Amsterdam, 8 juli 2004 - Metro Group, de op vier na grootste retailer in de wereld, gaat als eerste retailer RFID-technologie (Radio Frequency Identification) inzetten in haar gehele distributienetwerk. Hiervoor heeft Metro een overeenkomst gesloten met IBM. Met de IBM RFID-technologie wil de retailer haar goederenontvangst verder automatiseren om zo fouten in de bevoorrading tegen te gaan en 'out of stock' situaties te voorkomen. Onder de Metro Group vallen onder andere de Makro, Mediamarkt en Kaufhof winkels.
Ook opent de Metro Group een nieuw RFID innovatiecentrum bij Düsseldorf.
Het centrum dient als ontwikkelplatform voor de retail- en consumentenindustrie. Hier kunnen leveranciers hun aansluiting met de RFID-technologie testen en evalueren. IBM levert de systemen en de technologie voor het RFID-innovatiecentrum. Het centrum maakt deel uit van het totale RFID-programma dat IBM voor de retailer beheert.
Beide RFID-projecten volgen op de recente aankondiging van de Metro Group om als eerste partij in de retailindustrie RFID-technologie in haar gehele distributieproces in te zetten. De uitrol hiervan begint in November 2004, met 20 leveranciers van consumentenproducten. De internationale retailer zal dan RFID-tags aanbrengen op pallets met goederen. In 2005 zullen volgens planning nog eens 80 leveranciers op het systeem aansluiten. Begin 2006 wil de Metro Group in totaal 300 leveranciers aansluiten op het RFID-systeem voor distributiecentra.
Voor meer informatie:
IBM Nederland
Tineke Mertens
06 200 150 92
tineke.mertens@nl.ibm.com
Klik hier voor beeldmateriaal.
Onderstaand het Engelstalige persbericht.
/ / / /
IBM providing Technology Backbone for METRO Group's First Complete Radio Frequency Identification Rollout in Retail Industry
METRO Group chooses IBM to deploy RFID across the Supply Chain; Opens IBM-led Innovation Centre for RFID in Retail
Duesseldorf (Germany) 7 July 2004 - METRO Group, the world's fourth largest retailer, has chosen IBM to provide the software to integrate the rollout of RFID throughout their supply chain, IBM announced today. Using IBM RFID systems integration to help guarantee that goods are delivered on demand when they are needed, METRO Group is automating its goods receiving process, with the aim of eliminating stock counting errors and keeping customers happy by avoiding "out of stock" situations.
METRO Group is also opening its new RFID Innovation Centre in Neuss near Duesseldorf in a programme led by IBM for the retailer. The centre is an RFID working platform for the Retail and Consumer Products Industries, which will allow suppliers to test their readiness for RFID while evaluating emerging technologies for retail. IBM is providing the overall systems integration and technology for the centre.
Both projects follow the recent announcement by METRO Group that it plans to become the first in the retail industry worldwide to begin using RFID technology throughout its entire process chain. The rollout is scheduled to begin in November when 20 consumer products suppliers to the major international retailer will place RFID tags on pallets of goods, with another 80 suppliers scheduled to follow next year. By January 2006, METRO Group plans to have 300 suppliers sending RFID-tagged pallets and cases to its distribution centres.
IBM will be providing WebSphere-based RFID and data management solutions to METRO Group to help the retailer integrate their suppliers' processes into their own supply chain, providing an instant virtual view of the complete shipping process and the exact location of goods at any stage in the journey from the manufacturer to METRO Group's central warehouses and stores.
This will give METRO Group a fast, efficient and secure supply chain with the flexibility to respond in real time to changing market conditions and customer demand. Eliminating time-consuming physical checking of each pallet delivered to the Distribution Centres will also halve the time needed to unload each delivery truck.
"RFID is transforming the retail industry," says Dr Gerd Wolfram, Project Manager of the METRO Group Future Store Initiative, "IBM has deep experience in Retail, in Software and in RFID. We will draw on that experience to help us realise our RFID vision while proving the value of the technology in reducing stock errors and streamlining our supply chain to the benefit of our customers and our business".
IBM's middleware will provide a standards-based infrastructure to collect, integrate and manage data obtained from RFID tags and readers from manufacturers to METRO Group's distribution centres and stores. The solution allows the retailer to monitor the status of pallets being shipped and delivered. Enabling METRO Group to manage its systems remotely and integrate data from its store operations and data centers also increases the company's operational efficiency.
The benefits of IBM's RFID integration solution have already been proven at the METRO Group Future Store in Rheinberg, Germany which has been a major success since it first opened its doors in April 2003. At the new METRO Group RFID Innovation Centre, suppliers will be able to learn from the experience the retailer has already gained in the RFID field at the store.
IBM provides the overall systems integration at the Rheinberg store.
The new Innovation Centre, run on IBM integration technology, enables METRO Group suppliers to test their processes in a virtual environment, where the results can be displayed on any device including hand-held personal digital assistants. Included among the IBM technology line-up at the Centre are an RFID tag deactivator kiosk, and the Everywhere Display, the latest consumer technology from IBM research. The Everywhere Display turns any surface in a retail store into a virtual touchscreen and is the newest innovation at the Future Store.
"Retail is one of the world's most competitive industries. Innovative technologies, integrated with each other and with new business processes, are what help retailers to stay ahead of the game." says Alain Benichou, IBM Distribution Sector Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "IBM's RFID solution is enabling METRO Group to transform their business and maintain their lead in this demanding and fast-changing market. "
ends
About IBM
IBM, the world's largest information technology company, is the leader in providing the Retail Industry with a full range of e-business solutions, including: point-of-sale systems, automated self-checkout systems, other hardware and software technology, consulting focused on business transformation, IT strategy and planning, store operations improvement, and supply chain optimization, and with services, such as outsourcing, managed operations, systems integration, and application development and design. IBM has a list of retail customers in 100 countries worldwide that reads like a "Who's Who" of retailing. For more information on IBM Retail Solutions, please visit www.ibm.com/industries/retail/store
About METRO Group
The METRO Group is the world's fourth-largest trading and retailing group.
With its powerful brands, it operates successfully in 28 different countries around the world - at almost 2,400 locations and more than 240,000 employees. The METRO Group's six sales divisions operate independently on the market with their own specific sales concepts:
Metro/Makro Cash & Carry - the world's market leader in self-service wholesaling -, Real hypermarkets, Extra supermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn - the leading consumer electronics centers in Europe, Praktiker home improvement and DIY centers, and the department stores of Galeria Kaufhof.
More information at www.metrogroup.de and www.future-store.org.
For more information please contact:
IBM:
Arlene Wainstein - Communications Manager IBM Distribution Sector
Phone: 33 (0) 141 88-6664
Mobile: 33 (0) 67275-9574
arlenewainstein@fr.ibm.com
METRO Group:
Albrecht von Truchsess - Spokesman
Phone: 49 (0) 211 6886 2947
truchsess@metro.de