Transforming APAC's Workforce: Zebra Technologies' Bold Enterprise AI Vision

In the rapidly evolving world of enterprise AI, significant progress is being made, especially in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Zebra Technologies, a prominent player in the market, has announced plans to transform frontline operations in APAC with innovative and practical approaches to AI implementation. The potential financial impact of poor software quality is estimated to cost U.S. businesses a staggering $2.41 trillion in 2022, emphasizing the urgency for efficient and results-driven strategies in AI technology.

Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies, highlighted the company's advancements during a press briefing at their 2025 Kickoff event in Perth, Australia. According to Bianculli, the key to revolutionizing frontline operations lies in intelligent automation: “We’re not just digitizing workflows; we’re connecting wearable technology with robotic workflows, allowing frontline workers to interact with automation in unprecedented ways.” This bold move is set to redefine how organizations approach operational efficiency.

Real-World Impact of AI Implementation

Zebra Technologies has made strides in demonstrating the efficacy of enterprise AI through its collaboration with a leading North American retailer. By integrating traditional AI with generative AI capabilities, Zebra has developed a solution that facilitates rapid shelf analysis and automated task management for retailers. Bianculli explained that using AI, employees can take a picture of a shelf, and within a second, the system can identify products and detect missing or misplaced items. It then employs generative AI to recommend corrective actions based on its analysis.

This level of automation has yielded remarkable results, showcasing operational improvements that have allowed the retailer to reduce staffing requirements by 25%. Moreover, when the system identifies a stock shortage, it generates appropriate tasks for employees, refining what was previously a time-consuming manual process.

Leading the Charge in AI Adoption

The APAC region is poised to be a leader in enterprise AI transformation. As per research conducted by IBM at the Zebra briefing, 54% of enterprises in the region believe AI will bring long-term innovation and revenue growth benefits. Investment priorities in AI for 2025 have become more focused:

• 21% aim to enhance customer experiences.
• 18% will target business process automation.
• 16% is aimed at improving sales automation and managing customer lifecycles.

Ryan Goh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific at Zebra Technologies, noted the transformative power of AI: “We have clients in e-commerce using ring scanners that vastly improve their productivity compared to traditional methods.” This observation reflects the ongoing shift towards more efficient technological applications.

Innovation at the Edge

Zebra Technologies’ AI deployment strategy includes advanced features such as:

• Devices with neural networks for on-device processing.
• Multimodal experiences that simulate human cognitive processes.
• Generative AI agents balancing workloads between edge devices and the cloud.

Moreover, Zebra is investing in edge computing, as Bianculli revealed plans for language models that operate on devices, catering to environments where internet access may be unreliable. This approach ensures that AI capabilities remain functional without depending solely on network availability.

Market Dynamics Across the Region

The adoption of AI in enterprises is uneven across various APAC markets. For example, India's economy is expected to expand by 6.6%, with a notable 7% year-on-year growth in manufacturing. A survey by the World Economic Forum indicated that 96% of Indian organizations are currently running AI programs. In contrast, Japan's economy exhibits slower growth, with challenges impeding automation adoption. Goh illustrated this by mentioning that while tablets were considered primarily for retail, their applications have expanded significantly to areas like manufacturing and self-service solutions.

Looking Ahead

According to Gartner, it is projected that by 2027, 25% of CIOs will introduce augmented connectivity initiatives that could reduce competency development time by half. Zebra is aligning itself for this future with its Z word companion, which employs generative AI and large language models, slated for pilot deployment with select customers in the second quarter of this year.

With operations spanning over 120 offices in 55 countries and more than 10,000 channel partners across 185 nations, Zebra Technologies is strategically positioned to make a significant impact in the enterprise AI transformation landscape throughout APAC. As the region pivots from experimenting with AI technology to fully deploying these innovative solutions, the focus remains steadily on delivering practical advancements that foster measurable results and heightened operational productivity.