Safmarine adds new features to e-business options

SAFMARINE HAS enhanced its e-business offering with the launch of three new features - namely shipping instructions, account statement, and a Smart Link According to e-business executive, Jan van Dooren, customer usage of Safmarine’s e-business services has more than doubled since early 2002. Also, customer surveys have shown that web-based services have resulted in proven increases in productivity, Van Dooren added. “This and cost reductions for all aspects of our customers’ shipping activities,” he said. “The more accurately and timeously the shipping instructions are submitted,” said Van Dooren, “the more accurate the bills of lading will be and the faster they can be returned to the bill owner.” To achieve this, the shipping instructions feature allows previously-captured information to be re-used to speed up the validation, accuracy and submission process. “It also means less work for the shipper as the e-shipping instruction automatically consolidates all booking information from the booking service.” Similarly, he points to the account statement feature allowing the user to view all charges - both freight and ancillary. The new Smart Link feature provides direct web access to the individual services on www.safmarine.com Further improvements to the Safmarine website are planned for this year, Van Dooren told FTW.