Zebra Technologies Study Finds Seven in Ten Decision Makers to Accelerate Warehouse Technology Investment by 2020

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Zebra Technologies Corporation ZBRA, a global leader in solutions and services that provide real-time visibility into organizations' assets, people and transactions, today announced the results of its latest Warehouse Vision Study, which compares input from 1,378 IT and operations warehouse professionals on expectations in 2015 versus 2020. Consumer expectations will drive increased investment in IT and operational functions in warehouses over the next four years as manufacturing and logistics companies continue to adjust to delivering directly to consumers. 

KEY FACTS

• Over 40% of respondents cited shorter delivery times as a key measure requiring warehouse investment. Also indicative of increased consumer demand is the expected increase by 76% of those surveyed in the number of warehouse locations and volume of items shipped out of warehouses.          
• Half of the surveyed IT and operations decision makers planned to move to a more modern, full-featured warehouse management system last year while 75% of them plan this in 2020 to help manage the increased locations and items shipped.
• 51% of those surveyed expected increased investment in real-time location systems that track inventory and assets throughout the warehouse last year, but this number escalates to 76% of respondents in 2020.
• Executives anticipate an increase in inbound items that will be bar coded in the next five years, from 66% of survey respondents in 2015 to 82% in 2020.
• By 2020, respondents cited plans to make investments in the following processes and tools: increasing volume of items shipped (76%), equipping staff with technology (73%), bar code scanning (68%), tablets (66%) and Internet of Things (62%). 
• The October 2015 survey was completed by 1,378 IT and warehouse professionals in 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

SUPPORTING QUOTE
Mark Wheeler, director, Warehouse Solutions, Zebra Technologies
"IT and operations decision makers in warehouses and distribution centers consistently need to identify new ways to improve productivity and reduce costs to remain competitive. Fulfillment is an integral part of the customer value chain and investment in technology and innovation in this area can go far to improve a customer's experience. Nearly half of respondents in the survey indicated a concern about labor performance in the order, pick and fulfillment process. We see this as an enormous area of opportunity: providing workers with the tools they need to do their jobs accurately and productively will help companies meet and exceed customer expectations for accuracy and on-time delivery."

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Website: Zebra Technologies
Facebook:  Zebra Technologies
Twitter: @ZebraTechnology
Zebra Warehouse Vision Report 2020: Survey Findings

About Zebra Technologies
Zebra ZBRA makes businesses as smart and connected as the world we live in. Zebra tracking and visibility solutions transform the physical to digital, creating the data streams enterprises need to simplify operations, know more about their businesses, and empower their mobile workforces. For more information, visit www.zebra.com.

Media Contact:
Bill Abelson
Zebra Technologies
+1-631-738-4751
bill.abelson@zebra.com

Industry Analyst Contact:
Caitlin DeRango
Zebra Technologies
+1-847-793-5896
cderango@zebra.com

Zebra Technologies, Zebra and the Zebra logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corporation and are used under license. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. ©2016 Zebra Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.

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SOURCE Zebra Technologies Corporation