OpenMarket to automate Net shipping

E-commerce software vendor Open Market (OMKT) is teaming with UPS to create a shipping module for Open Market's Transact software that will fully automate Internet transactions from ordering through tracking a shipment.

The UPS Logistics Gateway will let customers ship and track packages through Open Market's Transact software.

Users will be able to prepare packages for shipment through an interface with UPS OnLine Professional shipping software, then track packages with a standard UPS shipping or reference number assigned when an order is placed.

The new module is designed so that large companies or ISPs that host commerce Web sites can integrate their online commerce and shipping systems to link directly to UPS via Open Market's software.

That will save online businesses from re-keying shipping information because data will automatically flow from the Transact system into the UPS system, generating a printed shipping label and obtaining a UPS tracking number.

Separately, Open Market's Folio division on Monday will announce a new version of its software for publishing professional information on the Web, completing the rewrite of Folio's software since Open Market acquired the company in February for $45 million.

"Current publishers that have been slow moving to the Web now have a means to charge or host their content on the Web, deliver it effectively, then manage transactions through Transact," said Todd Mickelsen, Folio's senior director of product marketing.

Designed for publishing large amounts of information on the Web, SiteDirector 4.1 has new search features and linking to data on Web sites or CD-ROMs, which had been Folio's principal market.

SiteDirector 4.1 lets publishers deliver information in compelling ways and track or meter it for usage. Using Open Market's Transact software, they can step into Internet commerce by charging for use of their content.