Container Centralen, the market leader in managing returnable
items in supply chains, is currently piloting a Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) solution that tracks tagged assets using an Electronic Product Code Information
Service (EPCIS) -compliant solution built on Oracle® Fusion Middleware. Oracle
Sensor Data Manager, available as part of Oracle Sensor Edge Server, provides
the data repository and search mechanisms to derive important business information
from querying vast amounts of RFID data that are collected at each location the
crate travels to along the entire supply chain. It can help answer such questions
as: what is the (average) turnover rate of a crate? What are deviations from this
average turnover rate? How long on average have crates been at a Distribution
Center?
Container Centralen provides crates that are used in the transport of produce
to supermarkets all over the Netherlands. Millions of these crates are transported
from the supplier through distribution channels to the shops and back again.
In the current situation there is insufficient data available about the turnover
rate of crates and how long crates were present in the distribution channels
and shops. Lack of information made detailed, swift and accurate settlement
of accounts between the members of the supply chain very difficult, and affected
the already razor-thin profit margins that supermarkets have to live with.
Capgemini developed applications for Container Centralen that run against Discovery
Service available as part of Sensor Data Manager.
The solution, hosted by Oracle Certified Partner MCX, a Dutch service provider,
will enable Container Centralen to collect data about the movement of their
crates through their supply chain in order to derive key business information.
The Discovery Service component of the solution is key because it reveals which
EPC Information Service, among possibly many thousands, contains the relevant
real-time information sought. It will deliver many benefits: firstly, the right
data is made available to the right people and companies at the right time;
secondly, the necessary stocking of crates can be better planned, avoiding stockouts;
and finally, the addition of RFID tags to crates, pallets and roll containers
can enable Container Centralen's customers to improve tracking and tracing in
their own logistics flows to improve their supply chains.
"A world of data gives up its secrets with the addition of the EPCIS and
Discovery Service," said Charles Willemsen, Area Manager Benelux for Container
Centralen. "This functionality provides the basis for being able to trace
the movements of RFID tags, which makes life much easier for us and our customers.
Our customers can all expect to be able to settle their bills more quickly,
which helps the cash flow, and hence their profitability, enormously."
Oracle Sensor Data Manager, a component of the Oracle Sensor Edge Server, helps
companies manage all the RFID and sensor data collected at various locations.
It includes both Information Services, which is EPCIS compliant and Discovery
Services. These components are responsible for, respectively, storing information
about a product and enabling this information to be searched. Together they
allow the retrieval of the product history of a particular item in a distributed
system that has multiple participants. Users can access a web-based application
to view this product information.
"RFID provides us massive amounts of raw data that we can now analyze
to gain new insight about how products are moving through the supply chain.
This data is collected at each location the products move through," said
Peggy Chen, principal product director of Oracle RFID and Sensor-Based Services.
"Oracle's long track record in managing vast amounts of information makes
RFID a natural fit for our products. By building a track and trace solution
on top of the RFID and EPC compliant features in Oracle Fusion Middleware, we've
demonstrated the viability of collecting and sharing information across a disparate
network."
About Oracle
Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is the world's largest enterprise software company.
For more information about Oracle, visit our Web site at http://www.oracle.com.
About Container Centralen
Container Centralen is a leading product provider and pool manager of returnable
transport items in the retail and flower and plants industry. For more information
about Container Centralen, visit our website at http://www.container-centralen.com.
About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world's foremost providers of Consulting, Technology
and Outsourcing services, has a unique way of working with its clients, called
the Collaborative Business Experience. Backed by over three decades of industry
and service experience, the Collaborative Business Experience is designed to
help our clients achieve better, faster, more sustainable results through seamless
access to our network of world-leading technology partners and collaboration-focused
methods and tools. Through commitment to mutual success and the achievement
of tangible value, we help businesses implement growth strategies, leverage
technology, and thrive through the power of collaboration. Capgemini employs
approximately 61.000 people worldwide and reported 2005 global revenues of 6.954
billion euros. More information about our services, offices and research is
available at www.nl.capgemini.com
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