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ABX LOGISTICS Selects Covast for EDI
Covast’s EDI Accelerator Integrated with Microsoft’s BizTalk Server Form Central Communications Hub for Top Logistics Services Provider ATLANTA and ROTTERDAM – March 24, 2004 – Covast, provider of
the recommended electronic data interchange (EDI) solution for Microsoft Corp’s
BizTalk Server, today announced that ABX LOGISTICS, one of the world’s top
logistics service suppliers, has selected Covast to provide EDI functionality
to its centralized communication hub for the company’s worldwide customer
base.
Serving the three major geographical regions of the world including Europe,
the Americas, and Asia Pacific, ABX LOGISTICS is a world player in logistics
services for cargo shipping. Because EDI services were not uniform across all
countries the company does business with, ABX LOGISTICS devoted resources and
technology to building a central hub so that customers everywhere can communicate
with an ABX LOGISTICS subsidiary through a single interface and a single point
of integration. “This way, ABX LOGISTICS can offer the same service in
Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific,” said Glynn Jones, project manager,
ABX LOGISTICS.
A single, centralized communications hub that can deliver the same service
to all customers worldwide simplifies work both for the customer and for ABX
LOGISTICS. It also costs less for the company to maintain. The system will ensure
that an ABX LOGISTICS customer who wants to work with both France and Germany
will no longer require two integrations, one for the French system and one with
the German system.
Covast’s EDI Accelerator and Microsoft’s BizTalk Server integrate
the internal systems at ABX LOGISTICS. This integration was necessary before
the company could provide a central point for customers to communicate. In terms
of integrating systems across ABX LOGISTICS, it was very important for ABX LOGISTICS
to use a standard product that is graphical and uses mapping standards. Additionally,
because not all ABX LOGISTICS customers are embracing XML, the company required
a solution that supports both EDI and XML-based formats.
“ABX LOGISTICS is the type of customer that will benefit from Covast and
Microsoft BizTalk Server for the most compelling reasons,” said Daan Scheer,
CEO, Covast. “In Covast and BizTalk Server, ABX LOGISTICS has found an
effective B2B integration platform that reduces costs. The company has also
standardized on an electronic means of communicating with its trading partners
that require either EDI, XML or both in their trading environment.”
According to Jones, Covast’s EDI Accelerator was chosen for its value-added
network (VAN) connectivity and for the EDI specification templates that the
product delivered off-the-shelf. “Although it was important for us at ABX
LOGISTICS to use something based on XML – because of the programming advantages
XML offered and its flexibility – we needed a system that could support
EDI,” said Jones. “The real advantages of the Covast product are the
EDI templates and the VAN connectivity it provides.”
Covast’s EDI Accelerator runs on Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 Enterprise
Edition in a clustered environment within ABX LOGISTICS.
About ABX Logistics
With a total staff of approx. 15,000 and 500 offices in more than 35 countries,
ABX LOGISTICS is among the world's top ten providers of logistic services.
Headquartered in Belgium, the group's portfolio spans the complete value-added
chain, from initial procurement of goods through transport and value-added services
right through to distribution. Innovative information technology is vital to
ensuring flawless process structures within the ABX LOGISTICS Group network.
About Covast
Covast provides the Microsoft recommended EDI solution for BizTalk Server.
The combination of Microsoft BizTalk Server, the Covast EDI Accelerator and
AS2 Adapter delivers the ultimate B2B solution - enabling companies to easily
integrate their EDI infrastructures with internal applications and providing
a gateway for connecting trading communities. With its European headquarters
in the Netherlands and its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Covast has strategic
relationships with partners and customers including Microsoft, HP, Citrix, Flextronics,
Siemens, Ocean Spray, Grampian Foods and ABX Logistics. For more information,
visit www.covast.com.
NOTE: The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
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