Consulting Report
02 Oct 2025

The Impact of Intelligent Operations

In partnership with Zebra Technologies

Organizations that invest in Intelligent Operations—integrating AI, automation, and data with human expertise—are better positioned to enhance business performance.

In partnership with Zebra Technologies, Oxford Economics surveyed 1,000 senior leaders from the manufacturing, retail, and transportation and logistics sectors to understand how organizations are using hardware and software technologies to optimize workflows. We then analyzed how reported improvements in business outcomes—such as revenue growth and profitability—correlate with advancements in workflow processes. The research shows that investing in intelligent operations not only strengthens workflows but also translates to a range of benefits, from financial gains to higher customer satisfaction and greater employee productivity.

This report was brought to you by the Economic impact and thought leadership team.
Oxford Economics specialises in forecasting, economic impact analysis, and evidence-based thought leadership. Our economists and analysts draw from a rich database of figures and analysis on 200 countries, 100 sectors, and 7,000 cities and regions.
The experts behind the research
  • Sundus Alfi

    Sundus Alfi

    Senior Editor, Thought Leadership
    Sundus Alfi

    Senior Editor, Thought Leadership

    Sundus manages research programs for the Thought Leadership team, focusing on topics like generative AI, customer experiences, sustainability, and the future of work. She is involved in all aspects of research, from drafting hypotheses and designing global executive, employee, and consumer surveys to analyzing large datasets and reporting on the results in briefing papers and graphics. She also has experience conducting interviews, writing case studies, and presenting her research in webinars.

    Sundus graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 with degrees in Public Policy and Economics.

  • Edward Cone

    Edward Cone

    Editorial Director, Thought Leadership
    Edward Cone

    Editorial Director, Thought Leadership

    Editorial Director Edward Cone oversees global research programs for our Thought Leadership group. As Technology Practice Lead he works with clients such as Google, Accenture, IBM, SAP, and many others. His areas of focus include Artificial Intelligence, the impact of technology on business performance, and healthcare organizations.

    Edward joined the firm in 2012 after more than two decades as a business and technology journalist based in New York, Paris, and North Carolina, including stints as an editor and writer at various Ziff Davis magazines (CIO Insight, Baseline), a contributing editor at Wired, and a staff writer at Forbes.

    Edward also wrote a weekly newspaper opinion column for many years in his hometown of Greensboro, NC and authored a semi-popular blog. He has contributed to a bewildering variety of magazines and papers on topics ranging from politics to rock climbing and was a frequent speaker and organizer at new media conferences across the country. Honors for his work include the 2020 Rybczynski Prize, awarded for the best essay on economics by Society of Professional Economists, and various awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors and the North Carolina Press Association. He has a BA from Haverford College.

  • Anubhav Mohanty

    Anubhav Mohanty

    Associate Director, Economic Impact
    Anubhav Mohanty

    Associate Director, Economic Impact

    Anubhav Mohanty is an Associate Director in the Economic Impact Consulting team. He has led projects with clients across a range of industries helping them understand how economic trends and Government policy can affect their markets. Experience in the private sector includes work for Snapchat, Meta, Amazon, Visa, Accenture, and Bain, among others.

    He has also worked with Governments helping them understand how policy changes can affect the wider economy. Experience in the public sector includes work for the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the UK Home Office, HMRC, and the Department for Transport.

    Anubhav joined Oxford Economics in January 2018 with more than 7 years of experience in econometric analysis. Previously, Anubhav worked as an economist with Compass Lexecon and at PwC.

    Anubhav has an MSc in Economics (Distinction) from the London School of Economics (LSE) where he also taught economics as a graduate teaching assistant.

  • Melissa Leon Pons

    Melissa Leon Pons

    Research Associate
    Melissa Leon Pons

    Research Associate

    Melissa joined Oxford Economics in 2023 ready to assist with program writing and development. Her background in both healthcare and diversity and inclusion research, strategy development, and service procurement guide her report writing and analysis across a wide array of projects. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Williams College and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

    Explore Zebra Technologies' website for more insights and solutions

    Get in touch

    Learn more about this report or how our team could support you:

    You might be interested in

    Global Tech Spend Forecasts

    Unlock success with enterprise IT spending forecasts for 35 industries and 25 countries.

    US Tech Spend Forecasts

    Plug into success with unparalleled IT spending market intelligence

    Global Industry Model

    An integrated model covering 100 sectors across 77 countries and the Eurozone.

    Industry Scenarios

    Quantifying the impact of policy changes and other risk events on industrial sectors.
    [autopilot_shortcode]