United Flower Auctions In Aalsmeer (HOLLAND) - Research Paper Example

? United Flower Auctions in Aalsmeer (Holland) United Flower Auctions in Aalsmeer (Holland) Flower auction can be defined as the buying and selling of flowers in the market. The process of auctioning flowers includes the perishables being transferred from the place of production, to the area where it is received and sold to the different parties involved in buying. They are then shipped to different parts of the world. Flowers are supposedly highly perishable goods, and it is due to this reason that accuracy, speed and dependability are crucial in such a situation. Though, the most important of these three operations performance objectives is the speed in the transportation of the flowers (Grant, 2007). The speed involved in the transportation of these perishables is the key to the survival of such a trade. Most organizations that deal with perishable goods record losses because they do not put considerable effort in the speed objective. Flowers are usually taken to operation in standard containers mostly during the evening and nighttime. They are placed in trolleys and then await quality inspection from the staff present at the time. After the quality inspection, they are kept in cold storage and then await the auctioning process that takes place early the following morning (Grant, 2007). Speed is the most crucial factor when dealing with perishables, such as flowers. It is essential that the flowers get to their desired destination still fresh and usable. This is why the transportation of flowers is usually carried out via air transport to desired destination points around the world. Has enabled the flowers reach different parts of the world still suitable for commercial use. The speed in air transport has enabled the United Flower Auctions in Aalsmeer to be the world’s largest flower auction. Aalsmeer has been approximated to be the size of 100 fields of soccer. This shows it has the ability to hold an estimate of more than 2000 buyers. This has, therefore, made Holland be the heart and soul of the International floriculture sector (Grant, 2007). Process technology is the technology that is used in the creation and delivering of different services and products. Process technology in its involvement, in the floriculture industries, has helped the United Flower Auctions in Aalsmeer achieve their objectives in a number of ways. First, the technology involved sometimes has helped the firm better its floricultural products. It has done this by introducing some methods that enable the flowers to have a longer life span than they did before. It has introduced some chemicals into the growth process of the flowers hence enabling them to look much healthier even after a few days after being harvested (Nelson, 2005). Secondly, it has helped in the reduction of loss of flowers during the period after the harvest has taken place. This is due to the chemicals introduced in them while they are still in the planting phase or stage. Thirdly, the market range has been widened due to the fact that, these flowers can be transferred to much longer distances without the fear of them perishing fast. As more and more people are getting familiar with their flower products, the consumer need as a whole has increased, and with an increase in demand, there is an increase in supply (Nelson, 2005). Last but not least, process technology, has assured the production of exceptional quality of flowers in the industry. Greenhouses are created to fulfill certain conditions that the flowers may need to grow healthier and much stronger. The greenhouses created enable the flowers to grow despite the absence or presence of natural elements. The greenhouses can create different elements that are deemed good and sufficient for the overall healthy growth of these flowers. This has led to the overall growth of the United Auctions in Aalsmeer, in the floriculture sector as a whole (Nelson, 2005). Process technology has helped the Organization to keep track of the transactions carried out by the flow of the flowers. It has switched to the computerization of its transactions. If the transactions were to be done manually, a lot of time could be wasted and consumed for all those involved. Due to this switching to automation, and computer system, material flow has been much easier, and the Organization has been able to reduce its costs. It has done this at a higher speed, and it is highly dependent and effective in the growth of the Organization (Nelson, 2005). I II III IV The above diagram or sketch shows the flow of flowers in the United Flower Auctions in Aalsmeer (Holland). The first illustration, represented by I, is used to show that the amount of flowers to be harvested is highly dependent on the number of buyers present at the time. The second illustration, represented by II, is used to show the storage process the flowers undergo after being harvested. They are usually kept under cold temperatures until they are collected the following by the staff. The third illustration, represented by III, is used to show the auction. This shows that the process is done immediately after the storage process which is usually done at night and then followed by the auction that is done early morning. The fourth illustration, represented by IV, is used to show the shipping of the flowers. This is where they are shipped outside the country, and some are distributed locally. The early morning shipping of these flowers ensures that they reach their destinations at the said time. Major cities like New York, Berlin in Germany, London and Paris are to get these flowers by the following morning, early afternoon respectively. Holland should have these flowers in stores by lunchtime the day they were distributed (Sheela, 2005). The critical points in this flow are the estimates that come with the understanding of the processes involved in the flowing of materials in the Organization. For instance, if the amount of flowers that are to be harvested and the number of buyers are not correctly estimated, then this would result in the inefficiency of the Organizations operations. Also, if the temperatures in the storage facility are not measured and set right, then this would affect the freshness of flowers to be sold. Moreover, should the shipping of these flowers take longer than they should, then this in itself could alter the profits the United Flower Auctions rake in annually and increase their loss. A loss they might have not been prepared to handle (Sheela, 2008). The United Flower Auctions provides a superb setting and central place for suppliers to meet the buyers also the perfect condition where a common price is agreed upon. This is the place where also supply by growers of flowers meets the demands that are made by the buyers (Sheela, 2008). References Grant, T. (2007). International Directory of Company Histories. London: Sage Publishers. Nelson, P. V. (2005). Greenhouse Operation and Management. New York: Clarendon Press. Sheela, V. L. (2008). Flowers for Trade. Oxford: Routledge. Read More