E-business standards consortium RosettaNet is stepping up its presence by launching the RosettaNet Global Logistics Council and forming an alliance with EAN Australia, a nonprofit industry organization focused on high tech in Australia.

Almost a year in the making, the RosettaNet Global Logistics Council is comprised of third-party logistics companies and manufacturers. Cisco Systems, DHL, Exel, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Menlo Logistics, Portnet Singapore, Texas Instruments, and United Parcel Service are among the companies that joined as founding members.

The council will help companies develop and deploy RosettaNet E-business standards in an effort to reduce costs, improve data quality, and accelerate trading-partner connections. Other key focuses include compliance with government regulations, security considerations, and reducing variables inherent in complex supply-chain models. The group will be particularly active in Asia, where a large portion of high-tech manufacturing is done.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, which focuses on communications in Singapore, has actively supported the RosettaNet initiative since 2000. The agency was instrumental in bringing together leading companies to help form the Logistics Council. Third-party logistics companies offer custom services that include supply-chain design, production, storage, E-commerce, sales, distribution, transportation, freight forwarding, order fulfillment, and returns, as well as integrated information, labor, and supply-chain management.

Mark Patel, VP of E-commerce and supply-chain integration at Exel, has been appointed chairman of the council. Based in Singapore, Patel will provide overall strategic direction and interface with RosettaNet's global councils, executive committee, and leadership team.

RosettaNet has developed several logistics-program initiatives to support the industry, such as the eCustoms Declaration Milestone Program, which focuses on automating customs import and export procedures that have traditionally been managed manually. The Shipment Notification Management Milestone Program deals with advance shipment notification to facilitate the handling and movement of goods.

The Global Logistics Council marks the sixth RosettaNet council to be created since 1998. During the past several years, council members comprised of electronic-components, IT, semiconductor-manufacturing, telecommunications, and system-integrator companies have worked together to promote the business value of RosettaNet standards for improving efficiencies across the global supply chain. RosettaNet industry leadership and community support has resulted in thousands of production implementations worldwide, as well as the continued regional expansion of the consortium across the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

EAN Australia is the latest nonprofit industry organization to enter into an alliance with RosettaNet. EAN Australia focuses on supply-chain-management improvements for the high-tech sector and will act as the host organization in the country for the new RosettaNet Australia affiliate, scheduled to launch later this year.

This alliance will bring RosettaNet's supply-chain standards, meant to improve operational efficiencies and lower transaction costs, to Australian companies and their trading partners. The partnership also signifies EAN Australia's support in advancing E-business processes such as RosettaNet's industry standards for global supply-chain management.