Illinois-based Zebra Technologies has launched a retail technology framework. The Modern Store by Zebra is designed to enable retailers to better engage associates, optimise inventory and improve the customer experience.

Designed to support retailers’ long-term success, the Modern Store by Zebra features modern mobile devices and complementary capabilities like advanced communication and collaboration, optimised workforce management and streamlined task management solutions. The Modern Store by Zebra ensures inventory is accurate across all channels, available and easy to locate in stores without undue burden on associates. It also removes friction from critical inflection points to make shopping experiences easier and more enjoyable, from browsing to checkout and purchase. According to Zebra its new framework is designed to help retailers close the gap between planning and execution for labour, inventory and customer experience plans, giving retailers the ability to drive success today with the agility to forecast and adapt for tomorrow.

The Modern Store by Zebra builds on Zebra’s PartnerConnect partner ecosystem – including over 10,000 partners in 100 countries – supported by integrations from Accenture, Google and Microsoft. Zebra’s retail customers now receive tighter integration with collaboration platforms Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. The company’s portfolio of retail software solutions are now available on the Google Cloud Marketplace.

Zebra solution, implementation and integration partners will support the Modern Store framework to help retailers select the ideal mix of hardware, software and services from Zebra and its retail-ready ecosystem to help them achieve their desired outcomes.

The company claims that its framework can enable retailers to reduce product waste shrink rates by 27%, reduce employee turnover by 8%, and increase customer satisfaction scores. It cites its Global Shopper Study to state these outcomes align with surveyed retailers’ top priority to improve inventory management when investing in retail technology. According to Zebra’s study, most retailers (84%) agree leveraging technology and mobile devices attracts and retains more store associates.

“Zebra is passionate about helping retailers globally empower associates with the right tools and information at the right time and ensuring inventory is accurate and visible across all channels,” said Yogesh Kulkarni, Vice President, Strategy, Products and Solutions, Zebra Technologies. “The Modern Store by Zebra will help drive more engaged associates and optimised inventory to enable retailers to improve productivity and deliver a better customer experience. We’re excited to collaborate with leading retailers, explore what modern means to them, and be the trusted solution provider that enables a new, bold way of thinking and working.”