Service Solutions Information Services GrainCorp Marketing GrainCorp Service Centres 26 GrainCorp 2001 Annual Report as well as in the number of services provided. GrainCorp’s two original products, seed and fertiliser, have continued to grow rapidly.  Two new products have been introduced which are seasonal finance, GrainStart, as well as marketing services, helping growers to get the best possible price for their crops. GrainCorp intends to continue its expansion of the  Service Centre concept and grow the volumes of its sales. Integration was the first of many initiatives that absorbed GrainCorp’s Information Systems department throughout the year. Rolling out an entirely new Microsoft-based back- end infrastructure for the Company along with a new failsafe backup system, has left GrainCorp’s IT infrastructure in good health and ready for the business challenges ahead. GrainCorp is a leader in the developing realm of  e-commerce in the grains industry and now offers unique Online services to its customers. No other bulk handler currently offers the same services Online.  Information Services is introducing an Internet development program whereby any customer of GrainCorp will be able to conduct any transaction  with the Company on the Internet. In 2001, a Grower Registration page as well as a Grower Delivery Summary were put Online, allowing growers to access their receival reports Online. Grain Transfers for pooled and contracted grain were also put Online.  Facilities slated to come Online during 2002 include buyer- to-buyer transfers and detailed customer reports. These initiatives will be the short-term focus of an ultimate  aim to have all of the Company’s transactions  available Online.  GrainCorp Service Centres have been established to function and act in every respect like a business in a country town. This allows each Service Centre’s customers to think of the staff at the Service Centre as part of that community. Facilitating the establishment of year-round dialogue between GrainCorp and its customers so that Growing Solutions can be worked out where they should be: at the grassroots level. In 2001, GrainCorp’s Service Centre network expanded and has continued to grow. Growth has been in terms  of the number of physical stores (there are now 19 established throughout Australia, including one in Western Australia), the volume of products sold through the stores This continued strong growth is a clear result of the Marketing Division’s commitment to providing the best service possible for both its producer and buyer customers. Specifically, it assists its buyers to secure grain (be that grain for flour milling, oil seed processing or livestock consumption), while ensuring the timely delivery of grain at a guaranteed quality level. For its producer customers, it buys their grain while helping them to maximise their returns, understanding that every producer has a unique set of needs and requirements. For both types of customers, it provides a wide range of risk management solutions. During the past 12 months, the Marketing Division has integrated its operations in NSW and Victoria as part of the Company’s merger with Vicgrain. The past year has also seen the Marketing Division achieve a truly national grain origination presence, including Western Australia, thanks to its utilisation of the Company’s growing chain  of Service Centres. This national origination presence  will allow national consumers of grain to be better  served by GrainCorp. Within that scope, the Marketing Division provides a number of risk management tools to help growers and end-users minimise their exposure to price or supply  chain risk. GrainCorp’s Marketing Division buys grain from growers and local trade, and then sells that grain to domestic end- users, other traders and the export market. Its focus is securing the greatest possible throughput and returns to the Company’s physical assets.