Robots as a service: why more companies are taking the plunge, what’s available in Canada and what’s ahead
COVID-19 has brought many issues to the forefront for Canadian manufacturers, among them an unstable labour situation and the unforeseen costs of distancing, disinfection and other new safety protocols.
Addressing the labour issue, which was already a widespread industry stressor, with technology is a good idea – but the pandemic has made cash scarce for many firms right now.
However, the current desire to reap the benefits of automation is strong. Honeywell’s 2020 Intelligrated Automation Investment Study, for example, found that over 50 per cent of U.S. companies are increasingly open to investing in automation to survive changing market conditions brought about by the pandemic.
So, what’s really needed is a very low-cost, low-risk automation option – and that’s exactly why the “robots as a service” (RaaS) concept is gaining traction.
