TNT launches iConnections facility worldwide
TNT launches iConnections facility worldwide
JAKARTA (JP): Global delivery company TNT Express launched
worldwide on Thursday its iConnections facility, allowing on-line
businesses to offer customers or shoppers full access via their
websites to a global door-to-door delivery network database.
Through the iConnections facility, on-line shoppers can check
the cost of shipping their purchased goods via TNT or track the
movement of orders around the clock.
"With iConnections our customers can now offer end-users the
whole range of TNT services," said Colin Moran, director of PT
Skypak International, which represents TNT in Indonesia.
"Time-consuming activities such as phone calls or shipment
requests between the end-user, the vendor and TNT are eliminated.
Our new iConnections software enables the vendor's IT system to
communicate back and forth around the clock with the TNT globally
integrated central computer system that has recently been
upgraded to handle 1.3 billion instructions per second," he said.
In developing the iConnections facility, TNT is the first
express delivery company to use the Extensible Markup Language
(XML), a new Internet language that enables organizations to
exchange information from one server to another over the
Internet.
In addition, TNT also launched a wireless application protocol
(WAP) tracking facility that enables TNT customers to track their
consignments via their mobile phone or other wireless device.
TNT Express is a subsidiary of TNT Post Group N.V., a publicly
listed company headquartered in Amsterdam employing more than
115,000 people and serving over 200 countries. The company had
sales of 8.5 billion euros in 1999.
TNT started operation in Indonesia in 1979. Currently it has
more than 400 employees and 21 branch offices.
Moran said TNT's local operation planned to open a new office
branch on Batam island before the end of this year, and 12 new
offices in various cities next year.
He added that the company was in the process of discussions
with Indonesian airline companies to hire aircraft for
transporting TNT packages overseas. He declined to name the
airlines.
He said that another option was for TNT's own aircraft to
resume flights to Indonesia.
The domestic business volume of TNT's Indonesian operation
amounts to 3,000 shipments per month, while international
shipments reach 12,000 per week.
The Indonesian operation is TNT's third highest revenue
contributor in Asia after China and Hong Kong.
Colin said TNT's business volume in Indonesia was projected to
grow by about 15 percent next year, but declined to disclose the
company's estimated turnover for this year from its Indonesian
operation. (rei)