The Automated Information Transfer System (AITS) was designed by the International Trade Administration to replace the Worldwide Information and Trade System (WITS). AITS was to be a decentralized system focusing on automating customer lists so that local data bases could be used to generate mailing lists and provide other information services. Problems in staff training, technical capability, and data base management limited AITS’ usefulness. It was replaced by the Commercial Information Management System (CIMS).