Atos Origin, GlobeRanger Implement RFID at FloraHolland

Real-time tracking system for international horticultural company to accelerate time-to-market and improve efficiency

Paris and Richardson, Texas — October 19, 2006 — Atos Origin and GlobeRanger, a provider of radio frequency identification (RFID), mobility and sensor-based software solutions, have partnered to offer RFID services to the market. FloraHolland, the largest flower auction company in the world, is the first customer where their joint RFID solution is implemented.

FloraHolland is a co-operation of flower and plant growers worldwide that had a turnover of over 2 billion Euros in 2005. Each day approximately 4,000 buyers (dealers and exporters) from around the world purchase fresh flowers in its international trade center, using 26 auction clocks online or using FloraHolland's direct sales force.

FloraHolland houses flowers from approximately 7,000 growers worldwide. FloraHolland is a warehouse that is about the size of 100 football fields and one of the largest commercial warehouses in Europe. During the daily auctions, more than 100,000 trolleys of flowers are constantly being moved from one location to another for selling and shipping to the world wide customers.

Atos Origin's implementation of GlobeRanger's iMotion solution for FloraHolland applies RFID technology to capture location data of flowers in moving trolleys, as well as to make this information available instantly for the auction's IT systems and employees. RFID makes it possible to log all movements of every individual trolley and control the process. The trolleys and tractors have RFID tags and there are RFID loops embedded in the floor. DL Tech is the supplier of RFID readers and tags that allow identification and direction of tractors and trolleys on the complex.

Hans Uithol, chief information officer of FloraHolland, said, "State-of-the-art RFID-enabled information technology means that we can considerably improve the service to our customers. Our RFID-enabled park is growing rapidly, currently using more than 250 devices. It is vital that we have a reliable control infrastructure to manage it. The pilot implementation by Atos Origin of the GlobeRanger solution has already proven to be successful, and this phase of the implementation has been finalized in-time and in-budget."

Erik Cramer, director Global RFID Program for Atos Origin, added, "For a complex RFID implementation, with many devices and combinations of RFID and barcodes, a scaleable RFID infrastructure is critical to realize a return on investment. Atos Origin chose GlobeRanger's solution because it is flexible, reliable and scaleable, and it has visual simulation facilities for rapid development and stress tests."

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