GT Nexus announced that MOL (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.) has renewed and expanded the agreement to provide e-commerce services through the GT Nexus trade and logistics portal. GT Nexus has been delivering Web-based operational and customer-facing technology capabilities to MOL for over eight years.

Based in Tokyo, Japan, MOL is one of the world's largest multi-modal transport companies, operating more than 800 vessels and employing a workforce in excess of 9,000 worldwide.

"MOL has been very satisfied with the services and value GT Nexus provides," said Toshiya Konishi, General Manager, Liner Division at MOL. "Technology leadership is something we see as a differentiator in the market. MOL looks forward to working further with GT Nexus to meet our customers' needs and drive the adoption of e-commerce throughout the ocean industry."

MOL is fully committed to supporting customers who want to work with multiple carriers over the GT Nexus industry e-commerce platform. MOL also recognizes that many customers use GT Nexus for strategic supply chain visibility capabilities that go beyond ocean transactional services. Those customers will continue to receive the carrier's full commitment and support as well.

"Increasingly, shippers are asking carriers to support their logistics automation initiatives," said John Urban, president of GT Nexus. "The decision to continue with GT Nexus as their preferred industry e-commerce channel demonstrates MOL's commitment to their client base. With GT Nexus, MOL offers their customers the same on-demand technology platform that the world's biggest shippers use to monitor and manage their global supply chains."

The GT Nexus trade and logistics portal combines two things -- strategic business applications and a network of carriers, 3PLs, suppliers and brokers. All services are delivered on-demand, over the Web, which allows customers to get up and running quickly and cost effectively. Carriers integrate to the GT Nexus portal once and then use that single standardized interface to exchange business information with thousands of global customers.

"The on-demand delivery model makes perfect sense in the current economic climate," added Urban. "Companies need to lower costs through IT-based operational efficiencies. As a fully Web-based service, GT Nexus removes the upfront cost and risk associated with traditional software. The renewal of the MOL contract proves the technology is delivering value."