GlobeRanger

GlobeRanger, founded in 1999 by George Brody, operates as a specialized provider of Internet of Things (IoT) and automated identification technology solutions. Brody, whose career includes a tenure as Vice President at Nortel Networks where he led wireless technology development, established GlobeRanger based on his vision of processing information at the 'enterprise edge'. His background in wireless network solutions and managing entrepreneurial ventures within Nortel directly shaped GlobeRanger's direction. The company was a venture-backed startup, with investors including Sevin Rosen Funds, CenterPoint Ventures, and HO2 Partners, before its acquisition.

In May 2014, Fujitsu UK & Ireland acquired GlobeRanger to enhance its Global Defence Initiative and gain access to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) market, where GlobeRanger had an established presence. Following the acquisition, GlobeRanger has continued to operate as an autonomous unit from its Richardson, Texas, headquarters, functioning as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujitsu. This acquisition merged GlobeRanger's edge-computing solutions with Fujitsu's global reach and resources, including its annual R&D budget. George Brody retired from his role as CEO in April 2016.

The core of GlobeRanger's offering is its iMotion™ Edgeware platform, a critical infrastructure layer designed to manage devices, networks, data, and processes at the edge of an enterprise. This platform enables the rapid development and deployment of solutions that utilize Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, and other mobile technologies. It functions by gathering and processing data from various connected devices and integrating this data into a company's existing management systems without requiring a complete overhaul of their IT infrastructure. The business model centers on providing end-to-end, hardware-agnostic solutions for asset tracking and management. Solutions can be deployed on-premise or as a Software as a Service (SaaS) offering running on Microsoft Azure. The company serves a diverse client base across sectors such as defense, aerospace, manufacturing, logistics, and retail. A notable client is the U.S. Department of Defense, which uses the company's software for passive RFID solutions. Another example includes Jim Beam, which deployed the iMotion platform to track millions of barrels through their production stages.

GlobeRanger's services provide real-time visibility and data-driven insights into business operations, focusing on supply chain management, inventory control, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Their Asset Tracker application allows users to locate, identify, and manage inventory using technologies like RFID, QR codes, barcodes, and GPS. This system supports features like creating geofenced locations, inventory checking, and finding specific items with a proximity scanner, including offline functionality. By connecting physical assets to digital systems, GlobeRanger aims to reveal operational bottlenecks, mitigate supply chain risks, and improve overall business processes. Keywords: RFID solutions, IoT platform, asset tracking, supply chain management, edge computing, iMotion platform, automated identification, sensor technology, MRO solutions, defense logistics, real-time visibility, inventory management, connected enterprise, George Brody, Fujitsu subsidiary, enterprise edge solutions, AIT technology, data-driven transformation, connected forklift, smart assets, industrial IoT