INTTRA, the world’s largest multi-carrier e-commerce network for ocean shipping, will collaborate with HYPERLINK "http://www.gs1us.org/"GS1 US, an information standards organization, to develop and implement containerized shipping data exchange guidelines for supply chain and logistics professionals globally. With this, INTTRA has joined the GS1 US Logistics Workgroup, and together, the organizations and workgroup will produce best practices documentation for how container event tracking data is delivered and managed in the supply chain. This paves the way for a standardized approach to delivering accessible and consistent information—along with a more efficient shipping process—for international trade.   This collaboration brings together INTTRA’s global e-marketplace of carriers, freight forwarders and shippers with the expertise of GS1 US in helping industries develop standards, create advocacy and advance implementation. The GS1 System consists of the most widely used supply chain standards in the world. These updated shipping guidelines will address the inefficiencies and lack of supply chain shipment visibility caused by numerous data sources that are tracked in multiple formats, including manually—causing delays for shippers, freight forwarders and carriers around the world. A common e-shipping standard provides a roadmap for improving supply chain productivity through automated processes, a consistent set of container delivery events, and targets for data timeliness. The collaboration is part of INTTRA’s vision to deliver supply chain shipment visibility to shippers of all sizes through INTTRA’s new cloud-based solution offering easy, automated access to timely and accurate shipment information (available in 2Q 2014). Improving data quality is a critical component of the solution, which will be delivered to the world’s largest network of companies involved in global trade. INTTRA has also created a comprehensive data quality program in conjunction with its carrier network for easy access to and analysis of information.  “INTTRA’s collaboration with GS1 US aligns with our vision to deliver systemic improvements to the data available to logistics professionals around the world.” said Sandra Moran, Chief Marketing Officer, INTTRA. “As global supply chain complexity rises, there is an urgent need for standards to provide a foundation to help companies interact more efficiently. This is an opportunity to accelerate improvements in information exchanged between international trade parties, and drive instant benefits to global shippers and carriers.” “Standards are the foundation for clear and accurate information exchange between companies in a global economy,” said Melanie Nuce, Vice President of industry engagement, GS1 US. “With supply chain visibility a priority for many businesses globally, improved implementation support for containerized shipping will enable shipments to move more efficiently and cost-effectively through the supply chain for the benefit of businesses everywhere.” “When it comes to supply chains, a company is only as strong as its weakest link, and even though leaders are starting to improve standards adoption, there are still many weak links,” said Bob Heaney, Research Director, supply chain management, Aberdeen Group. “With innovative leaders INTTRA and GS1 US working together to address this issue, we can expect to see standards which are unified and defined leading to increased data quality. The adoption of these standards in containerized shipping is sure to accelerate, leading to measurable supply chain performance gains achieved through greater visibility.