Consignia posts web portal plans A single point of access for 20 million online customers.

Consignia is building a new customer portal around web services software from ebusiness platform company ATG.The company, formerly the Post Office, rejectedalternative packages from IBM, BEA and Broadvision.The portal, yet to be named, will launch in the autumn and is designed to give Consignia’s potential 20 million online customers a single point of access to services available from Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide and the Post Office.Information systems director Paul Kelsall says the portal is just one part of a programme to prepare the company for deregulation in 2003, including standardising on XML for communications with suppliers and online purchasing.”The whole area of deregulation means that customer expectations will rise and we have to meet those expectations.

Customers expect to be able to interact with you 24×7,” he said.ATG’s Dynamo application server was chosen because of its flexibility and scalability and its proven track record, says Kelsall. It also needed to be compatible with the company’s existing SAP and Siebel finance and customer relationship management systems.At peak times the current Consignia website can receive 20 million hits a day, so the company has based its scalability estimates on exceeding that.”In terms of numbers of people we assume that eventually everyone in the UK will wantto use this site,” he added.

Copyright 2001 VNU Business Publications Ltd. Source : World Reporter (Trademark)