Motorola Solutions has agreed to buy Richardson-based Theatro Labs Inc., a maker of AI and voice-controlled communication and digital workflow software for frontline workers.
“For more than a decade, we have been passionate about innovating for frontline workers,” Theatro President and CEO Chris Todd said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be joining Motorola Solutions to enable even more capabilities that help team members remain safe while delivering their best work every day.”
Todd, a co-founder of Theatro, has led the company from its inception in 2011, transforming an innovative concept into a significant player in communication technology. The company serves U.S. retailers across a range of merchant categories.
Theatro, recently named to the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, introduced GENiusAI—a suite of voice offerings integrating Generative AI—in November. Its software-as-a-service platform is designed to deliver real-time information to help frontline workers improve their productivity and physical safety.
“Frontline workers are not just employees; they represent the face of the brand with every customer interaction,” the CEO said at the time.
AI-assisted wearable device aims to improve safety and efficiency
Theatro’s flagship wearable device enables users to interact with its AI voice assistant using conversational language. Workers can ask for guidance to assist customers, check inventory and pricing, and communicate with team members, the company said. The technology aims to streamline work processes and enhance product knowledge.
Amid rising threats to frontline employee safety and increasing incidents of theft, the platform allows employees to discreetly alert management and security teams directly through the wearable device when they feel unsafe, according to the company. The AI voice assistant can provide step-by-step guidance on safety and incident protocols to help manage responses.
Theatro’s software also integrates with video security cameras to detect potential theft or safety threats, proactively alerting employees on the store floor.
“Theatro is designed to prioritize both safety and operational efficiency, which are essential for all frontline workers,” Mahesh Saptharishi, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Motorola Solutions, said in a statement.
“With Theatro, we are continuing to invest in innovative technologies that purposefully apply AI to protect employees while automating how they work and improving their service to customers.”
Chicago-based Motorola Solutions and Theatro Labs plan to integrate complementary workflows across Motorola Solutions’ technologies—including body cameras, fixed video systems, panic buttons, and radios— to deliver enhanced services for existing customers while expanding into industries such as hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and education.
According to Crunchbase, Theatro raised a total of $55.8 million in funding across seven rounds since its launch in 2011. The latest funding, a $20 million Series C round, was raised in 2019.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2025, the companies said. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
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