Zebra Technologies Corporation [NASDAQ: ZBRA] has released new research, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, showing that optimising frontline workflows with AI, automation, and data can significantly improve both profitability and customer experience across retail, manufacturing, and transportation & logistics (T&L).
The study, Impact of Intelligent Operations, highlights measurable gains for organisations that invest in modernising workflows. Retailers reported a 21% boost in customer satisfaction, manufacturers saw a 19% increase in employee productivity, and T&L firms experienced 21% higher productivity with improved workflows.
Frontline Workflow Optimisation Drives Financial Growth
Oxford Economics estimates that if the top 20 companies in each sector—the Forbes Global 2000—enhanced key frontline workflows, they could generate an average of $3 billion in additional revenue and $120 million in added profit per company.
Key workflow improvements include:
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Retailers: Optimised inventory management workflows led to 1.8-percentage-point increases in revenue growth and profitability.
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Manufacturers: Improved quality control and assurance drove 2.4% revenue growth and 1.4% profitability uplift.
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T&L firms: Streamlined delivery and inventory workflows produced 3.4% growth in revenue and profitability.
“Australian and New Zealand businesses in retail, manufacturing, and logistics are being redefined at the workflow level, where speed, visibility, and precision drive growth,” said Tom Christodoulou, Sales VP ANZ & Sub-Continent, Zebra Technologies.
AI and Advanced Tech Deliver Tangible Benefits
The report highlights widespread adoption of AI and automation across sectors:
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Retailers are piloting AI for loss prevention, risk detection, and inventory optimisation.
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Over two-thirds of T&L organisations and nearly half of manufacturers use AI for inventory management, demand forecasting, and predictive analytics.
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Tools like RFID and machine vision are enhancing operational visibility and efficiency.
Zebra’s solutions are designed to address persistent workforce challenges, from labor shortages to shifting consumer expectations, by enabling organisations to capture real-time data, reduce errors, streamline tasks, and continuously innovate at the frontline.
Better Every Day: The Brand Narrative
Zebra’s new brand platform, “Better Every Day”, reinforces its commitment to helping organisations adopt intelligent, connected workflows that improve productivity, agility, and responsiveness. CEO Bill Burns said:
“Our portfolio of connected frontline, asset visibility, and automation solutions is purpose-built to support modern workflows and improve the way work gets done every day.”
Takeaways
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AI and workflow automation can drive significant revenue, productivity, and customer satisfaction gains in retail, manufacturing, and T&L.
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Predictive analytics, AI-driven inventory management, and advanced tools like RFID and machine vision are central to smarter operations.
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Zebra’s “Better Every Day” platform positions the company as a partner for organisations seeking continuous workflow improvement and intelligent frontline operations.
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