Retail shrink has long been the industry’s silent tax: costly, persistent, and difficult to measure. That narrative is beginning to shift. Findings from VDC’s new Loss Prevention Report show measurable progress, with shrink declining from 2024 to 2025 and delivering more than 15 billion dollars in recovered revenue for U.S. retailers. This improvement reflects the growing influence of data-driven, intelligence-led loss prevention strategies grounded in technology, analytics, and operational visibility.
Samsung’s Galaxy XR is the first to adopt Android XR as a $1,799 mixed reality headset built on the new platform. Co-developed with Google and Qualcomm, Galaxy XR has Gemini voice and vision AI built into core apps. Featuring Qualcomm’s XR2+ Gen 2, 4K micro-OLED panels, hand and eye tracking, and a forehead rest, it comes in at half the cost of Apple’s Vision Pro. But a two-hour battery is still a major drawback for sustained use. A decade after Google Glass and HoloLens pilots did not scale, Galaxy XR shows incremental progress toward deployability in specific workflows, but heat, optics, and power management remain unresolved gating factors.
In October 2025, Emdoor Information Co., Ltd., a China-based full-stack OEM/ODM service provider, announced plans to acquire Shenzhen Chainway Information Technology Co., Ltd. through a combination of share issuance and cash payment. The proposed acquisition remains under review, with the audit, valuation, and regulatory approval processes still ongoing. Once completed, the transaction will bring Chainway, an established provider of RFID and data collection solutions, under Emdoor’s expanding portfolio of rugged and IoT devices. Over the past year, the market has seen a trend of strategic acquisitions, with larger enterprise mobility and automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) solution providers absorbing rugged hardware specialists to broaden their portfolios and strengthen vertical integration. Examples include Social Mobile’s acquisition of Sonim Technologies and TSC Auto ID’s acquisition of Bluebird.
As IT, OT, and IoT systems converge, a new era of connected operations is taking shape. The Extended Internet of Things (XIoT) now links everything from factory floors and smart grids to medical devices and vehicles, driving unprecedented efficiency and innovation. But this connectivity also brings considerable risk. Once-isolated systems are now exposed to new vulnerabilities. A single breach can halt production, compromise safety, and trigger costly downtime.
This year, the event featured dozens of high-performance on-device AI demonstrations. All newly announced Qualcomm chipsets include a dedicated NPU, which enables offline, isolated AI. On-device AI has several benefits that engineering organizations have historically struggled to leverage due to compute constraints. Most notably, running AI models on mobile or edge devices reduces cloud computing costs. Running models in the cloud is a significant cost burden for many organizations. As model providers transition to pricing models that yield better margins, running models on-device will grow in importance.
Snapdragon Summit opened with Qualcomm CEO and President Cristiano Amon celebrating Snapdragon’s 10th anniversary Summit by highlighting the company’s vision for a future transformed by AI. Over the last three years, AI has found its way into the lives of billions of people around the world, most commonly in the form of querying Large Language Models (LLMs) running on the cloud. Amon and Qualcomm believe that “edge is essential for the future of AI.” While the development of AI models and certain intensive tasks will remain cloud-based, advanced computing architecture will enable on-device AI that is immediate, personal, and context-aware, truly functioning as a personal AI agent.
During Apple’s September event last week, the company announced upcoming devices. New hardware included the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. These devices aim to enhance user experience by introducing new features that improve convenience and performance. It is worth noting that tariffs have not impacted the prices of these upcoming devices. Many of these devices have the same price as the previous model, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, all the new Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro 3.
On Tuesday, September 9th, Nozomi Networks and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced they had signed a definitive agreement through which Mitsubishi Electric will acquire Nozomi Networks for $883 million. The all cash deal is expected to close later this year, contingent upon standard regulatory approvals. Already a 7% stakeholder via Nozomi’s $100 million Series E funding round in March 2024, Mitsubishi Electric will retain Nozomi as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary when the acquisition is completed.
After a year of stalled refresh cycles in 2024, the stationary thermal printer market is regaining traction in 2025. Desktop and industrial models are seeing renewed investment, but the role of these devices has changed. Printers are no longer support tools. They are now core infrastructure for compliance, supply chain resilience, and digital transformation.
On September 4, 2025, Cadence Design Systems announced it would acquire Hexagon AB’s Design & Engineering (D&E) business for approximately $3.16 billion. The deal marks an important step in Cadence’s evolution, extending its focus beyond semiconductor design automation to embrace its broader ‘Intelligent System Design’ strategy.
On August 5th Zebra Technologies entered into a $1.3 billion agreement to acquire Elo Touch Solutions, a leading vendor of touchscreen kiosks, mobile computers and payment solutions with $400 million in annual revenues. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025.
Apple unveiled new software updates during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The show was headlined by Apple’s latest operating systems coming this fall: iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS26. Updates include a comprehensively upgraded UI called Liquid Glass, enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities, and features that strengthen continuity between Apple devices. The company described the announcement as, “introducing our broadest design update ever, a more helpful Apple Intelligence, and exciting new features across all our platforms.”
In recent years, the growing demand for embedded AI has extended to miniaturized single board computers (SBCs), prompting hardware platform providers to develop specialized “AI Mini SBCs,” tailored for neural network inference and other workloads. Board suppliers are teaming up with a variety of embedded processor and accelerator technology providers to facilitate the development of commercial edge AI solutions. For example, the advanced AI capabilities and small form factor of devices such as Thundercomm’s Rubik Pi 3, IMDT’s V2N SBC, and the Raspberry Pi 5 with AI Kit offer flexible and competitive hardware solutions for edge AI product development.
This month, Sonim Technologies, a leading provider of rugged mobile solutions, is expected to be acquired by Social Mobile pending customary conditions and approvals. Sonim's portfolio of innovative, rugged technology gives Social Mobile the ability to expand its enterprise mobility offerings to meet the needs of clients in key market sectors. On the synergistic opportunities for this potential acquisition, Robert Marcos, CEO of Social Mobile, stated, “Sonim is a perfect addition to our enterprise portfolio, offering rugged and innovative mobile solutions that complement our mission.”
At Computex 2025 in Taiwan, Qualcomm did not debut new hardware. Instead, it delivered a resounding message: Windows on ARM has finally arrived.
Photoneo earned recognition — and Zebra’s acquisition — by developing not only machine vision 3D cameras but also a novel technique for image processing, patented as parallel structured light. In May 2025 the company made a similar accomplishment in announcing a new version of its flagship product, the MotionCam-3D Color (Blue) with a blue laser beam instead of the industry-standard red. Photoneo developed and patented its own CMOS sensor for image processing of the blue laser beam. The vendor will continue to make and market its red-beam predecessor known as the MotionCam-3D Color.
Panasonic Connect North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, has been officially designated as an authorized distributor of Honeywell Android devices. This strategic- if unprecedented - partnership between Panasonic Connect and Honeywell Productivity Solutions and Services (PSS) carries significant implications for both companies, as well as the enterprises and public sector organizations that depend on their rugged mobile computing solutions.
To the dismay of skeptics, Moore’s law has held true for 60 years. The number of transistors per microchip has roughly doubled every two years, but the cost of adding transistors has increased exponentially—not linearly. Additionally, more transistors in a smaller area generate new manufacturing and engineering challenges. As transistor counts exploded, silicon wafer quality became more critical. Crystal lattice defects, dopant concentration variations, and surface contamination can disable circuit pathways and create entire regions of non-functional transistors. Put simply, silicon defects are extremely expensive problems that are much more likely to occur on larger dies for monolithic system-on-chips (SoCs). To combat the risks associated with packing transistors onto a large die, semiconductor companies have focused research dollars on chiplets, which feature interlocking sets of discrete components on separate pieces of silicon, enabling modular customization that addresses the unique performance and I/O needs of industries such as automotive and medical.
As industries continue their march toward digitalization, the role of networking technologies at the operational edge is becoming more strategic and more complex. From low-latency deterministic protocols to secure wireless connectivity for remote assets, industrial networking is no longer a support layer. It’s a competitive differentiator.
Hardware innovations advance edge AI, but software innovations make it possible. Model optimization technology has brought bulky AI models to low-power devices, expanding the realm of possibilities for AI applications at the edge. Processor-specific optimizations and software toolkits have further enabled edge AI on devices that lack hardware acceleration or high performance CPUs. Thinking back to early February at Embedded World 2025, an annual conference held in Nuremberg showcasing the latest innovations in embedded technology, AI hardware was the star of the show. Several chip and IP providers released new products targeting edge AI.
Shortly after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the hand-controlled first-person view (FPV) drone emerged as a critical delivery method for over-the-horizon anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions. In the hands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this force multiplier tool helped level out the asymmetrical conflict. Since then, both sides of the conflict have made heavy use of these small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to minimize troop casualties and extend the reach of their front lines.
Industrial organizations today are undergoing a profound shift in how they manage and maintain critical equipment. Machine health monitoring is no longer a niche function; it is becoming a foundational pillar of operational excellence across industries. As companies prioritize maximizing uptime, improving efficiency, and transitioning to predictive maintenance models, machine health solutions are moving from optional to essential.
Sustainability, digital transformation and industrial AI dominated discussions at Hannover Messe 2025. Over 4,000 exhibitors from around the globe convened in Hannover, Germany, to showcase their latest innovations reshaping the industrial landscape. Many focused on delivering clear, outcome-based solutions for their customers, while others emphasized the power of their technologies to streamline operations across complex, distributed systems.
Samsung launched its newest rugged devices, the Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro, engineered for industries that demand reliable and durable technology. These devices build off the successes of previous models, such as the XCover6 Pro and Tab Active4 Pro, and include key upgrades that represent a step forward in processing power and battery life.
TKH Vision is a machine vision conglomerate headquartered in Netherlands. It offers a comprehensive range of camera-based vision systems for industrial and security applications. TKH’s machine vision business includes the following brands (by way of acquisitions) – Allied Vision Technologies, Chromasens, Euresys, LMI Technologies, Mikrotron, NET, Nerian, and SVS-Vistek.
On April 1st, 2025 TKH Vision held part one of its 2-part roadshow in Bangalore, India. The company’s entry into the Indian market with machine vision solutions marks a significant milestone in the rapidly evolving industrial automation landscape. India's manufacturing sector has been experiencing robust growth, with industrial production output showing an average year-over-year growth of 4.7% over the last 36 months. This growth trajectory along with government initiatives like "Make in India” and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes have created an opportunity for an increase in automation investments to improve operational efficiencies and support error-free workflows. By all accounts, India is being increasingly positioned as the next big global manufacturing destination. Learn more
LogiMAT and ProMat showcased the breakthrough innovations that are revolutionizing intelligent automation in 2025 and beyond.
The VDC team had numerous discussions at both events that highlighted exciting developments related to AI, data capture, labeling, logistics, machine vision, manufacturing, robotics, supply chains, and much more. The pressing themes underlying both events included improving labor allocation, enhancing worker satisfaction, strengthening traceability, automating repetitive workflows, and advancing sustainable practices. Learn more
Across many industries, frontline mobile workers perform beyond the traditional office setup, tackling daily challenges without the convenience of a desk, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. This is especially true in public safety where duties demand law enforcement officers, fire personnel, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to operate in vehicles or on their feet. Technology has evolved along with the expectations of public safety workers from bulky and expensive mobile data terminals (MDTs) to the ergonomic rugged notebooks we frequently see in vehicles today. Efforts to advance past this in-vehicle form factor have experienced slow uptake and limited adoption, but in February 2025, Samsung announced its deployment of 10,000 Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones to the Chicago Police Department with its Samsung DeX mobile desktop and Samsung Knox software. This marks a significant step towards a more dynamic mobile solution for public safety and sets the precedent that the mobile-driven workstation configuration is viable in a large-scale deployment. Learn more
VDC attended CES 2025, an event that included more than 4,500 exhibitors viewed by more than 141,000 attendees. Key topics included real-world artificial intelligence applications used to power the Intelligent Edge—resulting from huge investments in AI technology over the past 3-4 years.
Learn more
VDC Research recently published its 2024 Buyer Behavior Guide, exploring decision makers’ preferences on enterprise and government technology. The survey highlights ongoing trends in organizations' purchasing criteria when investing in mobile devices for their frontline workers in healthcare, field service, public safety, retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and warehousing. In the 2024 edition, VDC investigated new developments around AI adoption, sustainability initiatives like EPEAT, and best practices for mobile device sourcing and disposal. Learn more
In December 2024 Zebra Technologies announced its intent to acquire Photoneo, a Slovakian maker of 3D sensors for machine vision. Founded in 2013, Photoneo differentiates itself from numerous vendors of 3D MV sensors by offering parallel structured light, developed and patented by the company’s co-founder Jan Zizka. Learn more
Artificial intelligence workloads are the engines driving innovation, transforming operational data into fuel for solutions powering the connected world. At the edge, AI workloads have evolved to maximize available computing power through the use of new sophisticated development tools and software resources from a variety of organization types. AI development solution providers such as Edge Impulse and MathWorks have continued to advance model optimization techniques, bringing innovative intelligence to edge systems. Computer vision models and generative neural network inference are focal points for development on edge devices today, but compute-intensive edge AI workloads will diversify greatly in the near future.nes and other devices to connect with both cellular stations and satellite services. Learn more