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By Chip Yager | Nov. 18, 2025
Connected Frontline Technology Unlocks Team Potential
In the dynamic world of frontline operations, the spotlight has been on optimizing workflows through Asset Visibility, a critical pillar of operational intelligence discussed in my previous blog post. Asset Visibility is quickly creating a world where we have a ‘real-time’ view of the frontline environment, enabling us to generate insights leading to real-time tasks. This move to real-time tasking requires a new approach to mobilizing our workers: the Connected Frontline. This concept moves beyond traditional enterprise mobility, emphasizing team orchestration, real-time collaboration, and intelligent decision-making.
Beyond the Device: A New Era of Frontline Collaboration
Traditionally, enterprise mobility focused on untethering workers, enabling them to perform their work where and when they needed to, not tied to a stationary computer. Originally mobility solutions were dedicated task devices: think terminal-emulation running on a warehouse device. New employees required time to become proficient, but over time these tools significantly increased operational productivity.
Since then mobile computers have become more like smartphones, with a range of applications, communication capabilities and advanced features. Applications aren’t always intuitive. At the same time, the frontline environment has gotten increasingly complex, as the ‘on demand’ economy has driving new levels of consumer expectations. More than ever, the frontline needs to be agile, responding to new demands throughout the day. But today devices are typically only given to a subset of workers, usually tied to their role. This can lead to teams separated by their ability to perform the needed work – the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.
As Asset Visibility leads to real-time actions, we need to rethink our approach. The Connected Frontline concept shifts the focus from individual productivity to team orchestration. The goal? To optimize individual tasks along with the collective performance of teams. When every worker becomes part of a synchronized system, empowered by intuitive technologies, they can quickly and intelligently respond to dynamic challenges. Businesses can unlock collaboration, orchestrate activities more effectively, and empower employees to respond intelligently to challenges along the way. AI tools give each worker immediate assistance with any new task or unfamiliar end-customer question – without interrupting other workers.
Zebra’s Connected Frontline solutions achieve this vision by combining real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and intuitive collaboration tools. For instance, Workcloud Sync enhances team communication and provides intuitive, prioritized task interface while Workcloud Shift streamlines scheduling. Zebra’s AI Companions assist employees with store tasks and consumer interactions. These tools make it easier for employees to be successful, leading to better employee engagement, while reducing overhead on managers as well.
Real-World Impact Across Industries
Across industries, a Connected Frontline helps optimize workflows. According to our study with Oxford Economics, workflow optimization has led to measurable improvements. By leveraging technologies including RFID readers, AI-enabled platforms, and mobile computing solutions. manufacturers saw a 19% boost in employee productivity while transportation and logistics (T&L) firms experienced a 21% uptick in operational efficiency.
We’ve witnessed significant positive impact as customers adopt this approach. Lowes created more time for their associates to work directly with end customers by deploying TC52 devices and WorkCloud Communications. Banner Health accelerated patient responsiveness and reduced overall hospital stays through using TC52-HC devices and hospital orchestration software. These results are directly tied to adopting the Connected Frontline approach.
Empowering Frontline Workers Through Technology
Zebra’s innovative solutions exemplify our commitment to making work better every day. We have recently introduced wearable solutions: the WS301 and WS101, which enable any employee to be connected with the team while keeping their hands free. When combined with Workcloud Sync, frontline associates get prioritized tasks, advanced communications and even access to AI Companion support to help answer their questions.
We continue to expand our portfolio of frontline mobility solutions. Examples include the TC22R handheld RFID reader that enhances productivity and empowers workers with a lightweight, all-touch, and fully integrated RFID device that’s easy to use for extended periods of time. And our ZEC500 enterprise computer provides Zebra device connectivity options that transform any display into a dynamic workstation, allowing mobile-device equipped teams across industries to collaborate seamlessly in real time on full size displays.
Building Trust and Collaboration
The Connected Frontline is a critical component of Zebra’s broader vision for intelligent operations. By integrating the Connected Frontline with Asset Visibility and Intelligent Automation, businesses can achieve unparalleled efficiency, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. As the frontline operations move to real-time sensing and tasking, leading-edge companies will leverage these technologies to increase sales and margins.
Stay tuned for my next blog post that will explore how Intelligent Automation complements the Connected Frontline and Asset Visibility to drive even greater efficiencies.
