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Before a pair of shoes reaches your doorstep, it may pass through up to 30 touchpoints where Zebra products, solutions, or workers using Zebra devices play a critical role in its journey. From stitching materials on factory floors to last-mile delivery, each interaction involves intricate workflows that demand precision, speed, and intelligence. In this episode of Better Conversations, I sat down with Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies, to explore how intelligent operations streamline this journey while keeping people at the heart of the process.
Building Efficiency Through Visibility, Connectivity, and Automation
Tom opened the discussion by illustrating the impact of cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing. Machine vision and artificial intelligence (AI) actively inspect materials in real time, ensuring quality while eliminating costly errors. Our recent study with Oxford Economics revealed that manufacturers optimizing their top workflow of quality control and assurance saw revenue growth uplift by 2.4 percentage points and profitability improvements of 1.4 percentage points, on average.
After production, the shoes may enter a supply chain that benefits from RFID and GS1 Digital Link for real-time tracking of pallets and individual items. Tom explained that these tools help businesses combat counterfeit goods. By introducing serialization and enhanced visibility, manufacturers secure their products and maintain trust.
Retailers Enhance Customer Satisfaction Through Technology
Retailers experience similar benefits by embracing intelligent operations – integrating advanced technologies like AI, automation and data with human expertise to optimize business processes. Advanced inventory management systems, including mobile computers and RFID readers, improve stock accuracy and enable seamless experiences for customers. According to our research, retailers adopting these technologies reported a 21% improvement in customer satisfaction and up to an 1.8 percentage-point increase in revenue growth.
Tom emphasized how AI-driven forecasting equips retailers to respond with agility to changing consumer demands. By automating inventory tracking, associates focus on meaningful customer interactions rather than manual stock counts. This shift strengthens the customer experience while driving operational efficiency. This topic was a key focus at Zebra’s recent Frontline AI Summit, where some of the sharpest minds gathered to discuss how to use AI for streamlining operations, empowering teams, and delivering better results.
Transportation and Logistics Innovate for Resilience
The shoes’ journey continues through transportation and logistics, where even minor disruptions cascade across the supply chain. Companies optimizing key delivery and inventory workflows in this sector experienced a revenue growth increase of up to 3.4 percentage points along with a similar increase in profitability according to our study.
Cobots, or collaborative robots, now handle picking and packing tasks in warehouses alongside human workers. Software intelligence and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) help orchestrate these processes, ensuring accuracy and speed. Tom highlighted how these advancements create a more reliable supply chain, where precision and efficiency meet the demands of a fast-paced world.
Intelligent Operations Drive Business Success
Throughout the conversation, Tom underscored the necessity of intelligent operations for modern businesses. Manufacturers, retailers, and logistics providers adopting workflow modernization achieve more than just operational efficiency. These changes empower teams to make informed decisions, reduce waste, and elevate customer satisfaction.
Our study with Oxford Economics quantified the potential benefits. Optimizing workflows in top companies within these industries unlocks billions of dollars in additional revenue and profit. As an example, retailers alone could capture $65.9 billion in aggregate revenue growth by embracing these technologies.
Envisioning a Future Fueled by Innovation
As our discussion concluded, Tom reflected on the broader benefits of digitizing and automating operations. Organizations that prioritize the connected frontline, asset visibility, and intelligent automation lead their industries by driving better outcomes at every level.
This journey toward innovation focuses on empowering people, improving lives, and creating opportunities. From factory floors to customers’ homes, intelligent operations deliver results that extend beyond the technology itself.
To learn more about the role of intelligent operations, watch the full episode of Better Conversations. I’m confident you will discover practical insights to implement today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.
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