9. Discussion on Agenda Items
9.1 Target Application Area (Type of Trade)
･ What type of partners are to be involved in the international EC/EDI trial?
Trough the discussions the meeting decided on three types of trade as the key target sectors of the EDI users, i.e. shipping companies, NVOCC's and forwarders.
･ Whether this project should involve exporters and importers was discussed, and the meeting reached the following conclusion.
1] Most major companies have their own global networks, through which they receive information. As the members thought that it would be unwise to target those organizations during the trial, the meeting agreed to have a wide variety of participants because all businesses are generated by importers and exporters. Mr. Robertson brought to the members' attention that it would be pointless not to have their participation in such a project.
2] To conclude, everyone considered that the involvement of the shippers in the international EC/EDI trial would be very important. Mr. Keogh summed it up when he said, "We would not consider that the trial would be effective without shippers participation," By using the Internet and browsers, it would be easy to invite the shippers into the system. Not only big organizations but small ones as well might feel more comfortable using popular browsers if we can supply such application to them.
3] If we want to start the trial as from June 2000, the candidates to participate must be decided by April 1999. This will require exchange of the lists of the potential candidate trading partners by April 1999 between Australia, Japan and Korea.
4] Each country is requested to find out possible candidates who are willing to participate in the international EC/EDI trial and submit a list of prospective trading partners by the end of April 1999.
5] The participants have to be determined by the end of June 1999.
9.2 Business Process
The most important process in the international EC/EDI is what goes across the border, whether by sea or air, between the exporting and importing countries.
The following six messages were chosen out of the Information Diagram:
1] DESADV (Despatch Advice / Packing List)
2] INVOIC (Commercial Invoice)
3] IFTMCS (Bill of Lading / Waybill)
4] IFCSUM (Manifest)
5] BAPLIE (Bayplan)
6] COSTCO (Container Load Plan)
