Are Robots As A Service The Way To Go?

Back in 2017, the International Data Corporation (IDC) predicted that 30 percent of commercial robotic applications will be in the form of Robots as a Service (RaaS) by 2019. Was this forecast accurate? Mark Howard, United States country manager of industrial parts supplier EU Automation, explains the current RaaS landscape in relation to these early projections.

RaaS is the idea of paying for a robot on a month-by-month, annual or project basis, rather than simply purchasing the physical robot outright. With RaaS, robots, software and maintenance are often bundled together and sold with a recurring subscription fee. Just like software as a service (SaaS) or machine as a service (MaaS), it’s the supplier’s responsibility to ensure the product is working effectively and is maintained over its lifespan. It’s the all-inclusive package deal many smaller businesses need.