Save Time, Cut Costs, Reduce Errors with PaxPort, an Online Business Application to Assist Offshore Communications

Improve communications with Chinese manufacturers using PaxPort, an online business communications application developed by IdeaStar Inc.(http://www.ideastar.com) and Vizion Solutions (http://www.vizionsolutions.com)for Technical Consumer Products.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 9, 2006 -- When it comes to international business, communications take on special importance. Just ask anybody who received a shipment of 12,000 “just-in-time” widgets when they thought they ordered 12,000 wadgets – all because of a simple communications error.

With that in mind, Web developer IdeaStar Inc.(http://www.ideastar.com ) and data management expert Vizion Solutions (http://www.vizionsolutions.com) developed Internet application PaxPortTM, designed to improve communications between Technical Consumer Products Inc. (http://www.tcpi.com) of Aurora, OH and its off-shore suppliers. The company, known for its manufacturing and sales of compact fluorescent lamps and other energy-saving lighting products, employs over 100 people at its suburban Cleveland office, and another 7,000 at its manufacturing plants near Shanghai, China.

“As you can imagine, communications between the mainly Chinese speaking plant and the American distribution office are not always easy. PaxPortTM’s main purpose is to streamline communications, provide one source of information, and allow companies to operate in real time, seven days per week, 24 hours per day. For example, people may view the site in Chinese at the same time other people are viewing it in English.” IdeaStar President James D. (Jim) Fisher said.

“We work in a global economy, and everything needs to be available 24/7. PaxPortTM allows all the information to exist in one central data base, so people can retrieve the most up-to-date information when they need it,” Vizion President and TCP Chief Technical Officer Joe Vocaire said. “Using PaxPortTM resolves issues of timing, delivery handoff, and large file distribution. Through PaxPortTM, large files such as packaging art, which would take hours to deliver through e-mail, can now be downloaded instantly. The most recent version is readily available, and there is no question about whether or not information got stuck in a fax line or e-mail filter.”

Another big component of PaxPortTM is it breaks down language barriers, Mr. Vocaire said. Previously, there were two people at the China plant who translated all incoming e-mail. “Through PaxPortTM, we created a string of 15 common messages, such as ship ocean or ship air. Thus, translation errors have decreased significantly. I estimate TCP has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars from mistakes because of translation, timing and version issues,” Mr. Vocaire said.

Another example of cost savings comes from allowing real-time updating of UPC codes. Before PaxPortTM was initiated, a container full of products might be marked with an old UPC code, which could cost the company thousands of dollars to re-label.

TCP PaxPortTM users can also view information regarding purchase orders, product information, and a digital library of line art, marketing materials, and test data. “This project has been very successful. The Chinese plant is using it a lot more, and we’re adding functionality to it everyday,” Mr. Vocaire said.

What’s next on the list? Future enhancements include the addition of XML integration, engineering documentation, testing and quality tracking, bill of material, real-time manufacturing schedules, and daily product reporting. “The possibilities of information that can be added to PaxPortTM are endless,” Mr. Vocaire said. He added PaxPortTM goes well beyond the commonly used Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). That simply records transactions. The TM, Joe said, allows both sides to share comments and information, as well as communicate ideas.

IdeaStar designed the site, developed the application and provided systems analysis. Vizion Solutions developed the strategy, systems design, and data mining. And an IdeaStar application development team in China integrated the code.

“Different businesses have different business models,” Mr. Vocaire said. “There is no reason why the TCP PaxPortTM could not be customized for other businesses, whether in China, Canada, Mexico, or South America.”

Mr. Fisher added PaxPortTM is all about the “nitty gritty” details of business, including purchasing, production levels, shipping and more. He said many businesses could benefit from PaxPortTM, especially those with established relationships in China. IdeaStar’s Web development team in China was one of the more helpful aspects of the project, he said. “They were able to help with the application development, business integration, analysis, and training.” IdeaStar also helps to manage PaxPortTM , including a dedicated wide area network, which speeds Internet communications.

VIEW A PAXPORT INFORMATION SHEET: (http://www.ideastar.com/fileUploads/contentManagerDocuments/PaxPort-sellsheet-for-web%5B0%5D.pdf).

IdeaStar is a full-service Web development firm which designs, programs, promotes and manages leading-edge Web sites and e-business applications. For more information, contact Laurel Baldwin at 216-674-1600 ext. 110.

Vizion Solutions offers data management and business intelligence solutions which enable decision makers to track, understand, and manage performance within their organization.

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