The exchange matches orders and makes certain trucks have full loads. THE OLD WAY Nabisco alerts its Brazil office via fax or phone, and employees deliver orders in person to local cashew growers. Farmers put the raw cashews on trucks, which take them to the port. The shipping company notifies Nabisco when the cashews set sail. There's not much difference here, only Nabisco now contacts its Brazil office via e-mail.
Employees still have to contact local farmers in person.
THE NEW WAY Nabisco and Wegmans exchange sales forecasts via the Web and agree on an amount to supply Wegmans. Calculations are largely based on current sales data from the checkout counter, past patterns, and upcoming promotions. Trucks take the cashews to Nabisco's manufacturing plants. After the nuts are roasted and packed, trucks carry them to Nabisco's 12 warehouses nationwide. After arriving at the manufacturing plants, the cashews are roasted and packed.