Tradiant Teams With Andersen Consulting to Bring the Power of Web-based Collaboration to the Global Shipping Industry

Business Wire, August 29, 2000

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2000

Companies to create solutions that will allow

integrated transaction among shipping players

Tradiant, the global transportation industry's leading provider of eCommerce information platforms and Andersen Consulting, a leading global management and technology consultancy, today announced a strategic business alliance to bring enhanced eCommerce solutions to the international shipping industry.

A major goal of the alliance is to offer a sophisticated Web-based service that allows carriers, shippers, forwarders - and myriad of other players - to automate and integrate their booking and documentation processes. The alliance includes the joint design, development, integration and marketing of Tradiant's solutions for the industry. As part of the alliance, Andersen Consulting will take an equity position in Tradiant and become their preferred integration supplier in addition to receiving fees for their consulting services.

A single international shipping transaction requires communication between not only the shipper and carrier, but also a wide number of other intermediaries including consignees, forwarders, logistics companies, customs brokerages, port authorities, banks and audit companies. "Among business environments that stand to benefit from collaborative, integrated eCommerce solutions, the international freight arena - with its disparate systems, processes and protocols - tops the list," said Michael Galardi, partner, Andersen Consulting Transportation practice.

According to Tradiant's President and CEO John Urban, "Because the level of strategic integration needed in this industry is unprecedented, it was mission critical for us to work with a company that has the qualifications and experience of Andersen Consulting. Through the alliance, we'll develop and deliver services to help unite what is currently one of the world's most fragmented and global industries. Our alliance with Andersen Consulting, in addition to a recently closed $21 million round of equity financing, gives Tradiant continued momentum and a critical competitive advantage."

For shippers, Tradiant's solution means better inter and intra-company communications, unprecedented ability to aggregate and manage all of their ocean freight activity across carriers, streamlined contract management, improved billing accuracy and enhanced visibility and control of freight in the ocean transportation pipeline. For carriers, the solution means access to more timely and accurate information on volume forecasts from key shippers, improved ability to manage their vessels and equipment, and reduced data entry effort / errors.

"Tradiant brings to this market space a management team with roots in both the shipping industry and Silicon Valley," said Galardi. "Their domain and technology experience, coupled with our skills in complex integration for Internet-based services, has the potential to fundamentally change the way business is conducted in this market space."

About Tradiant

Tradiant (www.tradiant.com) provides the technology platform, products, and global network connectivity to power business-to-business eCommerce for the global transportation industry. Tradiant's customers include importers, exporters, freight forwarders, third party logistics providers, and carriers of commercial freight. All of Tradiant's products are based on Trans-Commerce(TM), the company's proprietary Web-native technology platform designed specifically for Internet-enabled collaborative commerce. Tradiant is based in Alameda, CA, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tradiant has regional headquarters in Charlotte, Hong Kong, and Taipei and several other sales offices. For more information, contact Tradiant at 510-747-3200.

About Andersen Consulting

Andersen Consulting is an $8.9 billion global management and technology consulting organization whose mission is to help its clients create their future. The firm works with clients from a wide range of industries to bring about far-reaching change by aligning their people, processes and technology with their strategy. Andersen Consulting has more than 65,000 people in 48 countries. Its home page address is http://www.ac.com.