SYSTEM SETUP OPTIONS

Innovative IES® currently runs in trucking companies with between fewer than 10 trucks and more than 10,000. Each carrier has different needs and abilities, based in part on the size of their organization. As the company grows, so too do those needs and abilities.

In order to meet the goals of such a broad range of carriers, Innovative developed a software solution that was scalable and accessible.

Scalability

Scalability means that a system can grow, or scale up, as the needs and size of the fleet grow.

A scalable system works well for a carrier with a few trucks and employees while it also has the capacity and tools to expertly handle the needs of carriers with thousands of trucks. It means that as carriers add trucks, trailers, staff and customers, the system can grow with them. Additional tools needed by the growing company remain available and up to date so that when a truckload carrier is ready for them, the tools are waiting.

This means that:

• Carriers are able to make offers on EDI required bids with the confidence that their trucking software can handle it.
• Carriers wanting to broaden their fuel strategy know that fuel management tools with the capacity for multiple fuel cards, fuel tax and fuel surcharges are available.
• Carriers can add owner operators knowing that the IES® settlement programs are ready and waiting.

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Accessibility Options

Accessibility Options recognize that carriers of different sizes have different hardware and staffing capacities. These options are designed to make the system accessible regardless of the carrier's size.

In the beginning, Innovative IES was designed to offer large carriers the exceptional power of IBM's mid-range servers. Large carriers had the IT staff, capacity and desire to handle the ownership and maintenance of the broad server package. Innovative's IES Host system was and still is their option of choice.

This trucking software system though, despite its benefit to all fleets, was beyond the reach of the small to mid size carriers. To meet the needs of this growing group of companies, Innovative designed a method for carriers to access IES on Innovative's own servers via the Internet simply using a PC and Internet connection. The Innovative Access® and Innovative Access Plus® systems were born.

It is because of this diversity of options that customers of all sizes can access the industry's leading enterprise software through Host Based and Internet Based ASP systems.

Where do you fit?

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Host Based

Trucking companies looking for an in-house system take advantage of Innovative IES via an IBM System i™ server located on-site at their offices. With Innovative's Host based option, system administration needs such as backups, server maintenance, interfaces and monitoring are completely managed by the carrier and according to the carrier's own needs.

Like the Internet option, Innovative's Host based customers benefit from the proven strengths of the IBM System i™ including noteworthy reliability, scalability and stability.

For mid-size to larger trucking companies looking for a modern in-house, enterprise management system that has stood the test of time, a Host based IES system on the IBM System i™ is the effective solution.

Host Based Benefits

• Complete Control of System Administration Needs
• Often No Need for Internet Access
• More Economical for Larger Fleets

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Innovative Access® and Innovative Access Plus®

Trucking companies looking for an Internet solution to their software needs rely on Innovative Access and Innovative Access Plus. With these, Innovative houses the software and data on redundant IBM System i™ servers located in secure, temperature controlled environments, while customers benefit from the extended power of Innovative IES and redundant third-party connections.

Customer needs such as backups, redundant connections, security, server maintenance and 24/7 monitoring are covered by Innovative's professional systems administration staff.

For small to mid-size carriers, Innovative's Internet-based systems are a cost effective way to benefit from the market's broadest software system and the proven strengths of the IBM System i™, without the need for extended hardware or staffing.

Innovative Access and Innovative Access Plus Benefits

• No Customer IBM System i™ Required
• Primary and Backup Sites
• 24/7 Monitoring
• Secure Data Center
• Redundant Third-Party Interfaces

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Where do you fit?

Based on our experience in the industry and our work with supplying our Innovative IES to such a broad range of customers, we typically find the best fit for our software versions within the chart below. Of course, every company is unique so we recommend contacting us before making any decision.

Innovative Access	Innovative Access Plus	Host Based	Carrier Size
			Less then 50 Trucks
			50 to 250 Trucks
			250 to 600 Trucks
			Over 600 Trucks

• If you run less than 50 Trucks, Innovative Access should be your best fit.
• If you run 50 to 250 Trucks, Innovative Access Plus should be your best fit.
• If you run 250 to 600 Trucks, either Innovative Access Plus or Host Based Solutions will work well.
• If you run over 600 Trucks, a Host Based Solution should be your best fit.

If you are looking for more information on the capabilities and statistics surrounding Innovative's Host and Internet based trucking software systems, please visit our Feb 2006 article that discusses the 5,000^th truck dispatched via Innovative Access and Innovative Access Plus software. Regardless of your carrier's size, Innovative has the tools to meet your needs.

For information on Innovative software and services, please contact us today.

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