Enterprise AI transformation is reaching a tipping point. In the Asia Pacific, Zebra Technologies has unveiled ambitious plans to change frontline operations across the region. At a time when CISQ estimates poor software quality will cost US businesses $2.41 trillion in 2022, the push for practical, results-driven AI implementation is urgent.
“Elements of our three-pillar strategy have been around for quite some time, but what’s revolutionising the frontline today is intelligent automation,” Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies, told reporters at a briefing during Zebra’s 2025 Kickoff in Perth, Australia last week. “We’re not just digitising workflows – we’re connecting wearable technology with robotic workflows, enabling frontline workers to seamlessly interact with automation in ways that were impossible just five years ago.”
Practical applications driving change
The real-world impact of enterprise AI transformation is already evident in Zebra’s recent collaboration with a major North American retailer. The solution combines traditional AI with generative AI capabilities, enabling fast shelf analysis and automated task generation.
“You snap a picture of a shelf, [and] within one second, the traditional AI identifies all the products on the shelf, identifies where there’s missing product, maybe misplaced product… and then it makes that information available to a Gen AI agent that then decides what should you do,” Bianculli explains.
This level of automation has demonstrated significant operational improvements, reducing staffing requirements at the retailer by 25%. When it detects missing stock, the system automatically generates tasks for the right personnel, streamlining what was previously a multi-step manual process.
APAC leading AI adoption
The Asia Pacific region is emerging as a frontrunner in enterprise AI transformation. IBM research presented at the briefing indicates that 54% of APAC enterprises now expect AI to deliver longer-term innovation and revenue generation benefits. The region’s AI investment priorities for 2025 are clearly defined:
– 21% focused on enhancing customer experiences
– 18% directed toward business process automation
– 16% invested in sales automation and customer lifecycle management
Ryan Goh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific at Zebra Technologies, points to practical implementations that are already driving results: “We have customers in e-commerce using ring scanners to scan packages, significantly improving their productivity compared to traditional scanning methods.”
Innovation at the edge
Zebra’s approach to AI deployment encompasses:
– AI devices with native neural architecture for on-device processing
– Multimodal experiences that mirror human cognitive capabilities
– Gen AI agents optimising workload distribution between edge and cloud
The company is advancing its activities in edge computing, with Bianculli revealing plans for on-device language models. This innovation mainly targets environments where internet connectivity is restricted or prohibited, ensuring AI capabilities remain accessible regardless of network conditions.
Regional market dynamics
The enterprise AI transformation journey varies significantly across APAC markets. India’s landscape is particularly dynamic, with the country’s GDP projected to grow 6.6% and manufacturing expected to surge by 7% YOY. Its commitment to AI is evident, with 96% of organisations surveyed by WEF actively running AI programmes.
Japan presents a different scenario, with 1.2% projected GDP growth and some unique challenges to automation adoption. “We used to think that tablets are for retail, but the Bay Area proved us wrong,” Goh notes, highlighting unexpected applications in manufacturing and customer self-service solutions.
Future trajectory
Gartner’s projections indicate that by 2027, 25% of CIOs will implement augmented connected workforce initiatives that will halve the time required for competency development. Zebra is already moving in this direction with its Z word companion, which uses generative AI and large language models and is scheduled for pilot deployment with select customers in Q2 of this year.
With a global presence spanning 120+ offices in 55 countries and 10,000+ channel partners across 185 countries, Zebra is positioned play strongly in the enterprise AI transformation across APAC. As the region moves from AI experimentation to full-scale deployment, the focus remains on delivering practical innovations that drive measurable business outcomes and operational efficiency.
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See also: Walmart and Amazon drive retail transformation with AI
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