According to a rugged-tablet-sector, worldwide forecast in ReportLinker*, “experts estimate the worldwide rugged tablet market to increase at a compound annual growth rate of ~6.8 percent during 2018–2022. The same report also says there’s increasing demand in the defense market, a customer preference for feature-rich devices, and that one market challenge is the high initial-procurement cost of rugged tablets.

Strengthening its place in this growing rugged-mobility marketplace, in August 2018 Zebra closed its acquisition of Xplore Technologies. This strategic move advances Zebra’s Enterprise Asset Intelligence process and, according to Zebra, “The deal will give Zebra deeper inroads into the retail, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and healthcare verticals, and will also give the company avenues to sell into further markets where Xplore already has customers—such as the energy sector, government, and public safety. Zebra is looking to position itself as a tablet market leader by offering Xplore’s high-quality portfolio to both existing, and new, customers.

ScanSource is here, as always, to help our customers during this transition by supplying the support and information they need, when they need it. As with any new business opportunity, we win when our partners win. As Zebra adds Xplore’s products to its own premier lineup—including mobile-computing, printing, and data-capture products—you’ll be able to deliver more of the end-to-end solutions your customers need to stay competitive, and to help grow their business. You’ll be able to take advantage of new opportunities, and the process will be easier than ever before.

During the rest of 2018 and into early 2019, Zebra will integrate the Xplore business. Until then, the companies will continue operating separately, with business as usual. (For example, you won’t be able to sell Xplore products through Zebra PartnerConnect until the integration is complete.)

No substantive changes to business operations will take place until at least October 1, 2018, and no later than December 31, 2018. So, until then, please continue working with your current ScanSource and Zebra contacts and resources to find out about upcoming opportunities.

As always, thank you for your commitment to ScanSource POS and Barcode and Zebra. We’re committed to constantly growing our portfolios—to maintain our market leadership and deliver robust, competitive, total solutions to our invaluable partners. Your ScanSource sales rep will keep you updated on the Zebra/Xplore integration. We’re all excited about what the future holds!

*https://www.reportlinker.com/p03376031/Global-Rugged-Tablet-Market-Market-Study.html