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By Zebra Blog Team | Nov. 7, 2025
Solving Frontline Challenges: A Conversation You Don’t Want to Miss
If you’ve ever managed a team on the frontline, whether in a warehouse, a hospital, or a retail store, you know how challenging the work can be. Frontline workers face the realities of difficult to track inventory, outdated systems that slow everything down, and a growing list of expectations with fewer resources to meet them. The big question is: how do you fix it?
Zebra Technologies CEO, Bill Burns, recently explored this topic in a recent conversation with Susie Gharib of Fortune Brand Studio. Their discussion dives into the frontline challenges business leaders face and what can be done to ease the burden on employees while driving better results for the entire organization. If you’re looking for answers or inspiration, we encourage you to listen to this conversation.
Frontline Workers Deserve Better
Think about the people on your team. They’re the ones stocking shelves, assisting patrons, delivering packages, or caring for patients. They’re constantly under pressure to do more with less. But how can they succeed when they’re still relying on manual processes or outdated tools? Unfortunately, that’s the case for a surprising number of businesses. For instance, as Bill points out in the interview, 75% of mid-sized warehouses are still using pen and paper to manage workflows. That’s not just inefficient; it’s frustrating for the people trying to get the job done.
These inefficiencies can lead to headaches for employees and impact your bottom line. Missed shipments, inaccurate inventory counts, and wasted time all add up. The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way. Technology has the power to streamline how work gets done on the frontline, making it faster, easier, and less stressful for everyone involved.
Zebra’s approach to addressing these challenges focuses on creating connected environments. By integrating RFID solutions for real-time visibility, deploying AI-powered assistants such as Zebra Companion, and leveraging machine vision technologies, we enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and alleviate the burden of repetitive tasks for frontline workers.
Make Work Better Every Day
The key to solving these problems goes beyond technology. It’s about understanding the specific challenges your team faces and finding solutions that directly address them. That’s where tools that connect frontline workers, improve asset visibility, and deliver intelligent automation come in. Imagine knowing exactly where your inventory is at any moment or automating repetitive tasks so employees can focus on more meaningful work. These are the kinds of changes that can make a massive difference; not just in efficiency, but in employee morale and customer satisfaction.
During his conversation with Fortune, Bill highlights some of the ways businesses are already making these changes. For example, logistics companies are using intelligent solutions to streamline package deliveries, and retailers are equipping associates with mobile devices to provide better customer service. These aren’t nice-to-have upgrades; they’re becoming essential for staying competitive in today’s fast-paced world.
The Future of Frontline Work
At the end of the day, the frontline is where your business meets the real world. It’s where customers form their impressions of your brand, and where employees decide whether they feel supported or overwhelmed. Investing in the right tools and technologies is about improving operations and creating an environment where people can thrive.
If this resonates with you, we encourage you to listen to Bill Burns’ full conversation with Fortune’s Susie Gharib where he shares practical insights and real-world examples that could help you rethink your frontline workflows.
