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METRO Group Deploys RFID Infrastructure in Europe's Largest Retail Rollout
Retailer standardizes on Reva Systems' network solution to move forward with production-scale implementations at 200 locations
Chelmsford, MA — July 3, 2007 — Retail giant METRO Group is deploying radio frequency identification infrastructure from Reva Systems in the largest production-scale RFID rollout in Europe, the solution provider has announced.
One of the most important international retailing companies, METRO Group had 2006 sales of about 60 billion euros ($81.6 billion). The company has a headcount of some 270,000 employees and operates about 2,400 outlets in 30 countries.
METRO is deploying Reva's Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) products in a deployment that initially encompasses about 200 locations of the sales brands Metro Cash & Carry, Real stores and the METRO Group distribution centers. The rollout entails installing Reva's technology at each location.
Managing the RFID Network
Reva said its RFID network infrastructure provides a key component that enables Metro's RFID architecture to support current and future RFID initiatives. METRO Group has one of the most sophisticated RFID research and testing organizations in the world. Its process for evaluating innovative technologies is thorough, its requirements for standards-based performance are exacting, and its criteria are stringent for moving from RFID pilots to production.
METRO will use Reva's TAP products to manage the distributed network of RFID installations, to produce accurate data from each site and to provide rapid operator feedback. For the initial phase of the rollout, METRO is primarily using RFID to enhance its distribution and store receiving processes by using accurately located tag data for more efficient operations, better customer service and improved inventory management.
"Reva offers a high-performance RFID infrastructure product that could satisfy our rollout requirements. By using this technology, we are moving RFID out of the innovation labs and into working retail stores," said Dr. Gerd Wolfram, managing director of MGI METRO Group Information Technology. "The efficiency, manageability and performance improvement we've demonstrated with Reva's technology as part of our RFID architecture allow us to realize our plan for utilizing RFID technology to optimize the supply chain."
Taking a Standards-based Approach
Reva said that its products were selected mainly because they provide the standards-based RFID network infrastructure layer that METRO Group requires for its production deployments. Many RFID pilots have lacked the infrastructure necessary to successfully transition from pilot to production, according to the solution provider.
One of the most important international retailing companies, METRO Group had 2006 sales of about 60 billion euros ($81.6 billion). The company has a headcount of some 270,000 employees and operates about 2,400 outlets in 30 countries.
METRO is deploying Reva's Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) products in a deployment that initially encompasses about 200 locations of the sales brands Metro Cash & Carry, Real stores and the METRO Group distribution centers. The rollout entails installing Reva's technology at each location.
Managing the RFID Network
Reva said its RFID network infrastructure provides a key component that enables Metro's RFID architecture to support current and future RFID initiatives. METRO Group has one of the most sophisticated RFID research and testing organizations in the world. Its process for evaluating innovative technologies is thorough, its requirements for standards-based performance are exacting, and its criteria are stringent for moving from RFID pilots to production.
METRO will use Reva's TAP products to manage the distributed network of RFID installations, to produce accurate data from each site and to provide rapid operator feedback. For the initial phase of the rollout, METRO is primarily using RFID to enhance its distribution and store receiving processes by using accurately located tag data for more efficient operations, better customer service and improved inventory management.
"Reva offers a high-performance RFID infrastructure product that could satisfy our rollout requirements. By using this technology, we are moving RFID out of the innovation labs and into working retail stores," said Dr. Gerd Wolfram, managing director of MGI METRO Group Information Technology. "The efficiency, manageability and performance improvement we've demonstrated with Reva's technology as part of our RFID architecture allow us to realize our plan for utilizing RFID technology to optimize the supply chain."
Taking a Standards-based Approach
Reva said that its products were selected mainly because they provide the standards-based RFID network infrastructure layer that METRO Group requires for its production deployments. Many RFID pilots have lacked the infrastructure necessary to successfully transition from pilot to production, according to the solution provider.
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