ALK Technologies, Inc. and Midland Enterprises have created a new Barge Management System (BMS) to help Midland increase efficiency and competitiveness. Using the Intranet to tightly integrate communications, business, and systems processes on an enterprise-wide basis, BMS offers a palette of e-commerce functions. Ideas for the system were solicited from Midland departments including sales, finance, transportation, operations, and information systems. Phase II, constituting the detailed design, was completed in early 2000 and Phase III, encompassing delivery and installation, was completed in June 2001. Two primary business goals of BMS are to improve equipment utilization and manage yield potential by analyzing new requests for service.