Barcelona, November 8, 2023.- Modern Materials Handling magazine has published an analysis on the use of autonomous robots as a service in warehouses:
Not only do some autonomous mobile robot suppliers see robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) as their go-to way of providing solutions, the model is starting to catch on for other, larger forms of robotic systems with more fixed infrastructure.
Much of the excitement in warehouse robotics is about what robots will be able to do next, like trailer unloading, or parcel piece picking, or autonomous case handling. But plenty of enthusiasm is out there about the increasingly popular means of acquiring them: robotics-as-a-service (RaaS).
Like the established software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, RaaS bundles the costs of running a solution into a tidy regular fee. That moves investment in warehouse robotics into the realm of operational or “opex” expense, and the advantages cascade from there, from opening up solutions to a wider base of users, to making it easier to scale system size.
The model is catching on, with some vendors having focused on it for years. For example, autonomous mobile robot (AMR) provider Locus Robotics offers its solutions purely under RaaS. Other AMR vendors also lead with RaaS, and analysts predict strong growth. According to a report from Grandview Research, the RaaS market will grow from $1.33 billion in 2023 to $4.12 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 17.5%.
The RaaS trend involves more than mobile robots. Vendors of smart, robotic picking solutions may offer RaaS, as do some providers of robotic automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). In short, RaaS or lease-based opex models aren’t just for AMRs; it is a way to bring in other systems.
There are nuances to RaaS. Some vendors say flexible leasing can accomplish the same core benefit of removing upfront costs. Others point out that the ultimate evolution of RaaS will incorporate performance objectives that incentivize continuous improvement.
—-> Read the full analysis in Modern Materials Handling
—-> AndSoft TMS: Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
- American trend: “Freight Market is returning to normal”
- Global air cargo market will grow double digits in 2024
- Stand E532 AndSoft at SIL in Barcelona, from June 5 to 7: All the interesting news about e-TMS
- Following are the key trends will shape the logistics and supply chain landscape
- Emerging Careers in Supply Chain Logistics
- NAFCE: Natural Gas’ Role in Decarbonizing Trucking
- IATA Announces First Signatories to Air Cargo Digitalization Leadership Charter
- IRU: the European Road Freight rate development benchmark
- Meet us in #SITL2024, AndSoft stand K132, in Paris Villepinte
- New logistics initiatives for the last mile of large cities
- IRU: “The Middle Corridor is a vital link connecting Europe and Asia, unlocking their economic potential. It also offers an alternative option to existing trade corridors, while offering a faster trade route”
- “Managing risks has become an enormous task for executives and senior leadership…”
Transportation & Logistics Software 
[…] it’s a strategic response to the evolving retail landscape. As we’ve seen with the transition from SaaS to RaaS, this service-oriented approach is becoming a cornerstone for retailers aiming to thrive in an […]
LikeLike