If you know the EMP Tech Group, you know we are a big Zebra partner. Zebra makes up most of the hardware products that we sell. Lately, Zebra has pushed into some new product offerings, including tablet computers, fixed scanners, and machine vision, all things EMP was already selling to our customers. But recently, Zebra announced the acquisition of Fetch Robotics. EMP has previously considered this product offering but has not taken it on.
Steve Jobs once said that he was proud of the thousands of things Apple said NO to—implying that it is more important to stay focused on your core offerings and do them well, rather than trying too many things and not doing any of them particularly well. That is the philosophy we have had here at the EMP Tech Group. Focus on barcode scanning, label printing, RFID, and machine vision. And say NO to other products that distract us from our core competencies.
But we must balance that desire for excellence in our products and services with customer needs. And automation in the warehouse and shop floor is what customers clamor for. Labor is expensive and hard to come by, so automation is mandatory.
It won’t be overnight, but as Zebra opens up the Fetch product line to resellers like us, who have the technical abilities to sell and integrate warehouse robotics, we will be the first in line.