Zebra Technologies Introduces New AI Solutions to Empower Retail Frontline Operations

Rhea-AI Summary

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) has announced several new AI innovations for the retail industry, set to showcase at NRF 2025. The company introduced the Zebra Mobile Computing AI Suite, enabling easy integration of vision AI capabilities into mobile applications, and Zebra Companion, a comprehensive suite of AI agents launching in Q2 2025.

Zebra Companion includes four specialized agents: Knowledge agent for job aids and SOPs, Sales agent for product-related assistance, Device agent for maintenance support, and Merchandising agent for shelf health assessment. The company also unveiled new solutions including Workcloud Sync for team communication, Dimensioning Mobile Parcel for rapid parcel measurement, EM45 RFID Enterprise Mobile device, new MC3400 and MC3450 mobile computers, and a modular Kiosk System for self-service options.

Positive

• Launch of comprehensive AI solutions suite for retail operations enhancement
• New revenue potential through modular Kiosk System for retail media networks
• Strategic timing of product launch coinciding with retail industry showcase
• Development of practical AI applications addressing specific retail challenges

Negative

• Products not immediately available (Zebra Companion launches Q2 2025)
• initial access to Zebra Companion (select customers only)
• Required admission to early access pilot program for new AI suite

Insights

Tech Expert

Zebra's introduction of AI-powered retail solutions represents a significant technological leap in retail operations automation. The Mobile Computing AI Suite and Zebra Companion with its four specialized agents (Knowledge, Sales, Device and Merchandising) demonstrate sophisticated integration of GenAI into practical retail workflows. The platform's ability to process visual data and provide real-time assistance addresses critical pain points in retail operations.

The technical architecture, combining on-device AI processing with GenAI capabilities, positions Zebra ahead in the retail technology curve. The second quarter 2025 rollout timeline for Zebra Companion aligns with market readiness for AI adoption in retail. The multimodal approach, including visual recognition and natural language processing, creates a comprehensive solution for frontline operations.

Market Research Analyst

This product launch strategically addresses key market demands revealed in Zebra's shopper study, where 71% of shoppers reported insufficient store associate assistance. With 90% of associates believing in mobile technology's positive impact, this solution directly targets a validated market need. The comprehensive suite of new products, including the EM45 RFID Enterprise Mobile and MC3400 series, positions Zebra to capture a larger share of the retail automation market.

The timing of this announcement before NRF 2025, retail's largest trade show, maximizes visibility and potential adoption. The partnership strategy, involving co-innovation with major retailers like Target and Rack Room Shoes, enhances market credibility and provides ready-made case studies for sales efforts.

Financial Analyst

With a market cap of $20.4B, this product expansion could significantly impact Zebra's revenue streams. The modular approach to both hardware and software solutions creates multiple revenue opportunities through initial sales, subscriptions and ongoing service fees. The early access pilot program strategy allows for controlled rollout while gathering valuable customer feedback and use cases.

The focus on AI integration across product lines positions Zebra favorably against competitors in the retail technology space. The comprehensive nature of the solution suite, from mobile computing to kiosk systems, creates significant cross-selling opportunities and potential for increased customer wallet share. The emphasis on developer tools and partner ecosystem expansion suggests a platform strategy that could lead to recurring revenue growth.

Company will showcase an AI-powered Modern Store experience at NRF together with some top retailers and a robust ecosystem of solutions partners

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 17^th 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.

View source 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

Source: Zebra Technologies Corporation

FAQ

When will Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) launch its new Zebra Companion AI suite?

Zebra Companion will be available starting in the second quarter of 2025 to select customers through an early access pilot program.

What are the four AI agents included in ZBRA's new Zebra Companion suite?

The suite includes Knowledge agent for SOPs, Sales agent for product queries, Device agent for maintenance, and Merchandising agent for shelf health assessment.

What new hardware products did Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) announce at NRF 2025?

ZBRA announced the EM45 RFID Enterprise Mobile device, MC3400 and MC3450 mobile computers, and a new modular Kiosk System.

How does ZBRA's new Dimensioning Mobile Parcel solution work?

It uses camera and time of flight sensor with AI and proprietary algorithms to virtually reconstruct and measure parcels in under five seconds.

What retail problems does ZBRA's Mobile Computing AI Suite address?

It enables the development and integration of AI vision capabilities into mobile applications to improve frontline workflows and operational efficiency.