CC-00-162 PUBLISH/SUBSCRIBE TECHNOLOGY: A QUANTUM LEAP IN INTEGRATING DATA AND ENABLING E-BUSINESS

Description:

The global downstream industry is continuously adjusting to face the challenges of the 21st Century. It is confronting forces that are changing the market environment: Global competition, emerging markets, stringent government and environmental regulations, fluctuations in crude and product prices, mergers and acquisitions, and general economic uncertainty. Additionally, the industry is facing quick competition from non-traditional Internet based e-Business models (vertical Internet exchanges and e-marketplaces) and from organizations that can quickly adapt their business model to take advantage of the Internet to gain cost advantage, get closer to their suppliers and customers, and increase supplier and customer loyalty and satisfaction. To stay competitive, downstream companies are trying to reduce their internal and extended supply chain costs, improve yields, improve product quality, maintain low inventory stocks, promptly react to market/demand changes, comply with environmental and safety regulations, improve their brand image, and provide better customer service.