It’s True! You Can Now Use the Microsoft Teams Walkie Talkie App on Dozens of Zebra Android™ Devices.
Technology is a necessity for front-line workers, but they shouldn’t need to worry about whether they’re using the right mobile device or app for each task they’re assigned. That’s why Zebra has long engineered digital collaboration tools that close the communication and information gaps for front-line workers with a “single pane of glass” that enables them to clock in, manage their task lists, communicate and collaborate with one another, and quickly address customer needs. Increasingly, our customers tell us they want to shift from putting these capabilities into the hands of a subset of their workers (as they have in the past) to empowering their entire front-line workforce with modern digital tools.
Zebra provides a full set of devices, software applications and partnerships with leading solution providers to bring this vision to life in a way that is truly unmatched in the industry. For example, our premium Workforce Connect™ software platform enables you to use location data to facilitate presence-based push-to-talk (PTT), messaging and data communications among workers on a Zebra mobile computer or some other Android™ or iOS mobile device. You can even integrate Workforce Connect with PBX for a secure, full telephony solution that makes it easy for workers to connect with colleagues, partners and customers using a single, unified mobility solution. And our robust Reflexis software suite puts task and workforce management at the fingertips of front-line associates. We continue to innovate and acquire new software solutions and partner with software solution providers to ensure every asset and worker at the edge is visible, connected and fully optimized.
More front-line workers use Zebra devices in their day-to-day workflows than any other, and they are now using these devices to run more apps than ever before. One popular application gaining significant traction on the front line is Microsoft Teams, and we have worked with Microsoft to optimize the experience using Teams (and specifically, its Walkie Talkie feature) on our industry-leading Android mobile computers. You can read more about which Zebra mobile computers will now support the Teams Walkie Talkie app, along with how our Reflexis Workforce Scheduler can now connect to the Teams Shifts app, here.
During a recent conversation I had with Nicole Herskowitz, who currently leads product marketing for Microsoft Teams, she shared what drove Microsoft to add these new PTT capabilities to Teams and why collaborating with Zebra to bring Walkie Talkie to market to Zebra mobile computers was important to our joint customers.
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Nicole also talks about the growing use of Microsoft Teams by front-line workers.
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You may be curious how this digital solution differs from an analog walkie talkie and what would compel companies to replace those devices with Zebra mobile computers that have a digital walkie talkie capability. Here’s the perspective I shared with Nicole during our discussion.
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If you would like to learn more, I encourage you to read this Microsoft blog post. Want to see the solution for yourself? Contact your local Zebra representative to schedule a demo.
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Rob Armstrong
Robert (Rob) Armstrong became Chief Marketing Officer, Zebra Technologies in March 2023. Rob has nearly 20 years of experience in the B2B technology sector and joined Zebra in 2014.
Throughout his career, he has held various go-to-market leadership roles, most recently serving as Zebra’s Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing & Channels. In this role, Rob oversaw go-to-market strategy and downstream marketing execution for the full Zebra portfolio, inclusive of customer segment, product, and digital marketing; channel and brand strategies; media relations; pricing; and analytics. During this time, he led a diverse, high-performing team of marketing and channel professionals to drive preference globally and evolve the perception of the Zebra brand in over 100 countries in collaboration with more than 10,000 partners in Zebra’s growing channel ecosystem.
Prior to joining Zebra, Rob held various global and regional roles across product development, business development, operations, and marketing at Motorola Solutions, including assignments in Asia Pacific and Europe. Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and he currently serves as a board member for Bernie’s Book Bank and FIRST Illinois Robotics.
