Zebra at the APPFORUM!

I am really excited to attend the Motorola NA APPFORUM this year. I’ve been going for the last 3 years and it’s always interesting to see all the different software being created for enterprise customers.  Because Zebra is the Platinum sponsor this year, I get to have even more interaction at all levels of the conference.  Zebra’s longstanding partnership with Motorola has enhanced our ability to serve the developer community.  I believe we are in the midst of many changes in how things are developed and what they are developed for.

The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been discussed for the last few years, and Zebra has been pleased to add our leadership to the conversation.  Phil Gerskovich, Zebra SVP and respected expert on IoT, will be giving a keynote speech at the App Forum event.

The Internet of Things in the enterprise is all about giving a digital voice to everyday things.  This has been Zebra’s main focus for many years. The ability to give a digital presence to a physical object is in our blood so to speak.

Barcoding and RFID is an integral part of IoT.  The partnership of Zebra and Motorola provides two halves of the equation.  When you ship a pair of shoes to your sister, you can get updates on exactly where it is at nearly any time from a website.  This is barcode based IoT in action. Retailers can find exactly how many size 8 jeans are on the shelf at anytime from anywhere.  RFID technology has come to the point where they are reliably doing just that. 

Zebra is also a leader in bringing IoT to devices of all types.  These can be anything from sensors and readers, to digital displays and lighting.    This new platform, called Zatar, will provide you, as developers, ways to connect, control, create, and collaborate with devices from the cloud. 

We recently announced our involvement with the NFL to provide technology for real time, next gen statistics on players on the field using active RFID technology.  This technology has been in the works for over 15 years in manufacturing and supply chain.  Still, active RFID is in its infancy and we know we have only just hit the tip of the iceberg on what could be possible.

I’m hoping this year that we have the opportunity to share and spark ideas for new ways to use technology to solve real customer problems.