By Brett Newstead, Sales Director, Australia & New Zealand, Zebra Technologies
1.From Zebra’s perspective, what made this collaboration with Repco a strategic fit? What specific operational challenges was Zebra uniquely positioned to help them solve?
From Zebra’s perspective, this was a strong strategic fit because Repco runs a high-volume, time-critical delivery operation – and that’s exactly where we see the biggest impact from our technology.
They were facing some very real operational challenges. Once vehicles left the distribution centre, there was limited real-time visibility over deliveries. A lot of processes were still manual, which slowed things down and introduced risk, and communication between drivers and dispatch wasn’t always as seamless as it needed to be.
That’s where Zebra was able to step in in a meaningful way. We brought together rugged mobile devices, specifically our TC5x series mobile computers, and real-time data capture and connectivity to give both drivers and distribution teams a single, consistent view of what’s happening on the ground.
The result is that Repco now has true asset visibility across its fleet, faster and more reliable delivery workflows, and the ability to make decisions in real time, which is critical in a business like theirs.
2. This deployment delivers real-time fleet visibility and frontline connectivity. How does it reflect Zebra’s broader strategy around connecting frontline workers with operational data?
This deployment is a perfect example of creating the connected frontline. We’ve brought drivers and operational teams together through a shared, real-time view of delivery activity, which really brings that strategy to life. Instead of operational data sitting in back-end systems, it’s now directly in the hands of the people who need it most, Repco’s drivers and distribution teams. That shift is critical because it means decisions can be made in the moment, not after the fact, and it improves their day-to-day experience on the road.
At a broader level, our focus is on making sure data isn’t just captured, but used to improve workflows, enhance safety, and ultimately deliver a better customer experience. This deployment with Repco is a strong example of that in practice.
3. How does this partnership reflect broader trends you’re seeing in last-mile visibility and the shift from reactive to data-driven logistics operations?
Across the logistics sector, we are seeing a clear shift from reactive to much more proactive, data-driven operations. This reflects a massive trend we are seeing across the entire APAC logistics sector, accelerated by the boom in e-commerce. Customer expectations for speed and transparency are universal, whether they are ordering car parts or groceries. Organisations don’t want to be in a position where they’re diagnosing issues after a delivery has been missed or delayed. They want real-time visibility that allows them to anticipate problems, adjust in real time, and keep deliveries on track.
A big part of that shift is extending visibility all the way to the edge of the operation. It is no longer enough to have data sitting in a central system. The people on the ground, particularly drivers, need access to that information in real time, along with the ability to feed data back into the system as events happen.
Repco’s approach to modernising its fleet reflects exactly that trend. By equipping drivers with connected devices and enabling real-time tracking and communication, they have moved to a much more responsive and informed delivery model, where decisions can be made in the moment rather than after the fact.
4. Do you see this level of digitisation becoming standard across automotive aftermarket retail — and what barriers still exist to wider adoption?
Digitisation is steadily becoming the standard across the automotive aftermarket. Customer expectations around delivery speed and transparency continue to rise, and as more organisations invest in improving their delivery operations, it is creating pressure across the market to not just keep pace, but to establish a clear competitive advantage. Those who lag in digitisation risk being left behind.
That said, there are still barriers to wider adoption. Many organisations are operating with legacy and fragmented systems that were not designed to support real-time data exchange, which makes integration with newer technologies more complex.
There is also the challenge of scaling across large, distributed fleets. When operations span wide geographic areas, maintaining consistent connectivity and a uniform user experience can be difficult, which can slow or complicate rollout. Ultimately, this foundational level of digitisation is just the beginning. The next evolution will be leveraging this real-time data for predictive analytics and AI-driven decision-making, turning the supply chain into a truly intelligent, self-correcting ecosystem.
About Brett Newstead:
As the Sales Director for Zebra Technologies for Australia and New Zealand, Brett Newstead is responsible for focused on growing Zebra’s business through coaching the sales team to embrace customer outcome-based selling while establishing the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and solution business within the ANZ region. Prior to joining Zebra Technologies, Brett held various managerial positions at Motorola Solutions, AirData and DENSO Automotive Systems Australia. Brett holds a Bachelor of Mechanical and Computing Engineering from Monash University.
About Zebra Technologies:
Zebra provides the foundation for intelligent operations with an award-winning portfolio of connected frontline, asset visibility and automation solutions powered by AI. Organisations globally across retail, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and other industries rely on us to deliver outcomes today while driving innovation for what’s next. Together with our partners, we create new ways of working that improve productivity and empower organisations to be better every day. Learn more at www.zebra.com.
By Arun Sen, General Manager, Application Systems, GPC Asia Pacific
1. How the Zebra Deployment Fits into Repco’s Broader Modernisation Strategy
Deploying Zebra TC58 Devices for our Delivery Drivers supports a broader logistics modernisation strategy in several key ways, but the key is that the Zebra Devices now establish a platform on which we can modernise multiple facets of the operations.
This deployment is a key part of our broader strategy to digitise and modernise our supply chain. At Repco, speed and reliability are critical to supporting our trade customers, and that means having full visibility and control across our delivery network.
By implementing Zebra’s mobility solution together with our Genuine Delivery Application fleet visibility technology, we’ve moved from largely reactive fleet management to a real-time, data-driven model. It allows us to connect our drivers, vehicles and stores through a single, integrated platform.
This is about building a smarter, more agile logistics operation — one that improves service levels, enhances safety, and gives us the operational insight needed to continuously optimise performance.
2. Key Challenges Before Implementation (Typical Pre-Digital Limitations)
Like many organisations operating large delivery fleets, one of our biggest challenges was limited real-time visibility.
We relied on a mix of manual processes and post-shift reporting, which meant we didn’t always have immediate insight into delivery progress, route adherence, or emerging disruptions. That limited our ability to respond proactively.
We also had less granular data on route drive times, idle time, and route efficiency. Without consistent, centralised data, it was harder to identify improvement opportunities or benchmark performance across the fleet. This deployment addresses those gaps directly.
3. New Data Enabled by the Rollout
Again devices are part of the solution, but we are now able to get vehicle location, vehicle routes, arrivals and departures, delivery times, digital POD, exceptions, delivery completion times and fleet utilisation.
Most importantly, decisions are no longer based on assumptions. They’re based on live operational data and historical trends, which allows us to continually refine and optimise how we run the network.
4. What measurable improvements have you seen so far – whether in delivery, performance, efficiency or safety?
While we’re still in the early stages of fully leveraging the data, we’re already seeing improvements across several areas.
We’ve improved delivery visibility and responsiveness, which supports stronger on-time performance. Administrative processes have become more streamlined, reducing manual handling and reconciliation.
From a safety perspective, access to driver behaviour data enables more proactive coaching and better compliance oversight. Over time, this supports safer driving habits and reduced vehicle wear and tear.
We’re also gaining better insight into fleet utilisation and fuel efficiency, which positions us to drive further cost optimisation as we continue to analyse and act on the data.
About Arun Sen:
Arun Sen is a senior technology leader at GPC Asia Pacific, where he plays a key role in delivering complex, large scale technology initiatives across the region. Arun brings structure, accountability, and reliability to highly complex environments. He works closely with both technical and business teams to ensure delivery is practical, aligned, and successful. Beyond his corporate leadership, Arun is committed to community impact and youth development. He serves as a Board Member of the Ajoydhya Sharma and Kala Foundation, helping guide the strategic direction of initiatives supporting individuals and communities facing hardship. Respected for his integrity and steady leadership style, Arun combines technical depth with a strong focus on long term outcomes, performance, and trust.
About Repco:
Repco is Australia and New Zealand’s leading automotive aftermarket parts and accessories retailer. Established in 1922, the company has built a long-standing reputation for quality, expertise, and reliability in the automotive industry. With a network of over 400 stores across the region, Repco serves both trade professionals and everyday motorists, offering a comprehensive range of automotive parts, tools, accessories and servicing solutions.
By Beata Koropatwa, CEO, Auslaser Business Solutions
1. WHAT WAS AUSLASER’S ROLE IN DELIVERING THIS SOLUTION, AND HOW DID YOU BRING TOGETHER ZEBRA’S TECHNOLOGY WITH REPCO’S EXISTING SYSTEMS?
Auslaser was the end-to-end delivery and orchestration partner for the solution. We worked closely with Repco to understand the operational challenges across driver safety, fleet visibility, and delivery efficiency, and identified Zebra Technologies as the right-fit platform to meet those needs.
As the lead partner, Auslaser brought together Zebra’s TC5 mobile computing technology with Repco’s existing “Genuine Delivery” environment, ensuring seamless integration into day-to-day operations.
We coordinated all stakeholders across Zebra, Repco IT, and operational teams, and project managed the entire rollout, overseeing the full lifecycle from configuration and testing through to national deployment across approximately 800 vehicles.
Auslaser acted as the central integration layer, ensuring the solution was not only implemented, but embedded at scale.
This is where our value is strongest, connecting global technology with real-world execution to deliver measurable operational outcomes.
2. WHEN WAS THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT FROM INITIAL PLANNING THROUGH TO DEPLOYMENT?
The project involved approximately 12 months of planning and preparation, led by Auslaser, followed by a 3-month national deployment across Australia and New Zealand.
Delivered on time and on budget, Auslaser orchestrated a structured, phased rollout across approximately 800 vehicles, ensuring minimal disruption to operations while enabling rapid adoption across Repco’s delivery fleet.
3. IS AUSLASER STILL INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING OR EVOLVING THE SOLUTION POST-DEPLOYMENT?
Yes. Auslaser remains closely involved as the ongoing strategic partner. Beyond deployment, the solution has enabled real-time visibility and continuous optimisation across Repco’s delivery network, creating a platform for future innovation. Auslaser continues to provide end-to-end oversight, acting as the central coordination point between Repco and Zebra, while driving performance, managing risk and advising on future enhancements and scalability.
Our role naturally evolves into that of a long-term technology partner, ensuring the solution continues to deliver measurable operational value over time. It has been a genuine pleasure working with such a professional and committed team, and the same goes for Zebra. The relationship between Auslaser, GPC and Zebra reflects a true partnership, built on a foundation of shared accountability and a commitment to delivering successful outcomes.
About Breata Koropatwa:
With more than three decades of experience, Beata is known for her ability to bring clarity and control to complex, high-stakes environments. Her leadership blends commercial precision with deep emotional intelligence, earning her a reputation as a trusted advisor to senior executives and boards. Alongside her corporate role, Beata has held a diplomatic appointment as a Consular Official representing the Republic of Poland and serves on the Board of the Polish Australian Chamber of Commerce. Beata is widely respected for her strength and grace in leadership, and for her philosophy of leading from the head and the heart — a balance that defines her impact across business and beyond.
About Auslaser Business Solutions:
Auslaser Business Solutions is a trusted strategic technology partner operating across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia Pacific region. With over 30 years of experience, Auslaser is known for simplifying complexity and delivering successful technology outcomes in high-stakes environments. The company works closely with enterprise clients and global manufacturers to ensure alignment, accountability, and seamless execution across every stage of delivery. Auslaser leads and manages large, multi-site projects with precision, ensuring continuity, performance, and reliability across critical technology environments. More than a service provider, Auslaser operates as a strategic extension of its clients’ businesses, delivering confidence in environments where failure is not an option.
