Zetes wins Morrisons wireless network contract

Zetes, European provider of solutions and services for the automatic identification of goods and people, have been awarded a contract from Morrisons supermarkets to provide a wireless IT infrastructure solution for 5 of the companys UK manufacturing facilities, based in Yorkshire, Northampton and Cheshire.

The contract, which includes design, implementation and support of a Cisco wireless infrastructure with mobile devices valued at over 1.5m, is being deployed in partnership with Computacenter.  This initiative is an important element of Morrisons ongoing investment into upgrading IT capabilities across the organisation.  The wireless network will enable Morrisons current, predominantly paper based processes and information systems to become more accurate and automated, paving the way for future operational improvements.  As announced in January 2009, Morrisons has already invested 6m in a project with Zetes to introduce voice directed picking into all its warehouses, which is currently being implemented.  This latest project will enable its manufacturing centres to benefit from real time information once the companys Oracle eBiz ERP system is introduced in 2010.

Zetes supplied professional services consultancy to design the Cisco wireless network and oversee the implementation, which has just begun.  The company is also supplying and supporting all the mobile devices required within Morrisons manufacturing estate including advanced handheld terminals with keyboards specially customised for Morrisons, Zetes own IND 2475 truck mounted terminals, extended range scanners and label printers.

Gary Barr, IT Director at Morrisons says, Once again Zetes has proved their versatility as a strategic technology partner to Morrisons by providing a solution which is designed, implemented and supported in a consistent, standard and timely manner.  It was a natural progression to invite Zetes to design the wireless network within our manufacturing operations after their excellent track record implementing voice into our distribution centres.

James Hannay, Senior VP for Northern Europe from Zetes says, Providing a wireless infrastructure is a key element of Zetes offering and fundamental to ensuring Morrisons gains the productivity and accuracy benefits possible from optimising its supply chain.  This investment ensures Morrisons has the right infrastructure to support their manufacturing operation running legacy applications in the short term but also ensures they are technically ready for migrating to Oracle in the long term.

Following a successful pilot project completed in October 2009, the full implementation programme will take place between February and September 2010.