Zebra and GreyOrange Partnership Boosts On-Shelf Availability to 98% with RFID Integration
Zebra Technologies partnered with GreyOrange to deliver near-real-time, item-level store inventory accuracy using overhead RFID SmartLens readers integrated with gStore, eliminating manual cycle counts. In its first deployment at a national fashion retailer, the solution achieved up to 98% on-shelf availability and streamlined omnichannel order fulfillment and labor productivity.
1. Zebra Unveils AI-Powered Retail Solutions at NRF 2026
Zebra Technologies will present its latest AI-driven hardware, software and services at Retail’s Big Show, Jan. 11–13, 2026, in New York City. In Booth #3303, the company plans live demonstrations of its Frontline AI Suite and next-generation mobile devices, targeting a retail audience that, according to Zebra’s 2025 Global Shopper Study, reports 89% of frontline associates believe advanced technology would improve customer service and 78% of consumers demand seamless omnichannel experiences. This showcase follows Zebra’s ten-year streak of double-digit annual growth in retail solutions revenue, underscoring its leadership in frontline intelligence.
2. Launch of TC501 and TC701 Handheld Mobile Computers
Zebra introduced the ultra-rugged TC501 and TC701 devices featuring the industry’s first AMOLED display and a color-imaging scan engine for faster, more accurate data capture. Powered by Qualcomm® Dragonwing™ Q-6690 processors, these Wi-Fi 7 and 5G enabled devices deliver sub-100 millisecond localization updates and support Impinj Gen2x UHF RFID extensions. Field tests with a national grocery chain showed a 35% reduction in stock-replenishment errors and a 22% increase in pick-rate productivity over legacy equipment.
3. Frontline AI Suite Drives Operational Efficiency
Zebra’s Frontline AI Suite comprises three pillars: AI Enablers (on-device models for image recognition and multilingual text parsing), AI Blueprints (preconfigured workflow templates for shelf merchandising, proof of delivery and voice-guided assistance) and Zebra Companion (GenAI-driven agents for real-time sales coaching and product guidance). Retail pilots reported a 40% decrease in shelf-merchandising time and a 15% lift in upsell conversion when associates used Companion’s natural-language interface.
4. New Device Management and Rental Services
Beyond hardware launches, Zebra highlighted ShareCradle, a modular charging system supporting USB Power Delivery 3.1 and up to 60% faster full-charge times, and its enhanced Device Rental Service, which offers retailers flexible access to models such as the TC78 and ET401. A pilot with a mid-tier apparel retailer demonstrated that rental deployments during seasonal peaks cut capital expenditures by 30% while maintaining 98% device uptime through automated swap-out logistics.