Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a leading digital solution provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets, and people, today announced the rapid growth of its Mobile Robotics Specialisation for channel partners. Nearly 40 specialist robotics partners have joined the programme since its April 2022 launch to help solve customer challenges.

As part of Zebra’s award-winning PartnerConnect programme, the Mobile Robotics Specialisation programme includes a comprehensive portfolio of sales and technical training courses and certifications that educate and support partners about Zebra’s robotics automation solutions, featuring Zebra’s Fetch autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and FetchCore software. Qualifying partners in North America and EMEA gain exclusive access to business-building benefits such as pre-qualified leads, market development funds, go-to-market support and financial incentives to enable partners to market, sell and implement Zebra’s robotics automation solutions.

Renovotec is a Zebra Mobile Robotics Specialist with offices across England and the Netherlands and joined the Mobile Robotics Specialisation programme in May 2022.

“Joining Zebra’s Mobile Robotics Specialisation has unlocked new innovation for us,” said Mark Jones, Sales Director of Renovotec. “We have integrated our Warehouse Task Engine middleware with Zebra’s Fetch Robotics hardware to create a new generation of Renovotec warehouse robotics solutions. Together with Zebra, our robotics solutions have the power to increase warehouse picking productivity and efficiencies and builds on our track record of developing solutions that warehousing operators want and need.”

Zebra’s robotics automation solutions include a portfolio of Fetch AMRs that help mobile robotics specialists drive a range of materials movement outcomes in the warehouse or manufacturing plant. The robots can help solve labour and efficiency challenges related to storage carousel transport, work cell and lineside delivery, replenishment, cycle counting and recycling and rubbish removal. The solutions are ready out-of-the-box so set-up and deployment by Zebra partners can be achieved in a matter of hours or days rather than weeks or months.

“Partnering with Zebra has opened the doors to several new opportunities, even beyond mobile robotics,” said Bob Richards, Vice President of Product Offerings for AbeTech, a specialist in industrial automation solutions for warehouse, manufacturing, and logistics enterprises across North America. “Customers see us differently after we discuss our AMR capabilities. And, we are very impressed with the ease of set-up and workflow creation, integration with outside systems, and enhanced safety features.” 

Depending on the use case, Zebra customers have witnessed 2-3X throughput and productivity increases, floor space gains and significantly reduced the physical toll on workers. One customer reported that it eliminated 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of manual travel within the first six months of deploying a Zebra robotics automation solution.

Zebra’s recent Warehouse Vision Study found that 27% of warehouse operators globally have already deployed some form of AMRs. Within five years, that number is expected to grow to 90% around the world. In addition, 83% of associates working alongside AMRs today confirm they have helped increase productivity and reduce walking/travel time, while 73% reported reduce errors, and 65% said AMRs had enabled them to advance to new roles or opportunities.

“Zebra launched its Mobile Robotics Specialisation because we’re a channel-centric company. We solve customer challenges and deliver the outcomes they need through and with our partners,” said Bill Cate, Vice President, Product Marketing and Ecosystems, Zebra Technologies. “It’s important we support and reward partners who specialise in the solutions that our customers need for scalable and flexible operations to help drive their growth, meet demand and address labour challenges.”   

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• First launched in April 2022, the Zebra’s Mobile Robotics Specialisation for channel partners has grown quickly with new training, certification, funding, and incentives.

• Customers across North America and EMEA are leveraging Zebra partners for robotics automation solutions, giving them enhanced capabilities for flexible, scalable growth to meet demand.

• Robotics automation solutions have delivered throughput, floor space, and manual travel savings for warehousing operators and manufacturers.