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.
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 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
The past few years have seen a boom in the satellite industry due to the reductions in costs to send Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to orbit and increased integration of satellite services with 5G devices. Today, Blue Orbit’s New Shepard rocket costs between $5 million and $7 million. Compared to the 1980’s, these prices are 40 times lower. With cheaper parts, the ability to design smaller spacecraft machinery, and large investments towards SpaceX and Blue Origin, costs for takeoff have dropped. As these costs have lowered, satellite applications for companies such as Starlink have grown. Well-known brands like T-Mobile have collaborated with Starlink and Verizon on Skylo to reach a common goal of eliminating mobile dead zones. Following this trend, there has been a surge of partnerships between terrestrial network operators and satellite internet providers allowing smartphones and other devices to connect with both cellular stations and satellite services. Learn more
In just a few days, millions will flock to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games to watch athletes compete at the highest level. To maintain the safety and security of the largest crowd in Paris’s history, public safety agencies must be at the top of their game. Advanced technology will be at the forefront of many initiatives driving towards the goal of protecting all participants and spectators of the games… Learn more
Thousands of enterprises and workers across industries around the globe woke up Friday morning to what is described as the “Blue Screen of Death” on their Windows PCs. This outage originates from CrowdStrike… Learn more
Zebra Technologies held its 2024 Innovation Day on May 14th, giving partners and analysts a dive into the company’s latest innovation roadmap and goals for the future. The event began with a highlight of key ‘megatrends’ that Zebra believes will support long-term growth, including IoT, automation, mobile/cloud computing, rising eCommerce demand, and of course, Artificial Intelligence… Learn more
We live in a dynamic era where the traditional office setting, complete with desks and computers, is no longer the exclusive setup for many workers. Frontline mobile workers in industries like transportation, public safety, utilities, and manufacturing, spend their days entirely in vehicles or rely on them for most of their operational workflows. Replacing a standard office with an in-vehicle workspace poses unique challenges that various OEMs have tackled by offering vehicle-based solutions catered to mobile workers and their industries. These solutions include rugged computers, vehicle mounts, mobile routers, power cradles, accessories, and telematics software that all come together to create a space in which workers and fleets can operate successfully. Learn more
At the beginning of 2024, the Wi-Fi Alliance® officially announced Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7™. Wi-Fi 7 technology has been tested by connectivity solution providers for some time now, but this new announcement has signaled the market’s readiness for mass adoption and deployment of Wi-Fi 7 devices in 2024; the earliest adopters of this technology include smartphones, PCs, tablets, and access points, soon to be followed by wearable equipment. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6E in 2021 was revolutionary in advancing Wi-Fi capabilities, opening support for the 6 GHz band that was previously unavailable, offering greater capacity and throughput. Learn more
For years, industries have been plagued by inefficient onboarding, training, and knowledge transfer. Traditional training methods have proven to be not only slow, unengaging, and ineffective, but costly and even dangerous for industries such as retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. Learn more
Parcel shipping leaders FedEx and UPS have had to temper volume expectations for 2023 after a drop in Q2 revenues. FedEx, which reported a 10% revenue dip year over year, noted that the trend was felt across the industry, and that it would focus on consolidation and operating cost reduction to mitigate the drop. UPS, down 10.9% in Q2, is focused on winning back business and securing new opportunities. USPS reported a decline of 2.4% in year‑on‑year revenues, while Amazon logistics reported 5.5% growth. Learn more
Hospital at Home has presented a solution to capacity and patient experience challenges that have plagued the healthcare industry in recent years. Hospital at Home, a remote alternative to in-hospital care for recovering patients, can enable a more comfortable recovery environment for patients and a lower-cost, lower-resource option for healthcare providers.
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On July 4th, the US announced its plans to restrict Chinese companies from accessing cloud computing services like Amazon and Microsoft. This comes directly after China announced a ban on exports of gallium and geranium – two metals essential for semiconductor production. These bans are the most recent in an ongoing trade battle between the two economic giants and have further stoked competition in the global drone and semiconductor markets.
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As enterprises look to enhance operational efficiencies and tap into emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence, the role of connectivity becomes increasingly vital. The development of private wireless networks and advancements of Wi-Fi technology is a clear sign of this need. Another innovation in physical network infrastructure resulting from the demand is Light Fidelity, or “Li-Fi”. Learn more
As connectivity improves throughout the regions of Africa, there is immense potential for enterprise growth. The African continent, whose population of over 1.2 billion has the world’s lowest internet penetration rate (39%), is on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR): improved connectivity will enable technology startups and large-scale industrial operations to take shape, where former limited connectivity inhibited enterprise growth. Learn more
Apple finally entered the extended reality space this week with the debut of the Vision Pro. Investment in the XR category is risky as consumers remain skeptical and have yet to adopt these solutions consistently. Amid the flurry of first impressions two questions dominated the discourse: At this price, who is this product for? And, will Apple’s venture into the XR space succeed? Learn more
Just before the start of Mobile World Congress Barcelona in late February, HPE Inc. announced the planned acquisition of Athonet, a leading provider of private wireless mobile core solutions. This acquisition provides HPE with a complete portfolio of private wireless solutions for enterprise customers and communication service providers (CSPs). Learn more
Between Friday and Monday, the largest ports in the US went quiet. The ports of LA and Long Beach found their operations halted as dockworkers staged “concerted” and disruptive work actions” in response to contract negotiation breakdown. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), a dockworkers’ union representing workers on the West coast, staged individual work slowdowns and in some cases avoided working entirely on Friday and Monday, an action designed to sway negotiations that have been ongoing since July. The dockworkers, also called longshoremen or stevedores, are pushing for better pay and job security in negotiations with shipping lines. Learn more
On Tuesday, RCR Wireless News hosted the much-anticipated Private Networks Global Forum, in which industry voices came together online to discuss updates and nuances in the private wireless market for enterprise adoption. The Forum covered a range of market issues, including emerging solutions, spectrum allocation, ecosystem partnerships, challenges, key deployment drivers, and vertical-specific case studies, among other topics. Here are some of the highlights from Tuesday’s Forum. Learn more
Amid speculation that the US will default on its debt by as early as June 1st, leaders across industries are taking extra measures to protect operations. Congressional response could entail a further raise of the debt ceiling, prioritization of lenders and bond holders in a technical default, or prioritization of domestic spending in a classic default. Any of the three outcomes may result in a recession, which could trigger the following trends. Learn more
Between supply chain instability and a tight labor market, the distribution centers of today are faced with many obstacles. Luckily, the picking and sorting process can be streamlined through advanced voice solutions – wearable devices that talk employees through workflows. Time spent interacting with a screen or paper adds up and opens the door to error, but with hands available and eyes free from distraction, employees can accomplish more for their efforts. Learn more
Frontline labor challenges have persisted in 2023, and industries like transportation, deliveries, logistics, food service, and manufacturing continue to face record turnovers. Enterprises have adopted a multitude of strategies to expedite training, retain workers, and increase a sense of value as job satisfaction drops. While some companies are considering semi and full automation of their operations, others are seeking out ways to retain their workers while identifying, isolating, and eliminating less-popular tasks. Learn more
With the growing ease of online ordering, try-at-home models, and lenient refund policies, the modern consumer is no stranger to product returns. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that over 16% of online and in-store purchases were returned in 2022, down from 20% in 2021. Returns are a major drain on retail and ecommerce profits, and the reverse logistics of returns can be messy. Learn more
The recent emergence of ChatGPT, an AI-based language model, has caused a stir in both the consumer and enterprise world with the chatbot’s ability to provide detailed and articulate responses across a variety of knowledge topics. Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT was released in late 2022 and can not only mimic human conversations, but write and debug computer code, compose stories, and answer test questions at a level above average human test-takers. Learn more
CPUs made with Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) architecture are inherently mobile-friendly. A benefit of ARM devices includes low-energy consumption, extending battery life. Low heat production makes noisy fans obsolete. Compact, simple circuits and slim designs translate to portability. ARM chips also win in terms of affordability. Learn more
Zebra Technologies has announced the launch of its TC15 into the African market, offering a new rugged device for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the manufacturing, transportation, field services, retail, and hospitality verticals. Coupling premium features of the Zebra brand with a competitive price, the TC15 promises to shake up a market typically dominated by low-cost regional manufacturers and consumer-grade devices. Learn more
Amid extreme weather and record port congestion, smooth supply chains have come to feel like a distant memory. The need to navigate new challenges is more urgent than ever, and shippers are pushing much of their urgency onto logistics providers: the truck drivers, maritime crews, and aviators operating in ever-shorter timeframes. Learn more
With MilDef’s recent acquisition of Handheld Group, changes are in store for both companies as they work together to expand their market presence. VDC Research Analyst Rowan Litter spoke with Handheld Group CEO Thomas Löfblad to discuss the transition. Learn more
Mobile analytics are quickly becoming an essential part of everyday life in the modern world. With businesses and people looking to become the most efficient versions of themselves, the ability to analyze strengths and weaknesses is vastly important. Whether its businesses looking to shave off minutes of downtime to ensure maximum productivity or social media analyzing user data to produce an individualized platform, analytics have a strong hold on how we experience our everyday lives. With the current transition into smart solutions, data on how to best run these new technologies will be critical moving forward. Learn more
Mobile analytics are quickly becoming an essential part of everyday life in the modern world. With businesses and people looking to become the most efficient versions of themselves, the ability to analyze strengths and weaknesses is vastly important. Whether its businesses looking to shave off minutes of downtime to ensure maximum productivity or social media analyzing user data to produce an individualized platform, analytics have a strong hold on how we experience our everyday lives. With the current transition into smart solutions, data on how to best run these new technologies will be critical moving forward. Learn more
Amidst major events of the last three years, risk assessments have become a critical part of leadership discussions. Hybrid and remote work, long dismissed as a threat to office “culture” and productivity, are expected job components for new employees; however, amid a multi-year pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing waves of the “great resignation,” cybersecurity has fallen low on executives’ priority lists, putting them at a growing risk of cyberattacks through their hybrid workforces. At the dawn of the pandemic, a VDC end-user survey showed that over 40% of leadership in sectors ranging from public safety to healthcare to transportation viewed strong IT infrastructure as the most important contributor to pandemic adaptability. Strong infrastructure has become increasingly harder to maintain: there are now a range of cybersecurity risks faced by companies around hardware, software, and connectivity, with the added human risks deriving from both employees and their employers. Learn more
Two new rugged device lines have recently been announced, which have promising features designed to improve usability and durability for their respective markets. Zebra Technologies has announced the release of two new members of its TC5X Series of mobile computers (TC53 and TC58), while Panasonic is launching its new TOUGHBOOK 40 laptop. With the TC5X devices offering optimized screen size and enhanced dimensioning capabilities, and the TOUGHBOOK 40 exceeding durability standards of past devices, these new products will collectively cater to a wide range of user needs. Learn more
Peak Technologies is one of the market leaders in the AIDC space, offering digital supply chain solutions utilizing enterprise printing, labeling, mobile data collection and a full suite of lifecycle and managed services. Peak focuses on end markets such as manufacturing, wholesale distribution, e-commerce, transportation, and logistics and retail. In April 2021, Peak Technologies was acquired by Sole Source Capital, a private equity firm that thematically invests in fragmented, high-growth industrial subsectors. Sole Source seeks founder-owned businesses or corporate carve-outs that will benefit from the team’s operating and M&A capabilities. Sole Source Capital has a strong operating heritage that enables it to execute a buy and build strategy with significant downside protection. Learn more
On May 18, RealWear hosted Welcome to the Industrial Metaverse: XR Powerhouse Roundtable Discussion with Andrew Chrostowski (Board Chair & CEO| RealWear, Inc.), Indranil Sircar (CTO, Manufacturing Industry | Microsoft), Brain Vogelsang (Sr. Director, Product Management – AR | Qualcomm), and John Fan (Board Chair & CEO | Kopin). The discussion explored the benefits, challenges, technology requirements, and potential use cases of the industrial metaverse. Benefits are expected in productivity, access to data, and worker experience, but the panel anticipates the most impactful changes will relate to worker safety. For this technological revolution to occur and place safety at the forefront, the worker and physical world will always take priority over the digital world. Panelists stressed that, while much of the technology required for a metaverse experience in the enterprise already exists, there are still gaps which will be addressed in stages over the coming years. Learn more
Shipium, a supply chain software company announced its Series A funding on April 14. The $27.5M funding round is the largest ever Series A for a supply chain software provider and brings the company’s total funding to $38.7M. Shipium, which calls itself a “fulfillment management platform for e-commerce retail” posits that with the right modern solutions, any e-commerce retailer can compete with Amazon. Amazon, the e-commerce titan and de facto measuring stick for all things online retail, is on the resumes of both Mac Brown and Jason Murray, who co-founded Shipium in 2019. Learn more
Climate change is one of the most important issues affecting the future of all life around the globe. Growing advocacy movements to address the causes of man-made climate change and prepare society for a greener future have led leaders in both the public and private sectors promising to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices. Governments are enacting policies that encourage the reduction of their nation’s carbon footprints, while enterprises are adapting to these policies with more sustainable and cleaner business models. In the world of enterprise mobility, solution providers are taking action to “go green” while also reducing the footprints of their customers. Learn more
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) — also known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) — has the potential to revolutionize life in urban centers for residents and enterprises. UAM has varying definitions across existing groups in the space, all of which refer to the airborne movement of goods and/or people in urban spaces, carried out by a highly automated VTOL drones; the Urban-Air-Mobility Initiative Cities Community (UIC2) of the European Union simply defines it as “very-low altitude airborne traffic, above populated areas, at scale.” Learn more
This week at the Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society conference in Orlando, Florida, Philips unveiled the latest development of its Enterprise Performance Analytics program. The company announced that its PerformanceBridge offering, which provides operational insights and deep analytics capabilities to radiology practices, will now be available to cardiology practices. While mobile analytics have historically focused on the device itself, Philips’ offering is part of a new wave of mobile analytics programs which offer much more. Learn more
Mobile devices are becoming essential tools for enterprise operations across many verticals. Whether it’s providing consumers with mobile app options or utilizing mobile devices to increase employee productivity, enterprise mobility is one of the most influential trends for businesses today. While these mobile solutions are becoming increasingly popular amongst US businesses, they come with inherent challenges. Learn more
On December 22, Optoro, Inc. announced a $25 million strategic investment led by Zebra Technologies. Also participating in the funding round were Volta Circle, eBay, and UPS. This investment comes as returns processes become a top-of-mind issue for retailers, brands, and 3PLs. Shifting consumer behaviors like the migration toward e-Commerce and the rise of bracketing have pushed returns volumes to new heights. Learn more
Today, B2M Solutions, a global enterprise mobile software company, announced an expansion of its partnership with Peak Technologies, a leading provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions, system integration, and managed services for enterprise mobility. With this partnership expansion, Peak Technologies will bundle B2M’s Elemez software suite as part of Peak Mobile Insights, the company’s managed service offering for enterprise customers. Learn more
In-person CES returned after a two-year hiatus…albeit with a bit of a whimper. Attendance was estimated by CES as “up to 75,000” although it felt closer to 50K on Day 1. Exhibitors numbered 2,200, a sharp drop from over 4,400 in 2020 and lacking several blue-chip vendors that pulled out in the 11th hour amid the current Omicron surge. Attendee safety was front and center with the CTA (the show’s organizer) tasked with the virtually impossible job of creating and enforcing safety protocols. With the backdrop of COVID-19 omni-present, health tech predictably took center stage at CES 2022. This extended to the big stage with Abbott CEO delivering one of the event’s keynote addresses. Learn more
Current labor shortages are forcing organizations to compete for labor like never before. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States labor participation rate was 61.8% in November. While this is the highest rate seen since March 2020, it is still far below levels observed leading up to March 2020 which hovered consistently around 63%. This labor shortage is not unique to the United States, nor is it expected to abate anytime soon. These constraints are affecting transportation and logistics organizations in particular, especially given that while workers were leaving the labor force in droves, delivery fleets were forced to expand to accommodate the tremendous increase in e-commerce volume demand. Learn more
Electric vehicles (EV) and adjacent technologies have been gaining interest as the climate crisis worsens and alternatives to fossil fuels are explored. Increasing government support for the shift towards EVs adds to the confidence that automakers already have making the push towards all-electric or majority-electric product portfolios. Tesla is the dominant EV manufacturer at the moment, accounting for just over 21% of the fully electric vehicle market segment. Other companies such as Volkswagen, Hyundai, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, and Ford are also making strides to carve a space of the EV market out for themselves. Learn more
Federated Wireless, the premier provider of CBRS spectrum sharing services, has announced the release of the company’s new Spectrum Exchange service. This service is aimed to supplement CBRS General Authorized Access (GAA) availability by enabling Priority Access License (PAL) holders to lease out their unused spectrum to non-PAL holders. Through an automated portal, similar to Airbnb, enterprises with PALs can publish pricing, terms, and location options, as well as conduct transactions with non-PAL holding potential lessees, all without direct engagement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Learn more
e-Commerce delivery and curbside checkout are supported by 89.7% and 79.3% of large retailers respectively, but curbside checkout in particular has had the most significant jump in adoption by businesses over the last year or so as a direct response to the disruption caused by COVID-19. Learn more
The growth in IoT device connections will rapidly accelerate over the next five years and will push OEMs and solution providers into unfamiliar wireless domains. While established wireless communications such as 3G and Wi-Fi support many IoT workloads today, others such as LTE‑M, NB‑IoT and 5G are gaining ground and will be critical technologies through the next five years. Learn more
Within the mounted forklift computer market, traditional purpose-built computers are facing significant pressure from the emergence of rugged tablets that can function as mounted computers. Learn more
Google recently held its I/O event to unveil updates, partnerships, and new features for several different products. Across these announcements there are a few that standout as having practical applications within enterprise environments either at present or in the future. Learn more
On April 15th, Brady Corporation announced the company has come to an agreement to acquire Nordic ID for $9.7 million. The acquisition will add Nordic ID’s expertise in RFID reader/scanning technology and customizable cloud solutions to Brady Corporation’s portfolio of advanced labels, safety devices, industrial printer systems and software solutions. Learn more
Microsoft has won a substantial contract to provide its augmented reality (AR) headsets, the HoloLens, to the U.S. Army. This contract awards Microsoft $21.9B over the course of ten years to provide the U.S. Army with more than 120,000 HoloLens units. Learn more
Each day, the world becomes more and more connected. People and businesses increasingly rely on technology to communicate and share information. However, there are still parts of the world with underserved or unserved access to the Internet; according to Datareportal.com, only 59.5% of the global population has network access as of January 2021. Learn more
As 2021 gets underway and we look ahead to the next year, and even the next four years, there are new enterprise mobility market factors to expect in the wake of the new presidential administration in the United States. Learn more
If you are ever driving through farmland, construction or forestry sites or even by a neighbor who enjoys keeping their lawn in tip-top shape, then you will recognize the iconic image of a yellow buck across a green background, the logo of Deere & Company, better known as John Deere. Learn more
Google launched the Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) program in 2018 to help enterprise mobility decision makers select, deploy and manage Android devices with more confidence. The AER program makes it easier for businesses to scale and support their mobile fleets while attempting to curtail platform fragmentation. Learn more
Juniper Networks will be acquiring smart wide area networking startup 128 Technology for $450 million. In March 2019 Juniper Networks acquired Mist Systems for $405 million, another AI-powered networking company. Learn more
Ivanti, backed by Clearlake Capital and TA Associates announced it will strategically acquire MobileIron Inc. and Pulse Secure. Ivanti will acquire MobileIron for approximately $872 million with MobileIron stockholders receiving $7.05 in cash per share, a 27% premium. Learn more
In a continued effort to solidify its role as an end-to-end solutions provider for first responder and critical communications environments, Motorola Solutions has recently acquired Callyo, a Florida-based software-as-a-service company. Learn more
Maritime trade accounts for 90% of overall global trade. By far the most cost-effective way to move goods, this method of trade is essential to the world economy. Once vessels arrive at their destination, they must anchor and wait to be called into port, which can sometimes take over a month. Learn more
Samsung’s 2020 Galaxy Unpacked, a virtual product reveal event, took place last week. Leaders from the technology giant’s mobile teams spent over an hour unveiling five new products: the Note20 smartphone and Note20 Ultra phablet, the Tab S7 / S7+ tablet, the Watch3 smartwatch and Buds Live wireless earbuds. Learn more
The COVID‑19 pandemic has given pause to nearly every facet of the world as we know it. The sudden and unpredictable nature of this global crisis has urged every element of society and industry to take a step back and reevaluate how it functions. Learn more
Panasonic officially released the TOUGHBOOK A3 tablet along with Productivity+ Android Platform Support. The new fully-rugged tablet is the fourth Android-based TOUGHBOOK device released from Panasonic, following the 7" TOUGHBOOK L1, 5" TOUGHBOOK T1, and 4.7" TOUGHBOOK N1. Learn more
The opportunity to equip ground soldiers with secure and reliable and at the same time easy to use and ergonomic has confounded mobile OEMs and DoD decision makers for years. Options frequently came up short and were described as too expensive, too bulky/heavy, not user friendly or not sufficiently secure. Learn more
The COVID‑19 virus changed every day life in an instant. People around the world are stuck inside while countries institute prolonging stay‑at‑home and lockdown procedures. As a result, businesses deemed non‑essential are shutting doors, some forever. Learn more