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By Yogesh Kulkarni | Jan. 9, 2026
Beyond the Hype: How AI on the Frontline Forges the Future of Retail
Retailers today navigate a fiercely competitive environment. Consumers expect, and demand, seamlessly connected shopping experiences, whether they shop online or in-store. In fact, our 2025 Global Shopper Study found nearly 80% of consumers value this integration. Yet, the very people tasked with delivering this experience, our frontline associates, often lack the advanced technology they need. A striking 89% of them confirm they could serve customers better with upgraded tools.
This gap between expectation and execution presents the central challenge for modern retail. The solution lies in creating intelligent operations by digitizing, automating, and connecting the frontline to better anticipate and meet consumer demands. At NRF ’26 in New York City this month, we will explore this new frontier of retail, showing how to equip your teams for what comes next.
The Tangible Value of Intelligent Operations
Modernizing workflows goes far beyond simple efficiency gains; it directly impacts financial outcomes. Our research with Oxford Economics, "The Economics of Intelligent Operations," puts hard numbers behind the benefits we see every day. The findings confirm that intelligent operations function as a powerful business growth engine.
For example, retailers who improved their inventory management workflows saw revenue grow by up to 1.8 percentage points. A typical large retailer could gain nearly $54 million in revenue from this single improvement. Similarly, modernizing loss prevention efforts unlocked as much as $35 million in revenue. These figures demonstrate that optimizing frontline workflows creates measurable progress in revenue, profitability, and productivity.
AI: From Abstract Idea to Practical Frontline Tool
For years, we embedded AI into our hardware and software. Now, we bring its full potential directly to the hands of frontline workers, creating new ways of working. Our Frontline AI Suite shows our commitment to this vision. We built it on three core pillars that make AI practical and accessible for your teams.
- Frontline AI Enablers provide the foundation. These on-device AI models and APIs empower developers to create enhanced applications that process data right where it gets captured. This enables capabilities like recognizing products, reading text, and scanning multiple barcodes at once, all of which reduce latency and boost accuracy.
- Frontline AI Blueprints streamline complex, multi-step workflows. They combine computer vision, voice recognition, and sensor data into purpose-built templates that automate critical tasks like shelf merchandising, proof of delivery, and material receiving. This frees associates from repetitive duties, allowing them to focus on high-value customer interactions.
- Zebra Companion, with its Knowledge and Sales agents, empowers associates with on-demand expertise. Through a natural language interface, it provides instant access to procedural guides, product knowledge, and even sales coaching, putting a virtual expert in every employee's pocket.
Powering the Connected Frontline at NRF ’26
At NRF, we will unveil the next generation of frontline technology, designed as the world’s foundation for intelligent operations. We invite you to experience our new TC501 and TC701 handheld mobile computers. These ultra-rugged, AI-native devices feature the industry’s first AMOLED display for brighter, power-efficient visuals.
They also have a groundbreaking scan engine for faster, more accurate data capture from any surface, simplified setup and operation, and access to industry-leading color imaging technology. Equipped with next-generation Wi-Fi 7 and 5G connectivity, these tools provide the wide-band connectivity and location awareness the frontline needs.
Our vision of a connected frontline extends across our portfolio. Explore the ET401 Enterprise Tablet, which integrates RFID capabilities to help associates locate items and update stock levels in real time. See how our Workcloud Sync and Task Management platform connects teams with robust communication tools. Discover the new SP20 Single-Plane Scanner, which accelerates checkout with an 80% larger field-of-view for enhanced ease and improved accuracy.
These hardware, software, and automation solutions help your organization achieve connected collaboration, real-time insight, and optimized workflows. We relentlessly pursue innovation and focus on our customer commitment, supported by a leading ecosystem of partners.
The work we do each day makes work better every day for organizations, their employees, and those they serve. The future of retail hinges on intelligent operations that empower your most valuable asset: your people.
We invite you to see these solutions firsthand at NRF ’26 in Booth #3303. Join our Big Idea Sessions to hear directly from industry leaders like Lowe’s, Total Wine, and Office Depot, who already empower their associates to enhance customer service. Let’s build the future of retail, together.
Learn more about our NRF experience here.
