Zebra Technologies has recently launched new AI-driven hardware, software and services internationally to help retailers better navigate the competitive business landscape – and it will be available in Australia very soon.
A global leader in automated workflow solutions announced the U.S. launch of its TC501 and TC701 handheld computers at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York in January.
The cutting-edge devices feature more power-efficient visuals and the industry’s first-ever scan engine to allow retailers to more accurately capture data from any surface.
Zebra’s Vice President of AI Strategy Yogesh Kulkarni said: “For years, we’ve been embedding AI into our hardware and software, elevating outcomes for our customers and partners.”
“Our AI-enabled solutions are shaping the future of frontline operations by creating new ways of working.”
“We’re proud to collaborate with our extensive partner community to digitise and automate workflows for our customers.”
‘Better Every Day’ encapsulates Zebra’s focus on helping frontline industries digitise, automate and improve the way work gets done across retail sites, production floors and healthcare settings across Australia.
Zebra believes the solution to staying ahead in a fiercely competitive retail landscape lies in creating a digitised, automated and better-connected frontline.
Its 2025 Global Shopper Study found 89 per cent of retailers believed they could better serve their customers if given access to advanced technology.
The study also revealed that almost 80 per cent of consumers value seamless, connected shopping experiences online.
Other technologies unveiled at NRF 2026 include the ET401 Enterprise Tablet – a device that offers the world’s first enterprise mobile processor with fully integrated RFID capabilities.
It allows retailers to improve asset visibility, find items quickly, update stock levels in real time and minimise out-of-stock scenarios.
The new SP20 Single-Plane Scanner, meanwhile, is a new compact tool which accelerates checkout tasks with enhanced accuracy and ease.
It boasts an 80 per cent larger field-of-view than other scanners and a simple setup experience for small and medium businesses that can be completed in five minutes.
At the core of Zebra’s bold AI strategy are its Frontline AI Enablers, a suite of next-generation on-device AI models that empower developers to build enhanced applications.
Zebra’s ANZ Sales Director Brett Newstead said: “By processing data where it is captured, recognising products, reading texts, and scanning many barcodes at once, these tools reduce latency, enhance accuracy, and support faster decision-making.”
In addition to presenting its new technologies at NRF 2026, Zebra also recently opened its innovative Zebra Experience Centre in Melbourne’s Hawthorne East.
The centre is nearly twice the size of its predecessor and allows businesses to see Zebra’s solutions in action and work with experts to redesign and optimise their operations.
“This new headquarters is more than just an office,” said Newstead.
“It’s a symbol of our deep commitment to the Australian and New Zealand markets. We are bringing our global innovation directly to our local partners, creating a hands-on environment where they can see how we make work better every day by bridging the gap between theory and execution.”
Zebra is a global leader in rugged mobile computing, thermal printing, barcode scanning, RFID readers and retail task management software.
The firm works with more than 80 per cent of Fortune 500 companies globally and has more than 55 years of experience helping its clients improve frontline efficiency.