Progress Software Customers BGN and Volvo Cars Named in IDG's InfoWorld 100 Best IT Projects of 2006
BEDFORD, Mass.--Progress Software Corporation , a provider of leading application infrastructure software to develop, deploy, integrate and manage business applications, today announced that two of its customers, Boekhandels Groep Nederlands (BGN) and Volvo Cars (Belgium), were named in the IDG’s InfoWorld 100 best projects of 2006 list.
The Dutch bookseller and Swedish automaker received two of the four Retail IT awards for innovative projects on this year’s list. BGN is the first retail company to implement complex event processing-based, item-level RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tagging across its entire inventory. Volvo Cars (Belgium) introduced a completely new SOA-enabled dealer management system for its 65 car dealers in Belgium, which allows them to track a car through its entire lifecycle using the car’s VIN (vehicle identification number) as well as handle back-office functions that include monthly reporting.
IDG’s InfoWorld 100 most innovative corporate IT solutions annual awards honor IT projects that demonstrate the most creative use of cutting-edge technologies to further business goals. Nominations were submitted by InfoWorld readers, technology partners, and end-user companies earlier this year. Winners were formally announced in the November 13, 2006 issue of InfoWorld and can be viewed online at: http://www.infoworld.com/reports/46SR06iw100.html.
“It’s been said that fortune favors the bold. The inspiration for this year’s finalists to tackle such sweeping changes varies widely — from reducing delivery time of products and services to replacing cumbersome legacy systems,” said Richard Gincel, InfoWorld senior editor. “But regardless of the motivation, high ambition unites them all.”
Volvo chose the XDMS Dealer Management System from XPower Automotive Software, a Progress Application Partner. The service-oriented architecture (SOA) system, based upon the Progress® OpenEdge® business application platform and Sonic ESB® (enterprise service bus), enables dealers to offer an enhanced purchase, support and service experience for their customers and ensures that 98 percent of all Volvo parts ordered are delivered overnight. Initial return on investment reports show a significant increase in Volvo’s parts sales year-over-year. Additional details about the benefits of the Volvo application can be found at: http://newsroom.progress.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=202961&p=irol-newsArticle &ID=906270&highlight= (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste it into your Internet browser's URL address field. You may also need to remove an extra space in the URL if one exists.)
Every book that is sold in BGN’s Selexyz branded “smart stores” is tagged with an RFID chip at the company’s main book distributor. With RFID tagging, BGN streamlined its supply chain, reduced inventory time and enhanced customer service. This provides BGN with unique real-time visibility into both their store inventory and the overall supply chain. BGN is deploying technology from several Progress product lines that combine to deliver this unique retail application: Progress Apama® Event Processing for managing the fast-moving RFID event data, OpenEdge® for all transactions processed by the stores, Sonic ESB® for integrating all the store automation applications onto a single, seamless backbone, and Progress® EasyAsk for natural language access to the books in the inventory for customers. Additional details about the benefits of the BGN application can be found at: http://newsroom.progress.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=202961&p=irol-newsArticle &ID=843825&highlight= (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste it into your Internet browser's URL address field. You may also need to remove an extra space in the URL if one exists.)
“We are pleased that two Progress customers, Volvo and BGN, have demonstrated how the use of innovative IT technologies have created substantial value for their businesses,” said Joseph Alsop, founder and chief executive officer, Progress Software. “With the SOA and complex event processing technologies offered by Progress, both Volvo and BGN have demonstrated leadership in their markets and now have strong foundations for improved levels of customer service, which those companies have translated into enhanced competitiveness and faster growth in revenue and profitability.”
About Progress Software
Progress Software Corporation provides application infrastructure software for the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications. Our goal is to maximize the benefits of information technology while minimizing its complexity and total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000.
Progress, OpenEdge, Sonic, Apama and EasyAsk are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks or service marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.