Atos Origin and GlobeRanger start implementation of innovative RFID solution at FloraHolland

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

Paris, Richardson (US), 19 October 2006 - Atos Origin and GlobeRanger, the leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), mobility and sensor-based software solutions, today announced a strategic partnership that will offer innovative 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, CIO 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, said: “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 excellent visual simulation facilities for rapid development and stress tests.”

Bob DiLoreto, VP of Business Development for GlobeRanger said: “Our iMotion EdgeWare platform, iMotion, serves as the foundation for Atos Origin to rapidly develop, deploy, and manage new RFID- and sensor-based application solutions. It provides the critical infrastructure layer for managing devices, networks, data and processes at the edge of the enterprise, enabling real-time response.”


About FloraHolland
FloraHolland is a leading international expertise and trade center for ornamental plants and horticultural products. Every day the products for sales markets like Europe and U.S.A. are supplied by a large amount of growers from The Netherlands, Europe, Africa, Israel, South America and Asia. FloraHolland has five locations in the Netherlands, being Naaldwijk, Rijnsburg, Bleiswijk, Venlo and Eelde. For more information: www.floraholland.com or www.floraholland.nl

About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are EUR 5.5 billion and it employs over 47,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Euronext Market Solutions, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.

About GlobeRanger
GlobeRanger is the leading provider of RFID, mobility and sensor-based software solutions. Its innovative Edgeware™ platform, iMotion™, provides the critical infrastructure layer for managing devices, networks, data and processes at the edge of the enterprise, enabling real-time response. iMotion serves as the foundation for GlobeRanger and its partners to rapidly develop, deploy and manage edge solutions. Founded in 1999, GlobeRanger is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. For more information, visit: www.globeranger.com

GlobeRanger, iMotion, and Edgeware are Trademarks of GlobeRanger Corporation.

Contact Information

José de Vries

Atos Origin

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