Zaptic Powers Frontline Manufacturing by Bringing Knowledge to Workers

Frontline manufacturing workers often rely on paper checklists, whiteboards and tribal knowledge to do their jobs. Zaptic changes that by delivering digital guidance right to mobile devices on the factory floor. By helping operators know what to do, when to do it and how to do it, Zaptic closes operational gaps and improves performance.

Founded by Richard Milnes and Sandy Reid, Zaptic launched in 2015 to fill a need manufacturers felt keenly. Factories were losing skilled workers. New employees took long to onboard. Critical procedures were done inconsistently. Zaptic built a connected worker platform to tackle these issues head-on.

Connecting Work through No-Code Tools

Zaptic’s platform uses a no-code toolkit. Supervisors build workflows, guides and checklists. Workers follow instructions on phones or tablets. The system collects data in real time. Managers gain visibility. Frontline teams stay aligned.

Richard calls this the operating system for frontline execution. Companies now use Zaptic to digitise billions of tasks and streamline operations.

Measurable Gains—Faster Onboarding, Less Downtime

Clients report 35 percent faster onboarding and 20 percent higher task capacity. Unplanned downtime fell by up to 20 percent. One plant cut scrap and waste by the same margin. Zaptic also supports safety checks, audits and maintenance tasks—all traceable and digital.

Tackling the Skills Gap

Staff shortages and retirements have drained frontline know-how from many factories. Zaptic captures expert instructions in its app. When a seasoned operator retires, the knowledge stays. New workers access that experience in real time.

This approach supports staff performance and safety. It also helps build a feedback loop where workers improve best practices and suggest refinements. Zaptic’s tools allow users to report issues, escalate tasks, and involve maintenance teams seamlessly.

Industry Validation

In April 2023, Zaptic closed a $10 million Series A round. Molten Ventures led the funding. Other backers include Chalfen and Backed VC. The funds are being used to grow sales, product and engineering teams—and to scale internationally.

That same year Zaptic won a major industry recognition program, highlighting its connected worker platform as a leading industrial solution.

A Real-Time Alternative to Traditional Systems

Many manufacturers rely on ERP or MES systems built for planners and engineers. Zaptic moves control to the frontline. Workers receive guidance in the moment. Operations leaders see task data in dashboards. This mix gives companies both autonomy and insight.

Workers benefit too. One director at a major manufacturing company said non-desk staff can now maintain and improve equipment themselves. Teams no longer fill out paper forms or juggle spreadsheets between shifts.

COVID Response Serves as Proof of Concept

Early in the pandemic Zaptic released a module to help factories comply with safe-work protocols. Workers logged health checks, audited hygiene procedures and received cleaning instructions via the same app. That solidified Zaptic’s role as a frontline safety partner.

Tech That Keeps It Simple

The platform is accessible on tablets and phones. Workflows use drag-and-drop tools. No coding needed. Zaptic keeps things straightforward, so even non-technical teams can deploy and update processes quickly.

Commanders on the shop floor benefit from speed. They update task flows themselves and push changes instantly. Workers see the latest procedures without needing guidance from IT.

Ongoing Development

Zaptic continues to build additional modules. A new AI knowledge assistant can surface context-specific guidance from past logs and shift notes. It can also support multiple languages and ensure information follows audit standards.

The company plans gradual expansion into more industries and regions. But Richard wants to preserve a focus on frontline execution, not just flashy tech.

Balancing Growth with Practicality

While Zaptic has global ambitions, the aim is deliberate scaling. Teams in product, sales and engineering are increasing incrementally. The goal is to maintain quality and responsiveness as the user base grows.

Richard says he sees Zaptic as part of industrial resilience more than innovation for its own sake. He strives for solutions that support operators, not replace them.

Work That Matters, Not Buzzwords

What sets Zaptic apart is depth over hype. The company measures success in saved minutes, safer shifts and smoother operations. It avoids jargon-filled pitch decks and focuses on the job at hand.

By turning frontline workers into active participants in data and execution, Zaptic builds a more reliable factory floor without losing sight of the people who do the work.

A Future with Frontline Focus

As digital transformation extends into factories around the world, frontline teams will need tools that support their rhythm and language. Zaptic fits that need by providing an intuitive way to share knowledge and complete tasks. It offers a bridge between legacy workflows and modern insight.

For workers pulling long shifts and managers tracking performance, Zaptic is a partner. It clarifies, guides and documents work. And it proves that digital change can be simple, useful and human.

Zaptic brings technology to where work happens. Not in the cloud, but in people’s hands. It builds systems that listen, teach and record. It starts with frontline needs, and grows from there—plant by plant, shift by shift.

Richard Milnes, Co-Founder & CEO, Zaptic

We are seeing huge demand from manufacturers looking for solutions to help them transform their operations in the face of increasing pressures and a worsening skills gap.