Sept/Oct 2003

Interchain is claiming to be the first supply-chain software company to have developed a fully-hosted 4PL (fourth-party logistics) software solution. Features are said to include full collaboration and visibility for all parties, automatic alerts of potential supply-chain failures, and the latest in track and trace capability.

The system is based on a reconfigured version of Interchain's Chainware software suite, designed to allow direct links into the Web sites of shipping companies, air lines and other transport providers.

The first user is Mobile Shipping Services Limited (MSSL), which specialises in multimodal transport to and from Russia and the former CIS states. It has built up a data store of all shipping transactions involving many hauliers, shipping lines and rail freight operators, and with this says it is able to offer best-price transport solutions to customers.