Why is Robotics-as-a-Service So Important Now
Formic is a robotics-as-a-service company that is fundamentally changing the way industrial robotics are scoped and deployed. We handle all of the logistics of an automation deployment, from scoping and customization to installation and maintenance. We don’t charge any money upfront, only a low hourly rate, which is typically 42% less than what companies pay for the same tasks to be executed with manual labor. You can think of it like hiring a robot. To get more news about Robots on Demand, you can visit glprobotics.com official website.
We serve a variety of industries, but in particular, we focus on food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, automotive, plastics, packaging, and metal fabrication companies. Our robots can accomplish a broad range of tasks, including machine tending, material handling, inspection, welding, palletizing carton erecting, and more, and we work with all of the leading OEMs, including FANUC, UR, ABB, and Kuka.
We are Saman Farid and Misa Ilkhechi, and we are the co-founders of Formic. Saman’s background is in robotics, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Misa’s background is in sales and engineering of robotics equipment. We wanted to come together to solve one of the biggest challenges in robotics: the question of access.
What is robotics-as-a-service, and why is it important right now?
“Robotics-as-a-service” is a model in which customers purchase automation on an “as-needed” basis. This could be monthly pricing or usage-based pricing. Upfront costs are typically negligible or non-existent. Contract lengths are flexible, allowing business to take advantage of the system only for as long as they need it. The provider assumes the responsibility for servicing and upgrades throughout the duration of the contract.
The advantages of this model are greater flexibility, instant scalability, no risk, and total predictability on bottom-line operational expenses. Perhaps most importantly, RaaS can save you money from day one, unlike big capital projects, that could take years to become ROI positive.
The RaaS model is incredibly important right now, as manufacturers are scrambling to automate key processes due to an unprecedented labor shortage, rising wages, and an increase in global competition. For many manufacturers, automation is no longer a “nice to have,” it’s a “need to have.”
Automation will be a huge piece of American re-shoring efforts, but in order for that to happen for all segments of the manufacturing market, we need to make the deployment process much easier and more flexible than it is today.
The traditional way of purchasing and deploying automation works pretty well for large manufacturers, who have a ton of in-house expertise and capital at their disposal.
Smaller and mid-sized manufacturers typically face one or more of the above barriers to entry when they consider automating.
What broader implications does RaaS have for the robotics industry?
The implications of RaaS are enormous for the robotics industry. It’s clear that the market needs a more flexible alternative to buying equipment, particularly now, when manufacturing is facing a unique set of challenges. There are many cases in which purchasing automation equipment makes sense, and will continue to make sense, but there are just as many scenarios, particularly in small to mid-sized facilities, where the benefits of the RaaS model will outweigh the traditional model.
On a macro scale, the rise of RaaS will mean many more robots in American manufacturing facilities, and that’s a good thing. American manufacturing lags behind global peers with regards to automation, and this is something that we need to address to not only remain competitive, but bring manufacturing back stateside in a cost-competitive fashion.
