The first phase of the upgrade offers automated customer notification of events such as pickups, origin departures, destination arrivals and deliveries. Emery drivers using Windows-powered pocket PCs send these notifications to a central server where the BizTalk server helps forward it directly to customers via e-mail, pager or both, as the customer chooses. This feature automates Emery's shipment reporting, and provides customers with real-time status information.

During phase two of the project, customers will also be able to receive immediate automated notification of any shipment delays, called exception notification.

Doug Brittin, Emery's vice president of marketing and business development, said the new function was deployed in response to customer feedback and the increased demand for real-time supply-chain visibility. "By keeping customers apprised of status updates in their shipments, customers can better plan their own business schedules," he said.

Emery Forwarding, based in Redwood City, Calif., is part of Menlo Worldwide, a subsidiary of CNF Inc.