For Immediate Release
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Second Largest Philippine Carrier Using Internet to Track Cargo Cebu Pacific Chooses ASP Service Over Private Network Option
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Cargo Data Management announced the contract today, predicting that more
carriers will choose to do their tracking through application service provider
offerings to avoid the cost of maintaining their own networks and managing the
software themselves.
Under the arrangement, Cargo Data Management will host on its servers in Dallas
two key software applications for Cebu Pacific. The applications are the
Money Track II air cargo revenue accounting system and the Easy Track II air
cargo tracing and tracking system. Both applications were developed by Cargo
Data Management and have traditionally been used by the company's customers on
private networks.
For Cebu Pacific Air, all connections to the servers are via the Internet. Cebu
Pacific users at company headquarters in Manila have access to the system via a
broadband connection, while Cebu personnel in other destinations can access the
Cargo Data Management servers via either digital subscriber line (DSL) connections
or direct-dial modem hookups.
Cebu Pacific, which has grown in six and a half years to become the second largest
carrier in the Philippines, also has offices in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore.
All of those offices have access to the Cargo Data Management applications through
their own Internet connections.
At first, there was concern over whether users at remote Cebu Pacific offices could
reliably access the Internet to get to their applications, explained W. Garner
McNett Jr., president of Cargo Data Management. It turned out there were no problems.
"We tested the connectivity carefully," McNett said. "We found the response time
for the system excellent even from some of the dial-up locations in the Philippines.
Once Cebu Pacific Air saw they could count on their ability to access their data,
they were sold on this approach."
Because Cargo Data Management is hosting the applications, Cebu Pacific avoids
the cost of maintaining its own private network or installing the software on that
network. That meant a big savings for the Filipino carrier, which now simply pays
Cargo Data Management a monthly fee for hosting the tracking applications.
"The Internet provides a wonderful opportunity for carriers all over the world to
access a sophisticated cargo system for a very reasonable cost," McNett noted.
"Our service is an ideal solution, for instance, for a relatively small airline
that wants in-house processing for its air waybills but just doesn't have a sufficient
volume to justify the expense of hardware and cargo software systems."
Cebu Pacific users have confidential access and security codes to get to their data,
and once a user logs on, it is as if the system is working on an on-site server. All
the processing is done in Dallas, but invoices, summaries, and other documents are
printed out in the Cebu Pacific Air offices. With more than 30,000 shipments a month,
cargo is a major part of Cebu Pacific's long-range growth strategy.
Because data security is so critical, Cargo Data Management has positioned redundant
servers for Cebu Pacific at its data center and has a third clone server at an offsite
location where all the data is again backed up. Internet connectivity is also redundant,
with two separate connections through two separate ISPs.
The software applications that Cebu Pacific is using, MoneyTrack II and EasyTrack II,
are the latest versions of Cargo Data Management's easy-to-use system.
Money Track II is an inclusive, stand-alone cargo revenue accounting system that
offers access to a vast amount of current and historical data. The software delivers
full billing, receivable management, interline clearing house, A/P, and A/R, customs
control, claims management, air waybill source/match, and comprehensive cash
management features.
Easy Track II is a cargo tracing and tracking system that provides full tracking
capabilities on even short-haul routes and integrates data entry from initial
booking through all shipment tracking phases, to final billing and collection.
About Cebu Pacific Air
Cebu Pacific Air began operations in 1996 and today is among the world's lowest
cost, highest customer loyalty airline operators. Cebu Pacific received its
AQS 9000 / 121 and ISO 9002 certification in November 1999. In the last five
years, Cebu Pacific's on time performance has continually improved, with 86% of
flights last year departing on the dot and 95% departing within 15 minutes of
schedule. To learn more about Cebu Pacific, visit www.cebupacificair.com.
About Cargo Data Management
Cargo Data Management Corp. was formed in 1990 to develop and market integrated
air cargo systems for the airline industry. Their new Web-based product gives
secure Internet access to their customer's clients for real-time operating and
billing information. Cargo Data Management is headquartered in Dallas and numbers
among its clients several of the largest air cargo carriers in the world. To learn
more about Cargo Data Management, visit www.cargodata.com.
For further information, please contact:
W. Garner McNett, Jr., President
Cargo Data Management Corp.
Telephone 972-929-0925
gmcnett@cargodata.com