Zebra Technologies Introduces New AI Solutions to Empower Retail Frontline Operations
January 09 2025 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Company will showcase an AI-powered Modern
Store experience at NRF together with some top retailers and a
robust ecosystem of solutions partners
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader
in digitizing and automating frontline workflows, today announced
several new products and AI innovations for the retail industry.
Zebra’s solutions will be showcased in booth #3303 as part of
Zebra’s AI-powered Modern Store at NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show on
Jan. 12-14, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New
York.
Zebra is unveiling the Zebra Mobile Computing AI Suite, a
comprehensive set of tools that includes an AI data capture
software development kit (SDK) and example applications optimized
for select Zebra Android mobile devices. This suite facilitates the
development of AI applications, enabling customers, developers, and
independent software vendors (ISV) to easily integrate cutting-edge
vision AI capabilities into their mobile applications.
Zebra has leveraged these AI capabilities to enable frontline
workers to easily, accurately and quickly capture workflow context
and integrate that directly to Zebra Companion, a new and
comprehensive suite of AI agents specifically designed to empower
retail frontline workers. This multimodal generative artificial
intelligence (GenAI) solution is being developed in collaboration
with select customers to work with frontline retail workers to
improve productivity and elevate the customer experience.
Zebra Companion provides frontline workers instant access to
critical information and troubleshooting assistance as they
prioritize and execute routine and issue-prompted tasks. Zebra is
committed to customers’ data privacy and ethical AI practices to
ensure the secure and responsible use of AI technology. Zebra
Companion is available starting in the second quarter of 2025 to
select customers and requires admission to our early access pilot
program. The suite includes:
- Knowledge agent that offers the ability to
conversationally interact with job aids and standard operating
procedures (SOPs) to facilitate faster onboarding, giving
associates the information they need when they need it.
- Sales agent that assists with product-related questions,
real-time queries on product availability and pricing as well as
cross-sell and upsell recommendations for associates during
customer interactions.
- Zebra Device agent that ensures optimal usage and
maintenance of Zebra devices by providing troubleshooting and
contextual data integrations, reducing device downtime so retail
operations are not disrupted.
- Merchandising agent that combines advanced on-device
image recognition technology to assess shelf health and augment
workflows for frontline teams to address merchandising issues, such
as shelf gaps, misplacements and planograming issues, and
inaccurate pricing and signage.
Zebra developed the Merchandising agent as a co-innovation
project to help a customer explore how associate and customer
experiences can be elevated, and visitors to Zebra’s NRF booth will
see the capabilities of the Merchandising agent in action. In the
future, Zebra partners, ISVs and developers will be able to deploy
agents of their own to interface with Zebra Companion to deliver a
common multi-modal user interface to frontline workers on Zebra’s
industry-leading solution platform.
“For years, we’ve been embedding AI into our products, elevating
outcomes for our customers and partners,” said Yogesh Kulkarni,
Vice President, AI Strategy, Zebra Technologies. “Our AI-enabled
solutions are shaping the future of frontline operations by
creating new ways of working. We’re proud to collaborate with our
extensive partner community and customers to enhance our AI and
GenAI capabilities to automate workflows, streamline processes and
boost efficiency, making work easier every day.”
In Zebra’s 17th Annual Global Shopper Study, 71% of shoppers
expressed concern about the lack of help they received from store
associates. However, almost 90% of associates believe they can
provide a better customer experience when they have mobile
technology tools to help simplify real-time communication and
prioritize tasks. This is a primary reason why Zebra is
demonstrating new technology at NRF that will enable retailers to
extend AI capabilities to frontline workflows and decision-making.
In addition to the Mobile Computing AI Suite and Zebra Companion,
Zebra is introducing several other solutions aimed at transforming
retail operations including:
Zebra Workcloud Sync: Frontline teams can leverage numerous
robust communication features in a single application to
collaborate better and improve productivity in stores. Workcloud
Sync allows team members to connect one-on-one or in a group with
colleagues and customers in their preferred language via
push-to-talk, Wi-Fi voice and video calling, multimedia messaging,
to-dos, and forums. Frontline workers can also access AI
capabilities in Workcloud Sync via Zebra Companion’s Knowledge
agent.
Zebra Dimensioning Mobile Parcel: This software solution enables
'one-shot' dimensioning of most parcels in under five seconds. The
camera and time of flight sensor in select Zebra mobile computers
work together with AI and Zebra’s proprietary algorithms to
virtually reconstruct and measure cubed and irregularly shaped
items. This helps retail associates speed up the process of
preparing items for shipment.
Zebra EM45 RFID Enterprise Mobile: Mobile computing and
precision-RFID read capabilities come together in this
smartphone-like device that can be individually assigned. Featuring
an AI-ready platform with Zebra DNA, the EM45 offers a modern user
experience and privacy without compromising security. As a result,
customers can put the power of Zebra in their pockets, removing the
need to carry multiple devices to assist colleagues or customers,
monitor operational performance, or optimize inventory.
Zebra MC3400 and MC3450 mobile computers: These devices are
available in two form factors that can be configured for retail use
cases including front-of-store restocking, back-of-store inventory
management and faster ecommerce order fulfillment.
Zebra Kiosk System: This highly flexible, modular solution can
be configured in different ways to give shoppers more self-service
options and help retailers generate new revenue streams.
Peripherals can be added to this interactive system to turn it into
a loyalty signup, self-checkout, returns, deli ordering, or
check-in station for shoppers or a digital signage solution for
highly targeted retail media networks.
Join Zebra and two of its leading retail customers as they share
their transformation stories at NRF’s Big Idea Sessions:
- Rack Room Shoes: Walking the Talk with Effective Task
Management: Monday, Jan. 13 – 1:30-2 pm – Expo Level 3, Stage
3.
- Exploring the Future of Retail with Generative AI –
Presented by Target, Google Cloud and Qualcomm Technologies,
Inc.: Monday, Jan. 13 – 2:15-3 pm – Expo Level 3, Stage 3.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Zebra’s Mobile Computing AI Suite empowers partners and
retailers to integrate AI vision applications into their workflows,
driving operational efficiency.
- Zebra Companion consists of the Knowledge agent, Sales agent,
Zebra Device agent and Merchandising agent, all designed to help
the frontline enhance their productivity and efficiency with the
latest innovations from GenAI.
- Retailers can explore how Zebra’s Workcloud software, mobile
computers and kiosk system can help solve current operational
challenges and create an elevated customer experience.
- Visit Zebra’s AI-powered Modern Store at NRF in Booth #3303,
Jan. 12-14, 2025.
ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES
Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) provides the tools to help businesses grow
with asset visibility, connected frontline workers and intelligent
automation. The company operates in more than 100 countries, and
our customers include over 80% of the Fortune 500. Designed for the
frontline, Zebra’s award-winning portfolio includes hardware,
software, and services, all backed by our 50+ years of innovation
and global partner ecosystem. Follow Zebra on our blog and
LinkedIn, visit our newsroom and learn more at www.zebra.com.
ZEBRA and the stylized Zebra head are trademarks of Zebra
Technologies Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025
Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250109443733/en/
Media Contact: Michael Gilhooly Zebra Technologies
+1-708-814-5281 michael.gilhooly@zebra.com Industry Analyst
Contact: Kasia Fahmy Zebra Technologies +1-224-306-8654
k.fahmy@zebra.com
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