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By Chip Yager | August 19, 2025
Unlocking the Power of Asset Visibility for Frontline Operations
In the fast-paced world of frontline operations, where distribution centers race to ship packages, retail stores are crowded with shoppers, and manufacturing plants strain to meet tight schedules, it is increasingly difficult to orchestrate all the simultaneous activities it takes to be successful. Companies are finding that they need to track more information than ever – accurate, real-time information.
Maybe the most important information to track is the location of their people, inventory and key equipment – the most critical elements of their frontline operations. At Zebra, we call this real-time tracking Asset Visibility. Asset Visibility helps businesses make smarter decisions, reduce inefficiencies, and deliver better experiences for customers and employees alike.
The Evolution of Asset Tracking
For decades, businesses have relied on manual barcode scanning to track assets at operational touchpoints such as receiving, storage, shipping, or point of sale. While this technology has underpinned successful frontline operations, it also has its limitations. Barcode scanning is inherently a snapshot process, capturing data at isolated moments in time. A box scanned onto a shelf a week ago may or may not still be there. Companies base operational decisions on historical data rather than a real-time understanding of the environment.
Today, Zebra’s advancements in RFID technology, including passive RFID tags and fixed readers such as the Zebra FX9600 and ATR7000, have made continuous, real-time tracking a reality. With these innovations, businesses can keep inventory up to date and follow the movement of goods and assets as they flow through busy environments.
Picture a sprawling distribution center where items no longer "disappear" into shelves. Instead, RFID tags and readers provide a live feed of their location and status. Dock door readers confirm that the right package goes on the right truck. This is not just about knowing where boxes or pallets are. It is about understanding their journey and using that information to make better decisions.
Retail Revolution: From Dressing Rooms to Replenishment
Think about retailers. Today, specialty retail stores may only conduct inventory once a week – or maybe even once a month. Using RFID readers at control points – receiving doors, exit doors – can automatically update inventory with the exact style, sizes, and colors in stock, whether the units were sold or walked out “some other way.”
With overhead RFID readers, clothing retailers can see what items go into the dressing room, and which convert to sales. But most importantly, with perpetual inventory updates, stores can manage replenishment orders to ensure they have the right amount of each item they need, leading to less lost sales as well as fewer markdowns.
Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics Without Bottlenecks
Manufacturing tells a similar story. Imagine an assembly line where every tool, assembly, and component is tagged with RFID. Portal readers at receiving doors update just-in-time inventory to ensure lines keep moving. With overhead readers, managers are alerted if critical tools walk away from stations. This allows them to resolve the issue before it becomes a costly bottleneck. These are proactive approaches that keep operations running smoothly and ensure service levels are met.
Transportation and logistics benefit just as much. Take a fleet of trucks delivering goods across multiple regions. With Zebra ZQ630 RFID mobile printers and fixed RFID readers, businesses can track shipments as they leave one dock and arrive at another. GPS and IoT integrations add another layer of real-time data, making it possible to provide customers with accurate delivery updates. When delays occur, teams can adjust routes or schedules with confidence, knowing they have the data to back their decisions.
What makes Asset Visibility so impactful is the ripple effect it creates. Businesses can reduce waste, whether that means cutting down on excess inventory or preventing spoilage of perishable goods. They can streamline workflows, allowing employees to focus on meaningful tasks rather than chasing down misplaced items. Most importantly, they can deliver on their promises to customers, whether that means a product on a shelf, a shipment delivered on time, or a flawless manufacturing process.
Creating a Connected, Trusted Frontline Environment
Asset Visibility is not just about tracking things. It is about creating a connected frontline environment where every person, process, and piece of equipment works in an orchestrated manner to achieve the company’s goals. It is about giving businesses the tools to be agile in the face of change and resilient in the midst of challenges. And it is about building trust within teams, trust between companies and their customers, and trust in the information that powers it all.
At Zebra, we consider Asset Visibility to be one of the three pillars of intelligent operations, alongside the Connected Frontline and Intelligent Automation. Together, these pillars form the foundation of future frontline operations.
At the heart of these capabilities is Zebra’s commitment to empowering frontline workers and digitizing operations. With decades of leadership in data capture technology, we are proud to offer solutions that help businesses see their assets and truly understand their value. Zebra RFID solutions, mobile computers, and real-time location systems provide the solutions that help solve today’s business challenges while preparing them for what comes next.
