CybaCity

Voice communications as a standard feature

Navatec is introducing online voice communications to all of its online services as a standard feature. Navatec's voice system is tightly integrated into a text chat and a spam free mail system. This module is a part of the long-awaited Navatec-voyager.

This low quality screen shot shows one of the earlier NavatecVoyager designs which were prototyped by AGRICOMEX. The latest version has double asynchronous redundant channels to prevent any failure in communications and runs on 5% of the bandwidth of Skype.

The first live launch of this service was in the commodities trading field in collaboration with a fresh produce search engine. However, Navatec.com have upgraded this service to a fully integrated trading system which will come online at the end of May 2006. The system will be an integral support for Intercomex the International Commodity Exchange. This will also fold in the AgroTraceability service as well as AgroTrade a private networking division.

Hector McNeill, Navatec's Director says that,"The savings derived from the use of online voice communications alone are very significant. For example the estimate of customer savings for voice communications is of the order of £10-20 million for up to 10,000 customers. The costs of small brokers, for example, can be up to 80% of their costs. We are therefore introducing a trade brokerage service for small operators which provides completely free telecommunications, spam free mail and a completely integrated document flow system supporting deal closures and invoicing. The response to this has been encouraging. The unexpected requirement is that we need to proide training in brokerage for the many newcomers who have shown a keen interest."

"By adding in intregrated document flow management (order processing and dispatch notes, invoicing and tracking) as well as food traceability (facilitating legal compliance), the user can do everything at a simple interface online or ealse have a broker do this for him. The potential savings to customers resulting from the use of these additional functions are estimated to be of the order of £75 million. Customers can start off just using the voice communciations and add in the other services when they want. The important issue is that each step brings quantifiable cost savings and boosts in trading performance."

Navatec.com is an online business applications service provider. They are leading service providers in the fields of agriculture, commodities trading and food chain traceability managing such services as Afa-Agronet, the AgroTrade Network, AgriComex-Agricultural Commodity Exchange and AgroTraceability. Navatec are relatively rare in that staff and associates combine qualifications in agricultural economics as well as information & communications systems design.