Sun Microsystems and Capgemini Launch RFID Solution for Retail and Consumer Package Goods Companies
Solution Addresses Industry Mandates Established by Leading Retailers
4 May 2004
Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) and Capgemini today announced the launch
of a jointly developed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solution. The solution
will help enable retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to comply
with RFID mandates issued by a growing number of leading retailers such as Wal-Mart,
Target, and Albertsons. Sun and Capgemini provide a complete end-to-end solution
including hardware, software and consulting services.
The Sun and Capgemini RFID solution is unique in that it has been designed from
the ground up to optimize the full supply chain. The solution addresses business
justification and supply chain modeling, as well as expertise in the application
landscape at both the enterprise and middleware levels. Capgemini and Sun’s in-depth
experience of complex integration and the handling of high volumes of data compliment
this solution.
“RFID adds a new level of granularity to supply chain data and has great potential
to optimize inventory management across enterprises,” says Christopher Boone,
program manager with IDC. “To take advantage of RFID, retailers and CPG companies
will have to reevaluate and reengineer supply chain processes as well as the applications
and databases that support these processes.” IDC forecasts that spending on RFID
for the retail supply chain in the United States will grow from $91.5 million
in 2003 to approximately $1.3 billion by 2008.
Capgemini and Sun have collaborated for more than 12 years and have helped their
customer’s gauge and respond quickly to changes in the market, accelerate return
on capital investments and maintain a competitive advantage. Companies can leverage
Capgemini’s Advanced Development Centers (ADC) and Accelerated Solutions Environment
(ASE) centers, as well as Sun’s RFID Test Centers where suppliers can test their
RFID implementations before investing money on the technology and services. Today,
Sun’s Dallas-based RFID Test Center will host an open house at the facility. To
register or get further details, visit http://www.avim.com/sun/index.html.
Sun and Capgemini RFID solutions are based on the Sun Java(TM) Enterprise System
software, an open and integrated software system, and Sun’s RFID infrastructure
software that features self-healing and provisioning and works with leading EPC-enabled
readers. Sun’s EPC-compliant RFID software is supported on a full range of systems
available from Sun, including Solaris x86 or Linux -based Operating Systems through
high-end SMP environments leveraging UltraSPARC(R) processors and Solaris OS.
“Capgemini and Sun are working together with customers to build collaborative
RFID solutions that allow organizations of all shapes and sizes to go ‘beyond
compliance’ to seek competitive advantage in their supply chain,” stated Mal Postings,
global Mobility leader, Capgemini. “We provide companies with an expertise based
on first-hand experience and real-world implementations.”
“Our co-developed solution is part of an ongoing effort to deliver the most secure,
RFID solutions to the market,” said Julie Sarbacker, director of the Auto-ID Business
Unit at Sun Microsystems. “We understand the pain points in the transition and
process for retailers and distributors, and we’re designing end-to-end solutions
with our partners to reduce the complexity and costs from the equation.”
About the Capgemini Group
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of Consulting, Technology and
Outsourcing services, has a unique way of working with its clients, which it calls
the Collaborative Business Experience. Through commitment to mutual success and
the achievement of tangible value, the company helps businesses implement growth
strategies, leverage technology, and thrive through the power of collaboration.
Capgemini employs approximately 55,000 people worldwide (including 2,727 Transiciel
people who joined on December 2003) and reported 2003 global revenues of 5.7 billion
euros.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- “The Network Is The Computer”
-- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading
provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the
Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web
at sun.com.
