Zebra Technologies

{{Infobox company

| name = Zebra Technologies Corporation

| logo = Zebra Technologies logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert-image

| image = Brand-3op-wikipedia-image.jpg

| image_caption = Headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois

| type = company

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NASDAQ|ZBRA}} (Class A)|S&P 500 component}}

| ISIN =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1969}}

| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Ed Kaplan|Gerhard Cless}}

| location = Lincolnshire, Illinois, U.S.

| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Anders Gustafsson (chair)|William Burns (CEO)}}

| num_employees = 9,900

| num_employees_year = 2024

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|4.98 billion|link=yes}} (2024)

| operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|742 million}} (2024)

| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|528 million}} (2024)

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|7.97 billion}} (2024)

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|3.59 billion}} (2024)

| industry = Computer hardware, Manufacturing, Retail, Health care, Transportation and logistics

| products = RFID printers/encoders, barcode printers, mobile printers, card imaging printers, kiosk printers, real-time locating systems, UWB and related supplies and services, rugged mobile computers and tablets, scanners, software

| website = {{URL|zebra.com}}

| footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/877212/000087721225000027/zbra-20241231.htm|title=Zebra Technologies Annual Report 2024 (Form 10-K) |date=February 13, 2025 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}

}}

Zebra Technologies Corporation is an American mobile computing company specializing in technology used to sense, analyze, and act in real time.{{cite web|url=https://s23.q4cdn.com/838148541/files/doc_financials/2020/q4/2020_10k.pdf|title=FORM 10-K|date=2020-12-31|publisher= UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION}} The company manufactures and sells marking, tracking, and computer printing technologies. Its products include mobile computers and tablets, software, thermal barcode label and receipt printers, RFID smart label printers/encoders/fixed & handheld readers/antennas, autonomous mobile robots (AMR’s) & machine vision (MV), and fixed industrial scanning hardware & software.

History

Zebra was incorporated in 1969 as Data Specialties Incorporated, a manufacturer of high-speed electromechanical products. The company changed its focus to specialty on-demand labeling and ticketing systems in 1982 and became Zebra Technologies Corporation in 1986. Zebra became a publicly traded company in 1991.

In 1986, Zebra (then Data Specialties Incorporated) acquired Qwint Systems (formerly Martin Research), an early microcomputer pioneer which had restructured as a teletypewriter manufacturer at the beginning of the 1980s.{{cite web | last=Loboyko | first=Steve | date=April 29, 2006 | url=http://www.juliepalooza.com/sl/qwint.htm | title=Qwint Teleprinter! | work=Juliepalooza | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121052633/http://www.juliepalooza.com/sl/qwint.htm | archivedate=January 21, 2023}}{{cite book | date=1982 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHNRAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Qwint+Systems%22+%22martin+research%22 | title=Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States | publisher=Jaques Cattell Press | volume=17 | isbn=9780835213608 | via=Google Books | ref={{sfnRef|Jaques Cattell Press|1982}} }}

In 1998, Zebra Technologies merged with Eltron International, Inc.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/10/26/zebra-merger-zebra-technologies-corps-shareholders-voted/|title=Zebra : Zebra Technologies Corp.'s shareholders...|date=26 October 1998 }} In 2000, Comtec Information Systems was acquired by Zebra Technologies,{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/zebra-technologies-corporation-history|title=History of Zebra Technologies Corporation – FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com}} followed in 2003 by the acquisition of Atlantek, Inc., which was a manufacturer of photo ID printers.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/11/20/zebra-to-acquire-maker-of-photo-id-card-printers/|title=Zebra to maker of photo ID card printers|date=20 November 2003 }}

In 2004, the company expanded into RFID smart label manufacturing.{{cite press release |title=RedPrairie Provides Support for Zebra RP4T Mobile Thermal RFID - Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=apFnsV9IOZR4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183300/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=apFnsV9IOZR4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |website=Bloomberg |date=24 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Form 10K SEC Filings |url=http://www.wikinvest.com:80//Zebra_Technologies_(ZBRA)/Filing/10-K/2007/F5601379 |date=25 September 2016}}{{dead link|date=May 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In the following years, Zebra also acquired Swecoin, WhereNet Corp,{{cite web|url=http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?6652|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530051737/http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?6652|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2014|title=Zebra Active RFID Provider WhereNet|website=www.rfidjournal.com|date=12 January 2007 }} Proveo AG,{{cite web|url=http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?3682|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530050311/http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?3682|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2014|title=Zebra Navis, Proveo|website=www.rfidjournal.com|date=16 October 2007 }} and Navis Holdings (later divested in 2011).{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110131/NEWS08/110139990/zebra-technologies-sells-navis-unit-for-190m|title=Zebra Technologies sells Navis unit for $190M|website=Crain's Chicago Business|date=31 January 2011 }}

The company bought the Enterprise Solutions Group (ESG) in 2008 and renamed the group Zebra Enterprise Solutions in 2009. In the same year, Multispectral Solutions, Inc. was acquired.{{cite web|title=Zebra Technologies acquires Multispectral Solutions|url=https://www.dqchannels.com/zebra-technologies-acquires-multispectral-solutions/|website=DQ Channels|date=15 May 2008 }} In 2012, the companies LaserBand,{{Cite news |title=LaserBand sold to Zebra Technologies |last=Barr |first=Diana |work=St. Louis Business Journal |date=13 July 2012 |url= https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2012/07/13/laserband-sold-to-zebra-technologies.html }} and StepOne Systems were purchased with a cash price of $1.5 million.{{cite web |title=Retail Touch Points |url=http://www.retailtouchpoints.com/news-brief/2215-zebra-technologies--stepone-systems |website=EWEBsite |date=19 January 2013 |access-date=31 July 2018 }}

In 2013, the company acquired Hart Systems for $94 million in cash from the private equity firm Topspin Partners LBO.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/zebra-technologies-buys-motorola-enterprise-unit-for-3-5bn/|title=Zebra Technologies Motorola enterprise unit for $3.5bn - ZDNet|first=Charlie|last=Osborne|website=ZDNet }}

In 2014, Zebra acquired Motorola Solutions' Enterprise Division in a $3.45 billion transaction, providing mobile computing and advanced data capture communications technologies and services. Zebra's acquisition of the Enterprise Division included the Symbol Technologies and Psion product lines.{{cite web|title=Zebra|url=https://www.biastechnology.com/zebra-motorola-psion-symbol/|website=BIAS Tech|date=19 March 2020 }} Also in 2014, Zebra provided its real-time location system (RTLS) in NFL stadiums to track players and officials and provide location-based data for the NFL's Next Gen Stats program.{{cite web|title=NFL Partners With Zebra Technologies To Provide Next Generation Player Tracking|last=Belzer|first=Jason|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2014/07/31/nfl-partners-with-zebra-technologies-to-provide-next-generation-player-tracking/?sh=6a7950955598|website=Forbes}}{{cite web|title=NFL Next Gen Stats|url=https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/technology/nfl-next-gen-stats/website=NFL|access-date=2021-05-26|archive-date=2021-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526213414/https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/technology/nfl-next-gen-stats/website=NFL|url-status=dead}} Zebra’s partnership with the NFL extends through the 2025 football season.{{cite news |title=Zebra Technologies extends partnership with NFL through 2025 season |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/02/06/Technology/zebra-technologies-nfl.aspx |publisher=SBJ}}

In 2018, the company acquired Xplore Technologies, a maker of ruggedized tablets and other hard-wearing hardware.{{cite web|title=Zebra Technologies is buying rugged tablet maker Xplore for around $90M in cash|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/05/zebra-technologies-is-buying-rugged-tablet-maker-xplore-for-around-90m-in-cash/|website=Tech Crunch|date=July 5, 2018}}

In 2019, Zebra acquired Temptime Corporation, a provider of temperature monitoring devices to the healthcare industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190128005156/en/Zebra-Technologies--Temptime-Corporation|title=Zebra Technologies to Temptime Corporation|date=2019-01-28|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30}} That same year, Zebra also acquired Profitect, a retail software company that developed a product line used for tracking and identifying inventory losses.{{cite web|title=Zebra Technologies to Acquire Profitect|last=Denman|first=Tim|url=https://risnews.com/zebra-technologies-acquire-profitect|website=RIS|date=May 20, 2019}}{{cite news|title=Zebra buys Israeli retail analytics co Profitect for $100m|last=Yablonko|first=Yasmin|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-zebra-buy-israeli-retail-analytics-co-profitect-1001286577|website=Globes|date=May 22, 2019}}

In 2020, Zebra acquired Reflexis Systems, a provider of workforce scheduling and task management software to the retail, food service, hospitality, and banking industries{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200902005083/en/Zebra-Technologies-Completes-Acquisition-of-Reflexis-Systems-Inc.|title=Zebra Technologies Completes Acquisition of Reflexis Systems, Inc.|date=2020-09-02|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2020-12-18}} for $575 Million.{{cite press release|title=Zebra Technologies to Acquire Reflexis Systems, Inc.|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200728005356/en/Zebra-Technologies-to-Acquire-Reflexis-Systems-Inc.|access-date=2020-12-18|website=businesswire.com|date=28 July 2020 |language=en}}

In 2021, Zebra acquired Adaptive Vision (provider of graphical MV software), Fetch Robotics (manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots) and Antuit.ai (provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions specific to forecasting and merchandising for the retail and CPG industries).{{cite web|title=Zebra Technologies makes acquisition, launches machine vision and fixed scanning solutions|url=https://www.mmh.com/article/zebra_technologies_makes_acquisition_launches_machine_vision_and_fixed_scan|website=Modern Materials Handling|date=18 May 2021}}{{cite web|last=Allinson |first=Mark|title=Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows|url=https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2021/10/25/zebra-technologies-expands-fetch-robotics-portfolio-with-solution-to-optimize-fulfillment-workflows/46790/|website=Robotics & Automation|date=25 October 2021}}{{cite web|last=Kanaan|first=Maha|title=Zebra Technologies' Acquisition of Antuit Group|url=https://www.globallegalchronicle.com/zebra-technologies-acquisition-of-antuit-group/ |website=Global Legal Chronicle|date=4 November 2021}}

In 2022, Zebra acquired Matrox Imaging, a developer of machine vision components and systems.{{Cite web |title=Zebra Technologies Completes Acquisition of Matrox Imaging |url=https://www.zebra.com/us/en/about-zebra/newsroom/press-releases/2022/zebra-technologies-completes-acquisition-of-matrox-imaging.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Zebra Technologies |language=en}}

In December 2023, Zebra partnered with Verizon Business to create a software package that will allow for a faster private 5G network. Zebra tablets and computers will work on Verizon's private network, allowing for more network capacity and fast communication.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=Verizon Business and Zebra Technologies launch device & software solutions to accelerate private 5G |url=https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-business-zebra-technologies-private-5g |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=www.verizon.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Dan |date=6 December 2023 |title=Verizon herds Zebra into its private 5G pen with an eye on enterprise |url=https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/interview/verizon-herds-zebra-into-its-private-5g-pen-with-an-eye-on-enterprise/2023/12/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=sdxcentral}}

In 2023, Zebra unveiled Zebra Workcloud - its purpose-built suite of enterprise software applications, primarily serving in retail, banking and healthcare industries.{{cite news|url=https://www.edgemiddleeast.com/brand-view/zebra-technologies-unveils-reimagined-software-portfolio-at-zone-customer-conferences|title=Zebra Technologies unveils reimagined software portfolio at ZONE Customer Conferences|newspaper=Edge Middle East|date=October 13, 2023|access-date=February 19, 2024}} Zebra also introduced the WS50 powered by Workcloud, the first wearable Android touch computer.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/zebra-technologies-to-unveil-new-solutions-at-nrf-2024-advancing-the-modern-store|title=Zebra Technologies to Unveil New Solutions at NRF 2024 Advancing the Modern Store|website=Nasdaq|date=January 11, 2024|access-date=February 19, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/54213-staylinked-supports-zebra-technologies-ground-breaking-ws50|title=StayLinked supports Zebra Technologies ground-breaking WS50|website=DC Velocity|access-date=February 19, 2024}}

Locations

Zebra Technologies has more than 128 offices in 55 countries,{{cite web|url=https://s23.q4cdn.com/838148541/files/doc_financials/2022/q4/ar-on-10k-full-web-version-final.pdf|title=Zebra Technologies Annual Report 2022}} including Australia, Poland, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.esri.com/partners/zebra-technologies-i-a2T70000000TNZMEA4|title=Zebra Technologies Inc.|website=Esri|access-date=2021-06-11|archive-date=2021-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611203320/https://www.esri.com/partners/zebra-technologies-i-a2T70000000TNZMEA4|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://craft.co/zebra-technologies/locations?page=2|title=Zebra Headquarters and Locations|website=Craft}} The company also has over 10,000+ partners{{what|date=May 2022}} across 180 countries. In the 2021 annual report, Zebra stated that it traded in 180 countries, with approximately 128 facilities and 9,800 employees.

Reception

Newsweek included Zebra on its 2023 America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list.{{cite web|title=America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023|website=Newsweek |date=9 December 2022 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-greatest-workplaces-2023-diversity}}