ANDERSEN CONSULTING BUYS STAKE IN TRADIANT

ANDERSEN CONSULTING BUYS STAKE IN TRADIANT    Andersen Consulting has purchased a stake in Tradiant, an online logistics services start-up focused on the maritime industry, and will help design, develop, integrate and market the company’s online solutions to shippers.
   Andersen will serve as a preferred integration supplier to Tradiant and will receive fees for consulting. “Because the level of strategic integration needed in this industry is unprecedented, it was mission critical for us to work with a company that has the qualifications and experience of Andersen Consulting,” said John Urban, Tradiant’s president and chief executive. “Our alliance, in addition to a recently closed $21 million round of equity financing, gives Tradiant continued momentum.”
   Through better communications via the Internet, Tradiant said its system can help shippers manage their ocean freight business with streamlined contract management, improved billing accuracy and enhanced visibility and control of in-transit freight. For carriers, the solution offers access to timely and accurate information on volume forecasts from key clients, better asset management and reduced data entry, Tradiant said.