Port of Seattle Launches eBusiness Strategy

The Port of Seattle is launching a five-year, $20 million eBusiness strategy that, when fully implemented, will position Seattle as the world's foremost Port in providing eBusiness solutions to the diverse global businesses involved in international trade.

The Port Commission on Tuesday committed an initial investment of $710,000 to perform a thorough assessment of its current technology infrastructure. Completing this first phase will be purchasing and implementing the software and hardware needed for increased transactions under the new eBusiness strategy.

"This investment in eBusiness means we will continue to give our customers the value added service that they have come to expect from the Port of Seattle," said Port of Seattle Commission President Jack Block.

Phase Two of this strategy consists of implementing eBusiness applications built upon the infrastructure developed through Phase One. These initial projects will equip Port staff to better serve customers and the community, and will include such examples as:

An on-line registration and credit card payment system for boat moorage at Port marinas;
Internal forms processing, such as payroll and expense reports;
A web-based enhancement to the Port's property lease management system that provides closer links to the financial systems; and
An on-line project management system to make large project tracking easier.

"The Port will use this new technology to streamline our business practices and provide for a more user-friendly Port, which will place us in a worldwide leadership role," Block said.

Phase Three is a three-year implementation and funding plan for eBusiness projects and applications. The scope of these projects will be developed during the first two phases, and they will continue to build upon the software/hardware platform developed earlier.

"At the end of this process, we hope that all internal and external processes involving the Port will be fully implemented and Web-based," said Port Executive Director Mic Dinsmore. "Virtually everything we do will be substantially enhanced with our new eBusiness strategy."

Dinsmore said the Port will soon identify a strategic partner to accomplish its overall strategy.