Service Robots Experience Global Market Expansion
Record Growth in Professional Service Robotics
Professional service robot sales reached nearly 200,000 units in 2024. This represents a 9% increase year-over-year. Labor shortages and demographic changes are driving this expansion. The findings come from the World Robotics 2025 Service Robots report.
Transportation and Logistics Lead Market Adoption
Transportation robots dominated the market with 102,900 units sold. This segment grew by 14% compared to previous year. Mobile robots for goods handling represent the primary application. The Robot-as-a-Service model showed remarkable 42% growth in this category.
Hospitality Robotics Maintain Strong Presence
Hospitality robots secured second position with over 42,000 units. These systems provide mobile guidance and telepresence services. They increasingly handle customer service tasks in retail environments. New applications in food preparation are emerging within this sector.
Cleaning and Agricultural Robot Trends
Professional cleaning robots demonstrated 34% growth. Sales exceeded 25,000 units with floor cleaning as the main application. Agricultural robots experienced a 6% contraction. The decline primarily affected cultivation and milking automation systems.
Medical Robotics Category Shows Explosive Growth
Medical robots achieved 91% sales growth reaching 16,700 units. Rehabilitation and therapy robots led with 106% increase. Surgical robotics grew by 41% while diagnostic systems surged 610%. This category addresses healthcare labor shortages and aging population needs.
Consumer Robotics Market Expansion
Consumer service robots reached nearly 20 million units sold. This represents 11% year-over-year growth. Domestic task robots dominated this category. European and Asian-Pacific companies drove most of the expansion with 16% growth rates.
Robot-as-a-Service Model Gains Traction
The RaaS fleet grew by an impressive 31% in 2024. Companies increasingly prefer subscription models over direct purchases. This approach reduces upfront investment barriers for automation adoption. The trend is particularly strong in transportation and logistics applications.
Regional Market Variations
European and Asian manufacturers led consumer robot growth. Both regions achieved 16% sales increases. The Americas market declined by 1% due to market share losses in robotic vacuum cleaners. Regional variations reflect different adoption patterns and competitive landscapes.
Industry Leadership Perspective
IFR President Takayuki Ito highlighted strong cross-sector demand. He noted the strategic shift toward service-based robot deployment models. This approach makes automation more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Medical Laboratory Automation Focus
Dr. Werner Kraus emphasized the growing importance of laboratory automation. Service robots help address workforce shortages in healthcare. They enable medical facilities to manage increasing service demands from aging populations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drove service robot growth in 2024?
Labor shortages and demographic changes were primary drivers. The aging population increased demand for medical and service robots across multiple sectors.
Which application showed strongest growth?
Transportation and logistics robots led with 102,900 units sold. Medical diagnostics robots showed the highest percentage growth at 610%.
How popular is the Robot-as-a-Service model?
RaaS grew by 31% overall, with 42% growth in transportation applications. Companies prefer this model to reduce upfront automation costs.
Which regions led consumer robot growth?
Europe and Asia-Pacific both achieved 16% growth. The Americas market declined slightly due to competitive pressures in consumer cleaning robots.
What medical robot categories grew most?
Rehabilitation/therapy robots grew 106%, surgical robots 41%, and diagnostic systems 610%. Medical robotics overall expanded by 91%.
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