Web-based communication enables you to integrate data directly into the system of a business partner using the traditional communication through telephone, Fax, or e-mail. In this way, new forms of business relationships ensue: consumers or business partners can communicate with a partner system via Web applications.

The possibility to call for tenders for shipments directly through the Internet provides an addition to the planning functions in Transportation. The interaction between the planner and the service agent runs completely via the system. Planners can also include forwarding agents who do not have the SAP System into the decision-making process; these can then process the data via their own system.

The Internet Browser user interface uses the SAP Internet Transaction Server, which controls screen processing and the data exchange between the Browser User Interface and the SAP System.

You can use the standard safety functions. The workstation-based ITS control information that is required for an Internet Browser user interface contains DES-coded passwords.

Transportation planning and processing has been extended to include this new function.

Planners see the tendering status in the Monitor for Tendering and can react to the information at an early point (Logistics ® Logistics Execution ® Transportation ® Transportation Planning ® Lists and Logs ® Shipment Tendering Status Monitor.

The shipper transmits the shipment data and the price data to the freight exchange. The latter finds a forwarding agent who meets his requirements and transmits this information directly to the system of the shipper.

If there is cooperation between the shipper and the forwarding agents, parts of this transportation planning process can be outsourced. The forwarding agent takes on planning functions and thus makes the transportation planning easier for the shipper.

Grouping and changing of shipments occur systematically at the forwarding agent’s system site. The forwarding agent can assign deliveries to shipments and specify data in the shipment through the Internet Transaction Server (ITS).

The tracking function makes it possible for data to be exchanged between the shipper and the forwarding agent. Both the forwarding agent and the shipper have an input and display function that enables them to maintain or display as a list the time and location of planned or occurring events for exactly one shipment at a time. Using the tracking display, customers can access the Web site of the shipper and there they can monitor the status of order processing.