still remains at the bottom of the priority list when it comes to capital allocation and IT resources,” says Gonzalez. “SaaS is a way around this problem.” Another key benefit is the way that SaaS creates a connectivity network that allows companies to interface with all of their trading partners via a single connection to a network, instead of establishing one-to-one connections with multiple trading partners.

Last year, ARC conducted a survey of 28 leading TMS vendors, 60 percent of which expected subscription and transaction fees to grow significantly faster than license fees over the next five years. It’s important to note, says Gonzalez, that the transition to a SaaS model won’t be easy for many traditional software vendors. “Simply put, selling and managing a service is completely different than selling and supporting a product,” he says. “You can quickly tell which vendors understand the model and which don’t by comparing the details (or lack thereof) of their service level agreements.”

Advantage SaaS
Calling SaaS the “polar opposite” of traditional license-based sales and deployment models typically found in the enterprise software industry, John Fontanella, vice president of research at AMR Research, Inc., says the SaaS systems are operated and maintained by the service provider on its own hardware, with no costs shared by the entire customer base and no large capital investment demanded of any single client. “Because customers pay for only those services used,” says Fontanella, “SaaS is often heralded as a much more economical way to adopt technology over the traditional software license model.”

But the advantages of SaaS don’t stop at lower price points, according to Fontanella, who says that the strategic supply chain implications of multiple companies using the same set of “software stretches far beyond the cost of ownership equation.”

Gonzalez adds that SaaS and on-demand solutions also alleviate the pain that many companies face in their quest to compile a “critical mass” of data (from procurement software vendors, for example) and then use it to make meaningful comparisons. “While this information has some value, it’s also static (remaining constant and not dynamic), devoid of context, and cannot be used on an ongoing basis to drive continuous improvement,” says Gonzalez, who adds that companies using networked TMS often discover a more significant and lasting value proposition in the external benchmarking, best practices capabilities, and ability to stoke continuous improvement.

As an example of SaaS, LeanLogistics has nearly 50 shippers, 2,000 suppliers, and 4,300 carriers connected to its network. Almost $4.3 billion in freight is managed using a common TMS, which currently processes 5 million loads and 150 million transactions per year. “All of this data, flowing through a single system,” Gonzalez says, “enables network-level benchmarking, so companies can compare their rates and performance against an external benchmark and quickly pinpoint problem areas.”

With vendors like Descartes, Freightgate, GTNexus, Management Dynamics, and One Network offering their own versions of SaaS systems, many shippers are turning to the model as a way to streamline their supply chain operations. Here are two that are already reaping the benefits of making the move.

Barilla Connects the Pieces
With two pasta plants and five distribution centers, Barilla America of Bannockburn, Ill., services the retail mass merchandise and food service industries across the U.S. and Canada. All of its transportation services are managed on a contract-carriage basis and its DCs are operated by third parties. About five years ago, the company realized that it lacked what many other shippers also can’t seem to get enough of: visibility of its shipments.

“We couldn’t service our customer once an order had gone to the DC and been picked up by the carrier,” recalls Sandy Evett, vice president of logistics and customer service. “We wanted more control over our costs and data in order to develop KPIs that would help us manage our business.”

After conducting a complete RFP process, Barilla spoke with 10 different vendors, including those offering license models, on-demand options, and in-house, server-based models. “We also looked at completely outsourcing the function,” recalls Evett, whose team selected LeanLogistics’ on-demand TMS.

“At the time LeanLogistics had the only solution that went from the beginning to the end of the transportation management process,” Evett says. “They were able to take any kind of a transportation order, plan it, execute it, rate it, manage exceptions associated with it, and get it ready for payment.” The latter was particularly attractive for Barilla, which was previously using a third-party freight payment service.

Evett says implementation took just a few months, with the solution rolled out on a site-by-site basis. “Within a year, all of our locations were up and running,” she says. Key benefits that the food manufacturer has realized include improved visibility over its shipments, the ability to connect all supply chain trading partners and improve information-sharing between them. The company can also better plan, execute, and settle accounts, manage inbound suppliers, schedule appointments, and create network-wide reports.

With its five-year anniversary of using the SaaS system nearing in late-2008, Barilla has also benefited from improvements and additions to the LeanLogistics system over the last five years. The updates have been “very easy to handle,” according to Evett, who says that overall “the on-demand system has met and exceeded our expectations.”

Connell Brothers Centralizes Data
To say that Connell Brothers Company, Ltd., thinks globally would be a major understatement. Based in San Francisco, the company imports and exports products to and from the U.S. and Asia, and also does business in India, Australia, and New Zealand. “With the volume of cargo we’re moving throughout Asia, we’re shipping to almost every country there from origins nationwide,” says John Figura, the company’s logistics manager.

Knowing that technology could play a major role in running and expanding its globally-oriented operations, Connell started working with GTNexus about two years ago, beginning with the vendor’s no-cost solutions. In March 2008, the manufacturer installed GTNexus’ on-demand ocean contract procurement tool.

Figura says that the company selected an on-demand solution based on scalability and ease of integration. “We didn’t have to devote internal IT resources to it, and we were able to start using it immediately without having to worry about integration issues with our existing system,” Figura says. “Nothing affected our computers, and the only thing we had to do was learn how to use the system.”

Not yet able to measure the benefits of the SaaS system, Connell has already gained visibility over its cargo as it moves to and from its national locations. “We no longer have to go to individual Web sites for each of our carriers,” says Figura. “All of the information is available at a single point. We have all of our contracts in one repository where sales, purchasing, and anyone else who needs the information can access it instantly.”

Want More?
Expect to see more companies like Barilla and Connell embracing the SaaS approach over the next year or so. Fontanella, who estimates that the sector is growing at a rate of about 15 percent annually, says the GTM space is especially poised for more growth in SaaS, based on the high volume of content (trade agreements, party lists, etc.) and functionalities (such as plotting capabilities) being gathered and/or developed by vendors who offer the global solutions.

Calling SaaS a “well-established model,” Gonzalez says the days when companies were reluctant to take this alternative route are gone. “The SaaS model will continue to grow faster because it’s smaller than the license model, which is still the largest component of supply chain software offerings,” says Gonzalez. “I don’t foresee SaaS representing 50 percent of the market for a few years to come, but I do think certain applications (such as GTM) will get there faster.”

Freightgate has been delivering hosted services since 1994. As another industry first, Freightgate building upon its original Freightgate Portal released Freightgate 2.0 which brings with it the Personal Logistics Web Desktop. Rather than being bound by a standard interface, for just pennies a day, users can now leverage the object oriented Web 2.0 architecture to customize their desk top with the information specific to their jobs. This information could include:

• Latest Headlines
• Customized News with RSS
• Freight & Logistics News Archives
• Page Ratings
• Community Boards
• Freightpedia
• Code Lookup
• Conversion Tools
• Shipment Tracking
• Schedules
• Online Documentation
• Much more

Martin Hubert, President and CEO of Freightgate said, "This is an exciting breakthrough for supply chain and logistics professionals and we are very proud to be the first to market with the Personal Logistics Web Desktop." Continuing, "The global marketplace is growing more complex and dynamic every day, with an ever increasing premium placed on timely and accurate information. Core to the Freightgate 2.0 launch is our firm belief that our members deserve technology tools that adapt to their needs and maximize their productivity".

The Personal Logistics Web Desktop may be found at Freightgate Portal