(PRWEB) June 26, 2006 – Web developer IdeaStar Inc. and systems programmer Vizion Solutions today announced a strategic partnership to provide an online communications Web application for United States companies with manufacturing interests in China, Canada, Mexico, South America and beyond.

“Communications are an important part of all business transactions. Add the uncertainty of doing business in another country, and all kinds of challenges arise, including language barriers, the timeliness of information, accuracy of data, and whether or not faxes or e-mails go through,” James D. (Jim) Fisher, IdeaStar President said. “That’s why IdeaStar and Vizion Solutions developed PaxPortTM. It is a customizable, password protected Web site which streamlines communications, providing one source of accurate, easy-to-retrieve information,” Mr. Fisher said.

Current functions include Chinese language translation, purchase order transmission and status tracking, product information, real-time UPC code listings and a digital document library which can be used for any documents which need to be accessed from one central repository. The digital library can be used to store and transmit packaging designs, line art, marketing materials, specification data sheets and test data. Soon to be added are XML interaction, engineering documentation, testing and quality tracking, bill of material, real-time manufacturing schedules, and daily production reporting.

“The possibilities of information that can be added to PaxportTM are endless,” Joe Vocaire of Vizion Solutions said. “Each business has its own products and processes. Every business has a unique culture and preferred method of conducting its business. The PaxportTM is a portal oriented private Web site that can be easily customized to meet the needs of individual companies and their partners.”

Mr. Vocaire explained PaxPortTM goes way beyond current Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems. “EDI only assists in streamlining some transactional information. It is limited to the exchange of individual transactions. But there is a need for more collaboration, language translation, and central files with version control available 24/7 – especially when doing business in China where EDI is not very effective.”

One company currently uses PaxPortTM to effectively process changes to its purchase orders and to receive daily reports of purchase order status. “Those are functions not easily handled by EDI,” Mr. Vocaire said.

The original PaxPortTM was designed for Technical Consumer Products Inc. (TCP), a leading manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting whose U. S. headquarters are in Aurora, Ohio with manufacturing plants in China. Mr. Vocaire, who led the project for TCP, said the PaxPortTM, has saved TCP a significant amount of money from mistakes resulting from poor communications.

“It used to be there were two translators in China who received all e-mails from the office in the United States. Now, we’ve incorporated a series of frequently used terms and instructions. Through PaxPortTM, people in the United States view the information in English, while at the same time the people in China view the same information in Chinese. The portal also eliminates version control problems. The most current information is easily downloaded through PaxPortTM,” Mr. Vocaire said.

An example of cost savings comes from allowing real-time updating of UPC codes. For instance, before PaxPortTM was initiated, a container full of products may be marked with an old UPC code, which could cost the company thousands of dollars to re-label.

Mr. Vocaire added having information available through PaxPortTM also saves a tremendous amount of time. “Before, we would send an e-mail to China. If it got through, it would take another day for somebody to answer. Sometimes it would take up to 10 e-mails to make sure the correct information was exchanged,” Mr. Vocaire said. “Now with PaxPortTM, that information is readily available for both sides to access, 24/7.”

View an information sheet about PaxPortTM (http://www.ideastar.com/fileUploads/contentManagerDocuments/PaxPort-sellsheet-fo r-web%5B0%5D.pdf)

IdeaStar (http://www.ideastar.com/) is a full-service Web development firm which designs, programs, promotes and manages leading-edge Web sites and e-business applications. For more information, contact Laurel Baldwin at 216-674-1600 ext. 110.

Vizion Solutions (http://www.vizionsolutions.com/) offers data management and business intelligence solutions which enable decision makers to track, understand, and manage performance within their organization. For more information, contact Joe Vocaire at 440-915-6794.