The time is now: robots are no longer just tackled during conversations about the latest sci-fi movies. Instead, they are among us, unlocking opportunities to live life efficiently and focus more of our time on matters that require human aspects.
The same goes for how robots can and have enabled businesses to operate more efficiently and scale at a much faster pace. Automating dull, dirty, dangerous, and dear tasks can free up one’s labour force, enabling human teams to perform higher value-adding cognitive work functions.
Human-machine collaboration is a massive opportunity to unlock greater business productivity and efficiency. With unpredictable conditions in many service-oriented work environments and the risks that accompany them, professional service robots can help ensure continued operation while cutting out vulnerabilities ascribed to human error. This is because service robots can readily step in and provide efficient and automated service without exposing customers to usual errors in human transactions.
Also read: Strengthening cybersecurity measures in the face of Web 3.0
This is evidenced by the growth of the robotics sector as technological advancements in AI, sensors, and analytics that enable more autonomy in machine operations are gaining increasing popularity in various service-based industries like restaurants and hospitals. As such, among all forms of innovations in robotics, professional service robots are projected to dominate the sector by 2030. Because of the myriad of automation benefits that are present outside the factory setting such as efficiency, productivity, and accuracy, these professional service robots are in for new market growth opportunities.
Introducing robots outside traditional factory settings
Professional service robots present a new way of robotic automation beyond the factory setting. Professional service robots also tend to exhibit more autonomy through their ability to “learn” and respond to different problems, as well as mobility that allows them to roam around in unstructured environments as opposed to their industrial robot counterparts that are often fixed to the ground.
Used in undertaking commercial tasks, they take various forms, with many applications in industries like healthcare, retail, logistics, and facilities management.
There are various applications of professional service robots: they can be used to assist with concierge tasks or way-guiding, make deliveries of goods, and help in security patrol. Examples of this are retail service robots, front office service robots, and event service robots.
Also read: Optimising business solutions through customer-centricity
Innovations in accelerating the viability of incorporating robotics technology into business operations are also emerging. Robotics-as-a-Service business models, or RaaS, where robots are leased out instead of sold outright, present a great alternative to businesses that want to optimise their operations through professional service robots but don’t necessarily have the capital to invest in large-scale robotics augmentation. With these product and business model innovations, enabling digital transformation for businesses through professional service robot technology is now more accessible.
As robot deployments become more common, however, users are deploying more than one type of robot, with each type needing its own unique interface to command and control. Through robotmanager, a robot fleet management software, managing different types of robots has never been easier. Streamlining your robotics solutions under one universal software, robotmanager can help businesses optimise their use of service robots.
The perks of professional service robots
The business case for incorporating professional service robots into business operations is apparent: it optimises operational resources, increases productivity, and reduces costs, enabling better business performance. This has been applied in the transportation industry, through autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery solutions. A collaboration between Grab and NCS showcases this, where they enabled a food delivery service in Sentosa, Singapore through an autonomous vehicle robot. This initiative helped cultivate a more convenient meal delivery experience for beachgoer customers in the area.
Facility management in the retail and logistics industries has massive optimisation opportunities from this technology too, through next-generation automation and AI solutions. Shopping malls and airports can use professional service robots to bolster security, deliver concierge services, make deliveries, and streamline facility upkeep tasks like cleaning.
Find out how you can get on board
To learn more about professional service robots from experts on ways and means to integrate robotics into your business operations, catch the upcoming NCS webinar Advancing Automation: Practical tips and tricks to integrating robotics into operations on August 24. You may sign up for the webinar here.
Also read: Freshworks bolsters startups with cloud-based sales and support solutions
The session panel features Wynthia Goh, Senior Partner at NCS; Matthew Festo, General Manager at Open Robotics; Alex Lai, Chairman of ICT Section at IET Hong Kong; and Siew Min Ang, Senior Vice President, Airport Operations Management for Changi Airport Group. The panel will be moderated by Connie Ang, Senior Director for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, and Centre Director of FutureNow Innovation Centre at Singtel.
The panel session will discuss the following topics:
- A deep dive into the robotics ecosystem and the importance of key partnerships for a successful robotics business with robot vendors and robot developers through an open-robotics collaboration approach
- How various industries can capitalise and benefit from integrating service robots into their operations, and share trends and case studies of successful applications in different tech and non-tech industries.
- The ROI use case of integrating robotics into business operations, assessing whether a business is ready for adopting this technology.
- How the Asia Pacific region has enabled best practices across different industries in both tech and non-tech sectors, as well as scale robotics infrastructure to optimise overall business operations.
NCS is a leading technology services firm with a presence in the Asia Pacific and partners with governments and enterprises to advance communities through technology. NCS provides differentiated and end-to-end technology services to clients with its NEXT capabilities in digital, cloud and platforms, as well as core offerings in application, infrastructure, engineering and cybersecurity. To learn more, visit https://www.ncs.co/en-sg/services/intelligent-platforms/mobile-robotic-workforce/
– –
This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by NCS
We can share your story at e27, too. Engage the Southeast Asian tech ecosystem by bringing your story to the world. Visit us at e27.co/advertise to get started.
The post How accessible robotic solutions enable business efficiency appeared first on e27.