Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader in digitizing and automating workflows, has unveiled new research conducted with Oxford Economics highlighting how intelligent operations powered by AI, automation, and data are driving significant gains in productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
The study, titled “Impact of Intelligent Operations”, emphasizes that modernizing frontline workflows enables organizations to unlock efficiencies, reduce costs, and deliver enhanced customer experiences.
Frontline Optimization Transforms Business Outcomes
According to the study, improved workflows deliver measurable performance improvements across multiple sectors:
- Retail organizations reported a 21% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Manufacturers achieved a 19% boost in employee productivity.
- Transportation and logistics (T&L) companies experienced a 21% rise in productivity.
Oxford Economics estimates that if the top 20 companies on the Forbes Global 2000 list in retail, manufacturing, and T&L optimized their frontline workflows, each could generate an average of US $3 billion in additional revenue and US $120 million in added profit.
Industry-Specific Workflow Gains
Workflow optimization yields sector-specific benefits:
- Retailers saw up to 1.8 percentage points in revenue growth and profitability through enhanced inventory management.
- Manufacturers achieved 2.4 percentage points revenue growth and 1.4 percentage points profitability gains by strengthening quality control processes.
- T&L firms realized up to 3.4 percentage points revenue growth and similar profit increases through improvements in delivery and inventory workflows.
“Retail, manufacturing, and logistics are being redefined at the workflow level, where speed, visibility, and precision are key,” said Joe White, Chief Product & Solutions Officer at Zebra Technologies. “By combining advanced technologies with human expertise, intelligent operations empower organizations to simplify complexity, adapt faster, and thrive in competitive markets.”
AI and Advanced Tech at the Core of Transformation
The research underscores the pivotal role of AI and other advanced tools in optimizing frontline operations:
- Retailers are piloting AI for loss prevention, risk detection, and inventory optimization.
- Over two-thirds of T&L companies and nearly half of manufacturers deploy AI in inventory management, demand forecasting, and predictive analytics.
- RFID and machine vision technologies are enhancing operational visibility and accuracy across sectors.
From warehouses and factory floors to retail aisles and healthcare settings, Zebra’s solutions are designed to address labor shortages, rising customer expectations, and growing operational complexity.
“Better Every Day”: Zebra’s Brand Commitment
Zebra has introduced its new global brand platform, “Better Every Day”, reinforcing its mission to deliver connected, intelligent solutions that strengthen agility, responsiveness, and performance across frontline operations.
“Our goal is to help organizations work smarter, faster, and better every single day,” said Bill Burns, CEO of Zebra Technologies. “With our comprehensive portfolio of intelligent automation, asset visibility, and connected workflow solutions, we are committed to shaping the future of frontline performance.”
Research Methodology
The Oxford Economics study combined surveys and econometric analysis, engaging 1,000 senior leaders across retail (400), manufacturing (400), and T&L (200) in the U.S., Mexico, U.K., Germany, India, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The analysis focused on workflows including inventory management, quality control, delivery operations, material handling, and loss prevention, with regression models applied to measure financial outcomes linked to workflow improvements.
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