Nov 25, 2018In today's competitive market, location solutions are critical, as they give organizations a competitive edge. By implementing the smartest, most advanced technology solutions, companies across all industries can gain visibility into actionable insights, in order to ultimately improve productivity, boost efficiency and grow their business.
When it comes to managing assets, goods and individuals across an entire organization, there's no "one size fits all" approach. The first step in successfully deploying a location solution to drive smarter business decisions is identifying an organization's specific needs.
Zebra Technologies' second annual global Intelligence Enterprise Index reveals a growing number of companies are leveraging real-time guidance and executing their unique Internet of Things (IoT) visions as part of this migration to an intelligent environment. According to the survey, 84 percent of respondents across the retail, health-care, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics industries expect to complete their IoT deployments by 2020 (see Zebra's Annual Survey Sees Growth in IoT Adoption).
Zebra's MotionWorks is one example of a location solution that collects quantifiable, real-time data and translates that into actionable insights that can transform a business. Without visibility into asset location, condition and performance, organizations may misuse resources or compromise safety within the warehouse or on the front line. By implementing locationing technology within an organization, intelligent enterprises can accomplish:
• Streamlined workflows: Nearly two-thirds of Zebra's survey respondents said information from their IoT solutions is shared with employees in real or near-real time. With improved visibility, employees are empowered to streamline their daily workflows and provide greater quality services.
• An enhanced customer experience: Organizations can pinpoint the location, status and condition of assets to increase control, minimize downtime and maximize performance, ultimately improving the customer experience, whether this involves replenishing inventory more efficiently or expediting shipping.
• Revenue growth and expansion into new markets: Once an organization begins executing an IoT strategy, it provides additional insights into future needs and solutions. According to Zebra's survey, respondents identified increasing revenue (56 percent) and expansion into new markets (54 percent) as the largest drivers of future IoT investment.
Deploying the right location solution to meet a company's needs is required to provide a fast return on investment. By choosing the appropriate deployment strategy for an enterprise, leaders can provide insights into the state of their business and focus on making smarter business decisions and operational improvements.
Jeff Schmitz is the senior VP and chief marketing officer at Zebra Technologies. Jeff recently served as the executive VP for multiple business units and sales at Spirent Communications, where he had previously held senior leadership roles, including chief marketing officer and VP of networks and applications. Prior to joining Spirent, Jeff held senior marketing positions at Rivulet Communications, Visual Networks and Tellabs. He holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University and a Master of Science degree in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
