Effective Systems of Data Communication in International Trade
Ciortescu Cezar-Gabriel, Constantin Anechitoaie · International Journal of Communication Research · 2012
1. GLOBALIZING BY CONTAINERIZATIONThe first shipping container was invented and patented 1956 by an American named Malcolm McLean [I]. From that moment on, container shipping industry has improved its performance at an impressive pace, with containers production reaching high numbers, megacarrier container ships reaching 14000 TEU [2] (one freight container standard size = twenty equivalent units, TEU) and seaports container terminals expanding capacity [3]. Moreover, it has become backbone of global trade, estimated to account for 13% of seaborne trade volume and 49% of its value [4].Freight transport systems are characterized by sequential transfers of goods between points of origin and destination, generally defined as nodes. A node can be defined as a source, a sink or a transshipment node, depending on transport assignment. Links represent transport and transfer activities connecting nodes which, together with links, compose transportation network. Links and nodes are abstract terms used for modeling. In real system, vehicles and vessels using infrastructure serve links. For physical unit corresponding to transshipment nodes, word terminal is used although traffic mode specific terms airport, seaport and station are more common colloquial speech. In transport industry, transshipment nodes with a central role a network are, varyingly and often inconsistently, called hub, dock, gateway and turntable [5].Door-to-door services are provided mostly by freight forwarders through merchant haulage or by shipping lines through carrier haulage. Trucking companies, rail or barge operators could also theoretically develop door-to-door services even if, fact, they are most basic transport providers, being subcontractors of freight forwarders or shipping lines.To ensure a successful freight operation, management departments have to establish vital commercial links with international multimodal transport operators, shipping companies, local freight forwarders, railways, appropriate port authority, and local importers and exporters [6] . Experience with container and cargo handling is essential, together with necessary personnel management skills for dealing with manual labor force. It is also necessary to establish a system of regular communication between interested parties regarding cargo status, container status (packed, unpacked, customs cleared etc.) and transportation information.2. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE -EDIIn a 1996 publication, National Institute of Standards and Technology defines Electronic Data Interchange as the computer- to-computer interchange of strictly formatted messages that represent documents other than monetary instruments. EDI implies a sequence of messages between two parties, either of whom may serve as originator or recipient. The formatted data representing documents may be transmitted from originator to recipient via telecommunications or they may be physically transported on electronic storage media [7]. It goes on further to say that in EDI, usual processing of received messages is by computer only. Human intervention processing of a received message is typically intended only for error conditions, for quality review and for special situations [7]. United Nations/ Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/ EDIFACT) is international EDI standard developed under United Nations. Since 1998, work of maintenance and further development of this standard is done through United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/ CEFACT) under UN Economic Commission for Europe, Finance Domain working group UN CEFACT TBG5. EDIFACT has been adopted by International Organization for Standardization as ISO standard ISO 9735 [8] .Therefore, EDI standards are set for purpose of better communication and time saving for all partners involved freight container, as well as for all actors involved international freight trade. …