A large-scale agreement between tech companies in Veneto and Friuli has been launched: a new entity (385 employees and $33 million in revenue) has been created, based on the combined value of the two structures and capable of making companies in the retail world more competitive. The two CEOs—shared culture, research and development in artificial intelligence, and integration of their respective areas of excellence are the pillars of the agreement.
The tech companies Aton, headquartered in Villorba, in the Treviso area, and GTN, based in Tavagnacco, in the province of Udine, announce that they have signed an important joint venture. Following the preliminary phase of strategic design and field testing, an Italian group with in-depth expertise in retail digitization has been created, capable of deploying the research and development resources necessary to boost a highly dynamic sector. This synergy fills a gap in the market and offers retailers a point of reference to facilitate the adoption of the best and most modern innovative solutions, reducing complexity and operating costs.
With this agreement, GTN and Aton are able to offer a complete range of digital solutions for industry and distribution and an impressive plan for the development of new software products: a synergy that creates a sort of technology district, capable of 385 direct employees and 33 million in turnover, dedicated to the digitization of commercial activities and traceability.
The plan, which originated in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and has international ambitions, provides for a strategic push towards collaboration in a specialized network supported by the combined value of their respective areas of excellence. Aton and GTN complement each other’s offerings and teams by integrating each other’s specific services. The two companies are united by the awareness that in order to meet market needs, it is essential to focus on innovation and have sufficient size to support the substantial investments required to fuel competitiveness. But that’s not all. The newly formed joint venture aims to expand by encouraging the entry of other complementary companies: the strategic objective is to combine skills and visions in a single network to redefine the standards of the retail world, working to create an integrated digital ecosystem driven by AI.
Aton specializes in mobile and distributed computing and, with its “.one” software platform, is challenging outdated market standards by offering solutions based on AI, cloud and edge computing, RFID, and mobile computing. Today, the Veneto-based company is among Italy’s leaders in services and solutions for competitive innovation and digital transformation of businesses, with a focus on retail, sales, and traceability. Aton was founded 37 years ago and in 2024 closed with a 4% increase in turnover to €25.4 million. The Group employs over 285 people to serve 750 customers worldwide, mainly in the consumer goods industry, large-scale retail, fashion, and energy.
This joint venture is more than just a strategic operation: it is a shared vision of corporate culture and the future of retail, based on values of innovation, sustainability, and customer focus – says Giorgio De Nardi, CEO of Aton. The desire to create a group without necessarily owning shares in the company is a winning strategy. With mutual respect, a smart and clear project, and well-defined objectives, we can do business together as if we were a single company. The culture of the two organizations has developed over time on solid pillars of values and social responsibility that have always focused on people, sustainable impact, and ethical and transparent governance. We and GTN have a lot in common. Confirming this strategy is Teksmar, a recent acquisition by Aton, which contributes to creating an even more complete technological ecosystem.
Since its inception 50 years ago, GTN has been providing technological solutions for retail and catering. It has developed proven expertise in software, hardware, and services that govern retail chains, with a particular focus on cash register systems and all the technologies needed to make public establishments in various product sectors perform well. Today, GTN operates from five locations in the provinces of Udine, Padua, Venice, Verona, and Milan ; has around 100 employees, including around 60 technicians, and manages approximately 7,000 customers, with a turnover of €9.3 million. Its focus is on continuously updating skills and solutions in new technologies for taxation, metrology, cash registers, scales, and digital communication.
We have decided to join forces in a common project to become the champions of a market that is undergoing a phase of intense consolidation and selection – says Paola Geretti, CEO of GTN. The fragmentation of existing technologies creates complexity for retailers, who often have to coordinate multiple suppliers to manage cash register, back-office, and mobile computing operations. GTN and Aton respond to this need with a unique, AI-enhanced offering that includes advanced cash register systems, intelligent back-office solutions, digital signage, mobile and omnichannel platforms to better serve and connect customers, supporting their loyalty to the brand.
