Retail feels different these days, doesn’t it? Shoppers demand more personalized, seamless experiences, while frontline teams juggle growing responsibilities in increasingly complex environments.
Gartner, Inc., a research and advisory firm, has identified Zebra Technologies as a Sample Vendor in its Hype Cycle for Intralogistics Smart Robots and Drones, 2025 report. We’re proud to be recognized in both the Collaborative Aisle Picking Robots and Autonomous Mobile Robots (Transport) categories for the second year in a row and are making complimentary access to the research available for a limited time.
In the fast-paced world of retail, staying ahead of changing consumer demands is more challenging than ever. As retailers strive to enhance customer experiences and maintain competitiveness, many are turning to the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI). Zebra Technologies is at the forefront of this movement, offering AI solutions that unlock the potential of frontline operations, allowing retailers to make smarter business decisions.
If you're an SAP customer looking to migrate from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA to better support frontline workers and back-office processes, you may be wondering: "Should I choose SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) or Stock Room Management (SRM)?" This post will help you arrive at the right answer for your business.
In the dynamic world of frontline operations, the spotlight has been on optimizing workflows through Asset Visibility, a critical pillar of operational intelligence discussed in my previous blog post.
I’ve spent over four decades working on technology solutions that support businesses, and I can confidently say there’s never been a more exciting or challenging time to innovate for the frontline. Recently, I joined a webinar with guest speaker Denise Lund, Research Vice President, Worldwide Telecom and Unified Communications at IDC and my Zebra colleague Bethany Wiegand. The discussion centered on the mounting pressures of the retail frontline and how Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) solutions, like Zebra Workcloud Sync, are stepping in to help.
As the NFL gears up for its 106th season, fans and players alike are buzzing with anticipation. With the release of the 2025 NFL schedule, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most exciting yet with great matchups and a global reach.
Bob Bova, President and CEO of AccuspeechMobile, sits down with Andre Luecht, Global Strategy Lead for Transport, Logistics, and Warehouse at Zebra, to provide his honest take on why you may be struggling with your voice technology.
The National Football League knows how to collect, decode, and harness data fast – and it’s having a huge impact on its brand and bottom line. These are the best practices you can extract from its Next Gen Stats initiative and apply to support your business or marketing strategy.
Talk to POS Qatar — Official Zebra Reseller in Qatar Doha Ar-Rayyan, Qatar · +974 4444 0834 · info@posqatar.com Zebra hardware, software & frontline solutions — sold and supported locally by POS Qatar. Related solutions from
What do 3D printing, Nikola Tesla, pharmaceutical production, the future of healthcare, and farming on Mars all have in common? Check out the podcast below to find out!
PacSun thought it was struggling to meet e-commerce demand because of poor forecasting. Come to find out, that was only half the story (and issue). Find out what we learned once we started investigating the source of its fulfillment challenges, as it may be a hidden problem in your operations, too.
Hear how T&L companies, utilities, government agencies, and other service providers are using the tablets currently installed as ELDs to inject more automation and intelligence onboard their fleet vehicles. Our guest, Michael Inglima from Ram Mounts, explains how these mobile devices are working with AI software, cameras, RFID and more to assist workers in and out of the cab as well as those coordinating goods transport and service call response.
The features and functionality of the cameras, sensors, and scanners used across your vision system won’t matter if you don’t have the right software underneath. Software is the glue. So, I'm curious: Did you closely inspect the software needed to run each of those pieces of hardware before buying them? Did you consider how easy (or difficult) it would be to get all the software platforms to work together as part of "one system"? Or have you found the software complicating things since putting those new hardware components in place? No matter your answer, you need to read this post.
When working with an ecosystem of partners on digital transformation or other complex IT/OT projects, it can be advantageous to have one partner who leads the charge. Larry Walsh of Channelnomics explains why in this blog post.
From multiple substrate applications to automated compliance checks, the team at Cobalt Systems has come up with some interesting techniques to affix and validate labels on almost anything using common technology such as industrial printers and industrial scanners. Hear what they've done (and you can do) to the benefit of manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment operations.
A new survey indicates that while bank branch employees are eager for more digital tools, they still aren’t getting what they need. So, the question is: Are you ready to bring your bank into the digital age?
Retailers: how do you know if it's really as convenient to shop in your store as you think? Zebra's Retail Industry Principal Jim Musco and Tony DiPaolo from Manhattan Associates share some ways to objectively assess your convenience rating (from both a shopper and associate point of view)
We hear a lot about the potential dangers of BPA and BPS. That's why the labels going on every package, product, customer pickup order, or patient (wristband) should be phenol-free – especially since there’s now a phenol-free label option for almost every application. This isn't just a concern with food labels. But when was the last time you checked what was in the labels you use across your business? If you can't remember or don't think you ever have, read this blog post to find out what you do and don't want to see in your labels then go check the labels you're buying to see if it might be time to make a change.
When store shelves are empty, people clearly notice. While that’s a problem, the bigger issue is what people are missing before that empty shelf becomes apparent. Let’s look at that for a minute and talk about what more retailers can be doing behind the scenes to avoid out-of-stocks and solve this hidden crisis.
Bluetooth has become ubiquitous over the last 20 years. (30 billion devices using Bluetooth.) But can it really get even more widely deployed (or better) than it is today? Inventor Jaap Haartsen has some interesting thoughts on what may happen in the next 20 years. Check it out.
Zebra's Suresh Menon shares four ways AI could make retail better or, perhaps, four ways AI is already making retail better.
There's a lot more to consider than just the temperature rating when choosing a handheld mobile computer or tablet – or even an RFID reader, barcode scanner, printer, or wearable – for use in cold chains (or cold weather). So, Andre Luecht took the time to detail what other factors influence the performance of technology devices, accessories and supplies in different types of cold settings so that you always make the right choice for your operation the first time.
There are many reasons why you should be automating – and incorporating AI into your demand planning. A more accurate and trustworthy “prediction” is just the start. Octavio Hinojosa, Co-Founder and Vice President at Wise Athena, explains the others in this blog post.
Zebra's Senior Director of AI and Advanced Technologies, Stuart Hubbard, sat down with inspired software engineer Saliha Demir to find out what she has learned – and once misunderstood – about AI. Her early AI experiences are certainly a wake-up call to us all. Listen to this…
You need safety stock in your store or warehouse, but you also need to avoid overstocks. So, how can you get the math right when you’re not even sure what figures to put in?
There’s both an art and a science to forecasting, especially when trying to achieve the “right” level of inventory. That’s why you need both people and AIs contributing to your fact-gathering and decision-making. Find out how you can get them to work better together.
Curious about Zebra's AI practices? Want to confirm we're acting responsibly and making decisions with your best interests in mind? This is how we’re working to build trust in our systems and help protect your interests when using any Zebra technology solutions that leverage AI.
Did you know there’s a way to configure your SAP mobile apps so they – and you – can keep working when offline? That's probably good news if you’re losing access to your SAP data and workflows every time your mobile device loses its connection to a Wi-Fi or 4G/5G network connection, you’re going to want to hear this. Read this blog post to learn more.
When it comes to technology implementations, there's never benefit in trying to go it alone. You always need to bring in someone who knows the technology tools you want to use. They'll help you get things working perfectly. But should you try to find one partner who can “do it all”? Or is it better to assemble a team of experts to help you manage the IT/OT convergence and achieve your business objectives? Larry Walsh, CEO and Chief Analyst, Channelnomics, helps answer those questions.
If you use direct story delivery to get your goods on retailers' shelves, and you're trying to get more SKUs to more stores more frequently, then you'll probably need to enlist the help of more drivers and merchandisers. That's why you may need to rethink how you plan, coordinate, and execute DSD, according to one supply chain expert.
Check out the Design Studio in your Zebra DNA software suite.
Would they be able to communicate with first responders, customers, and each other in real time…even when they couldn’t talk?
What do you think about on-device AI? Is it all hype or will it prove helpful to frontline workers? Zebra CTO Tom Bianculli sat down with Art Miller from Qualcomm and Rouzbeh Aminpour from Google Cloud in this new podcast episode to break down the benefits of this new approach to AI so you can decide for yourself.
What are the little things you wish you could change about your current barcode scanners? Do you wish they were physically smaller and easier to install and manage? Easier on the eye? Something else? Well, don't compromise when you're choosing barcode scanners for your business. Why? You don't have to anymore. Read this blog post to learn how the issues you've had with your scanners were recently solved.
As the CEO of a 3PL emphasized in a recent podcast interview, "There's a difference between structuring logistics operations for a customer and with a customer." Listen to the entire conversation with Cathy Langham, CEO of Langham Logistics, to find out what happens if you're not innovating with customers and instead just adding new technology in the hopes of attracting new customers.
It's Deanna's Self's (new) job to steer Zebra’s Global Supply Chain and Repair Operations toward an innovative digital future. More specifically, she will be looking for ways to bridge technology and business in a way that benefits our customers, partners, and employees. But what does that mean in actionable terms? She explains in her latest blog post.
While buying technology online for your business can be convenient in the short-term, in some situations buying from a sales rep can save you time, budget, and a headache long-term. Here's when you should buy online versus direct from a person.
Responsible AI development, training, testing, and use require ongoing engagement and foundational practices to ensure long-term success and ethical implementation. Here is what you need to do to get started, whether you're an AI model developer, tester, or user.
There are three things you must do – and one reality you must accept – when managing inventory data…if you want to get your inventory right. Find out what they are by reading this blog post from a supply chain expert.
Cammy Shaheen shattered the glass ceiling for women. She also pulled many others through it behind her. Find out how she inspired inclusivity by helping women translate their non-technical skills to technology sector jobs.
The faster your store teams can process inbound goods and get ingredients, supplies, and other items put away, the faster they can turn their attention back to revenue-generating activities, like serving guests.
It's so important to manage pricing and promotions in tandem and to integrate them into your demand planning strategy, especially when managing consumer packaged goods (CPG). This is why.
The food wasted annually – the ~1.3 billion tons of food that ends up in the landfill – contains enough calories to feed approximately three billion people for a year! So, why is even a single person experiencing food insecurity or hunger right now? There is clearly enough food being produced to feed everyone on the planet today and then some. In this blog post, Leo Lowy takes a closer look at the root causes of food waste and loss as well as the technology tools that could be applied right now to stop food waste in its tracks at a global level. Read his recommendations.
Zebra CEO Bill Burns highlights some notable accomplishments of Zebra employees, partners, and customers in his latest blog post about the impact of culture on a company.
You may be trying to control the wrong thing when it comes to inventory management, and that may be sinking your (manufacturing, warehousing or retail) ship. That’s why you must look for the rocks and remove them rather than smashing into or avoiding them, says one supply chain inventory expert.
If you used machine vision years ago, you may be hesitant to go there again. But modern AI-based systems are giving many manufacturers and warehouse operators significant competitive advantages. Here’s how.
Shoppers expect the same things from retailers they always have, including convenience and quality. But it’s seemingly more difficult for retailers to deliver those things now. Why is that? And what can they do to fix it? Here's one retail strategist's perspective.
Do you know exactly when, where and why losses are happening within your operations? If not, it will be hard to figure out how to prevent them, fix inventory distortion, and eliminate friction within your operations. So, let’s talk about loss detection.
The thinking used to be that a warranty plan was enough to protect business mobile devices, scanners, and printers. Here’s why that thinking has proven to be flawed.
What does a “good” company culture look like? And does a good culture really influence customers' perception of your company - or purchases from your company - or just employees' perceptions? Zebra's Chief People Officer weighs in.
Two AI experts explain how exactly you can maximize your margins by integrating, adopting, and executing AI-powered solutions.
Let’s talk about how Scrum compares to Waterfall project management, what it has in common with Agile, and how you can start using Scrum to keep your projects on time and on budget.
There is so much that can be done on planes, in airports, and on the tarmac to make the air travel experience so much smoother. Fortunately, it sounds like some very smart tech upgrades are going to be made by airlines to improve the passenger experience amidst competing priorities and regulatory pressures. Find out what will likely be changing soon (and what changes are already starting to land).
There are many things happening behind the scenes from a security and performance perspective that requires intervention (and likely an upgrade) right now if you're front-line workers are using older Android mobile devices. Find out which Android devices are affected and how their continued use could impact your business.
Though AI can work more quickly than people can in some cases, it still takes its cues from us. That's why you always need to keep a human in the loop. But that’s not the only reason why you shouldn’t let an AI work completely independently. Zebra's Senior Director of AI and Advanced Technologies sits down with the Interim CEO of Humans in the Loop to talk more about why human oversight will always be needed with AI systems and if there’s ever a time an AI system can be left to work autonomously.
If you want to know exactly where your Zebra Android mobile devices are within your facilities, the you'll want to find out how the 802.11mc fine time measurement (FTM) locating feature works. You'll also want to turn it on across your Wi-Fi network and Zebra devices. (There's no extra cost.) Learn more.
Is enough being done to protect the health and safety of football players and other contact sport athletes at all levels of their game? Cognitive scientist (and former NFL tight end) Julius Thomas provided his professional opinion in a recent episode of Chalk Talk. See if you agree with his perspective and advice.
I’m often asked this question, along with two more: ‘What training format is best?’ and ‘Do I need to train them on every little change or new feature?’ Here’s my advice (based on some regrets other business leaders have expressed.)
The traditional 1D barcode scanner isn’t going to help you see and intervene when losses occur at the point of sale (POS). Nor will it reduce the number of interventions required by retail store associates or restaurant workers. But retail leader Mark Thomson has seen something that will. He explains in his latest blog post.
Were exactly should RFID, machine vision and other automation technologies be used within the reverse logistics chain? Alex Whiting, founder of MiTEQ, reveals what he’s found to work best.
You need to know everything there is to know about deep learning OCR, a new AI-based text reading tool, mainly because it’ll tell you what you need to know about so many things – such as your products’ quality and status.
Security-minded solution architects from Google Cloud and Qualcomm explain how far you’re going to have to go – and the lengths to which they’re going – to help protect your organization’s data.
If you’re only thinking about which mobile applications you need to develop or download to support workers, they may not be getting what they really need to be effective at their jobs. That's one of the reasons why you need to put more thought into your software decisions. Find out the other reasons why you need to look closer at the software you're running across your operations.
The blessing and curse of inventory science is the number of different formulas and models. The blessing is that there is a model and research to support thousands of different nuances. The curse is that this confuses practitioners and companies getting started, leading companies to waste time and money implementing nuanced policies that aren’t better than a simple model. Read this post to find out what makes an inventory formula good (enough.)
Brandon Copeland is a career athlete who has not stopped working for a day since he left the NFL. Wait until you hear everything (and we mean everything) this entrepreneur, professor, investor, advisor, coach, and philanthropist has been up to.
Curious how much memory is left on your Zebra Android devices? Want to know which apps (or devices) are using the most cellular data? Make sure you’ve set up the automated reports available to you in VisibilityIQ Foresight for both key performance indicators.
According to one retail industry observer (and nearly every shopper), the answer is “yes!” Convenience is what drives satisfaction with retailers. Find out which conveniences matter most, though. It may not be the ones you think.
Find out why you must put your workers’ mobile experiences first when modernizing your SAP warehouse. Plus, learn about the seven things you must do to ensure you are addressing your frontline warehouse workers’ needs when making warehouse management system (WMS) and workflow changes.
Two venture capitalists from Zebra Ventures share the out-of-the-box thinking that helped them become more strategic (and successful) investors across the supply chain.
Should you be using AI to inform decisions or drive action in the warehouse? If so, where and how? Mark Butler, Global Partner Manager at Zebra, consulted with two experts from Körber Supply Chain to get you all the info you need to make the right decision for your people, processes, and profit targets.
Cleaning up the physical space and processes in your receiving area might feel like a big step, but it’s the best first step given receiving sets the tone for the rest of your warehouse operations. Here are eight things you can do to drive noticeable improvement quite easily.
Need to connect your Zebra printers to a new Android mobile device? Or want to know how to initiate a print job from a Zebra Android mobile device? There's an app for that...and it's free! Here’s everything you need to know about how to download and use the new Zebra Print app to print labels, PDFs, images, and more while on the move.
Find out how one Fortune 1000 manufacturing company is going to save $1.1 million annually…just by digitizing forms and going paperless with a zero-code, SAP-friendly software solution.
They say there’s two sides to every story. Well, now there’s at least two viable machine vision solutions to every problem when you invite both seasoned and early career vision system engineers to the table, and that’s making it easier to see the right path forward. These two engineers (from different generations) explain why.
We’ve found a way to package many of our products without using plastic…and without compromising their quality in transit. Check this out.
What can different wireless and location technologies really do? What can they not? If you want truth and transparency, read this blog post. It sheds light on some eye-opening facts.
Many frontline jobs have become harder to do over the last decade. That’s why we have further accelerated our innovative approach at Zebra since making our largest acquisition 10 years ago. We want to create new ways of working to help make frontline jobs more efficient, impactful, and fulfilling. Learn more about how we're driving advancements that help frontline workers.
NFL Coach Sean Payton talks about the uncommon things he wants his players to do each day. He also revealed the common practices he’s moving away from as a coach, what’s on his vision board, what he saw in his time “in the booth,” and what he’s looking for when deciding which players will make it on the bus.
AI must fail over and over to succeed. But there are several mistakes you want to avoid making when teaching an AI-driven application how to look for anomalies on a product, component, or label using deep learning.
AI is changing the future of advanced analytics and anomaly detection in retail. Here’s how.
Identity Guardian uses face biometrics and an encrypted barcode to prevent unauthorized users from seeing sensitive business data – and help authorized users access that data faster. Here’s how it works.
Do you dread the day you have to migrate to a new Android OS? Are you delaying the move to Android 14 because you fear it will be too much work? According to one solution architect, doing these things should help reduce your anxiety. They may even prompt you to get excited about migrating applications to A14 (or whichever OS is next for you) rather than dreading or delaying it and paying the price.
AI, robots and other automation technologies will help you drive operational improvements sometime in the future. But, today, you need to be using voice-command automation (which is not the same thing as the voice-directed picking “solutions” you’re struggling with today.) Find out how voice-command automation differs from the other ways your frontline workers are using voice technology today.
Yes, shortages can drag down revenue, but excess inventory can drag down your bottom line even more. Here’s why.
The Blogging the Boys analyst also reveals the emotions that Super Bowl LVIII – and Usher’s sweet skating moves – stirred up, along with his reliance on NFL Next Gen Stats to bring you the “story behind the story” each week.
Technology, like medicine, is only effective if the right formula/dose is prescribed and “taken as directed.” Here are the three habits you need to adopt now if you want to avoid the side effects of “wrong” technology decisions and ultimately get relief from the "triple squeeze" choking your business.
Optimizing operations and enhancing customer service can be easy if you’re using the right key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess schedule quality in workforce management software. But how can you be certain you’re using the right KPIs?
Shoppers want more autonomy. They also want more on-demand associate assistance (when needed), along with faster payment experiences. Here are some easy ways to give them everything they want.
Learn more about what type of data is flowing from Zebra’s technology systems into ServiceNow asset management systems to help you keep tabs on all your assets without doing more than lifting a finger.
AI does not start and end with ChatGPT (or whatever other generative AI is creating the most buzz). So, let’s talk about what AI means for your business, including your workers.
Part of the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe, Kesko found a way to reduce costs and boost efficiency in its warehouse with…wait for it…a printer! Find out how exactly they accomplished this feat.
Perishable good restocks require precise inventory planning by retailers. That’s why predictive ordering AI/ML algorithms may be some of the best innovations since sliced bread. Find out how they work.
It’s time to stop underestimating package sizes and undercharging customers for shipping. There’s a better way to get an accurate measurement and payment at drop-off and pickup points. Learn all about it.
It may be tempting to push customers toward staffed checkout lanes instead of self-checkout (SCO) to reduce losses. However, doing so could push your most loyal customers away. So, let’s talk about ways to stop SCO-related shrink.
There are many advantages to test automation – and to giving your human testers AI tools to assist with exploratory and performance testing. Here are the proven ones.
Though meant to reduce theft, locking up products in your stores may be causing losses by deterring impatient shoppers from completing their purchase or complicating inventory management. Consider this instead.
As healthcare providers’ expectations around safety in the workplace rise, the need to help employees feel safe has never been more important. Here is one easy way to do that using their mobile devices.
The more mainstream AI becomes in business, the more important it becomes for developers and engineers to adopt best practices – and for technology buyers and IT managers to understand those practices. So, we asked an AI expert to share the practices he and his team use to bring AI into production, including the use of ML Ops.
The newly expanded VisibilityIQ™ Foresight service enables you to monitor the location and health of your deployed Zebra scanners on the same dashboard used to monitor your Zebra mobile computers and printers. Learn more.