Generative AI Zebra Technologies collaborates with Google, Android, and Qualcomm

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Zebra Technologies is an expert in connecting data, assets, and people in businesses. Read here what is expected from the new collaboration.

Zebra Technologies will cooperate with Google Cloud, Android and Qualcomm Technologies, as it was announced now. The aim is to help companies deliver transformative customer experiences, boost employee productivity, and gain deeper insights through generative artificial intelligence. Innovative features will be introduced this week at Google Cloud Next '24 in Las Vegas. Ultimately, the discussion about generative artificial intelligence is to be shifted so that it's not about how it works anymore, but about how it can help to make everyday work easier.

Generative AI makes staff more efficient

Specifically, the aim is to reduce cognitive load on customer-facing employees and enable better "just in time" decision-making. This is accomplished with faster onboarding and training. In the face of ongoing labor shortages and cost pressure, employees are being challenged more than ever, experts explain. Not least, they are also tasked with improving the quality of their customer interactions. The vision is for employees from back office staff to branch staff to be able to simply access information and find answers to questions via chat on a handheld device - for example, "How do I open the branch?" or "What type of wiring should a customer use for a 100-watt switch panel?" The necessary functions are supported by generative AI with domain-specific knowledge, Zebra Technologies notes. The knowledge comes from documents such as standard operating procedures (SOP), policies, training materials, and product information.

Always finding the best procedures

Zebra is now registering the need in terms of merging planning and execution systems within the company. Generative AI will accelerate this with finely tuned, realistic models, as it continues. These models will be able to plan and automate tasks, respond to queries, and make recommendations based on the context in which an employee needs them. Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra, explains: "Take the practical example of a European supermarket chain. They tested generative AI with Zebra mobile computers by feeding the model with their entire library of standard operating procedures." Now, employees have a huge amount of knowledge at their disposal that is derived from guidelines, procedures and product information. According to Bianculli, this is like a digital assistant that is always available and through which staff can acquire skills faster. At the same time, it is ensured that the best practices are applied consistently.

Retail, healthcare, and logistics in focus

And with Zebra devices, which are based on the Android operating system and are powered by Qualcomm Technologies processors with on-device AI functions, these results could soon become a reality in companies. They are particularly suitable for retail, healthcare and the transport and logistics industry. And together with Google's Gemini and "Open Source Gemma" models, the entire spectrum of implementation possibilities for generative AI is available, ranging from On Device to On Premise, Cloud and Hybrid options.