Circle International uses MailRules to automate the process of manipulating e-mail data that is generated from the form handling properties of their FrontPage 2000 designed WEB site. The MailRules programme will remove the human intervention normally associated with handling electronically received export booking requests. MailRules will recognise the e-mail generated by the site by the subject header and save the message of the e-mail, (which is in a comma separated file format) to a specified file location on the receiving desktop PC directory.

MailRules then runs an external programme designed in ‘Microsoft Scriptit’, ( A screen macro utility that is installed in the MailRules directory which runs customized scripts. ) which opens an Access database and instructs the database to run a macro, the macro populates a table using the import functionalility of Access. Scriptit then runs a report on the table producing the hardcopy documentation required by Circle to book the shipment with the airline.

The external Scriptit programme then saves a soft copy of the file and closes the access database down.

Other areas where Circle see value in the MailRules product include system integration solutions whereby customers who traditionally fax or e-mail invoices/picking slips to Circle (Circle then data entry the information into their WMS), can now automate the process.

Circle believe this will work whereby a customer only needs to write a report, which extracts the order information from their ERP and save it in a file location. MailRules would then be scheduled to send outgoing mail every 30 minutes with an external command to check for any new information. Where there is new information, this would be saved as an attachment to the e-mail and sent to Circle. Once received at Circle, the file is stripped from the e-mail (by MailRules), saved in a specified file location on the receiving desktop PC and an external command is activated to extract the file information into Circle's WMS.

The advantages of using MailRules for this procedure are cost and security. Traditionally, systems integration issues have been dealt with using frame relays, ISDN connection and Internet based VPN'S all of which are costly and present ongoing security issues. MailRules ability to transmit messages using e-mail is cheap. It offers the additional benefit of added security with encryption.

Circle International who specialise in 3rd party supply chain solutions are in a business environment whereby each customer operates different accounting packages and ERP systems. MailRules is expected to bridge much of this gap, thereby shortening the sales cycle time.

“The guys at MailRules are wonderful and they have an awesome product, we hope to buy many licences off them over the coming months,” said Brad Lindsay, Integrated Logistics Specialist, Circle International (NZ) Limited, brad.lindsay@circleintl.com.