As the world continues to evolve with technological advancements and automation, the concept of a smart world is becoming a reality. With the advent of the Internet of Things, we can now see everything from smartphones to household appliances is now interconnected, including robotics.
Malaysia has quickly recognised the potential of this technology and is rapidly growing its robotics industry across multiple industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and education.
Recent research predicts that Malaysia’s robotics market will witness remarkable growth, and by 2027, the market is forecast to produce over 4,742 units of robots at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.77 per cent.
The projected growth is largely driven by advancements in hardware and software development, application development, sensors, and a host of other interfaces. As ardent supporters of robotics, we believe that this technology, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI), will usher in the next industrial revolution in Malaysia.
Robotics has become an essential tool for extending human capabilities while reducing waste and boosting industrial productivity. The integration of technology and automation should be seamless, akin to human actions – but faster, more efficient, and safer.
Also Read: Why robotics is just entering its prime phase
As stated by Don Norman in his book The Design of Everyday Things, “A good design is actually a lot harder to notice than a poorly designed product.”
It is with this motivation that we launched our brand, Advanced Intelligent Robotics (AiR). We inspire to make robots a natural part of our daily lives, just like the air around us, often unnoticed but ever-present.
The beginning of everything
Starting a new business is never easy, and our startup was no exception. During the early stages, we faced several challenges that threatened to derail our progress, the biggest one was finding the right talent to join our team. As a hardtech startup focused on robotics, we needed skilled engineers and designers to help us create a product that would meet the high expectations of the market.
Among other major challenges we had to face was competition from larger, more established companies in the industry that had more resources and experience, making it difficult to gain traction and build a customer base.
However, we remained dedicated and motivated, strongly believing that with perseverance and innovative solutions, we could make a significant impact in the robotics industry and emerge a leader in our field.
Despite our passion and drive, we also encountered financial challenges that threatened our ability to grow and scale up the business. As a hardtech startup, the capital required for research and development was significantly higher compared to other software products like applications and websites. To bootstrap our business, we had to bank on several other projects to generate income and reinvest the profits generated from them back into product development.
We took on projects to assist other companies in prototyping their designs as well as developing machine and automation systems. Unlike other software startups, we needed significant capital to fund our research and development in order to manufacture and test our products.
This period was undoubtedly difficult for our team, but through perseverance and dedication, we were able to overcome these challenges and secure funding from investors and grant programmes like Cradle Fund via CIP Spark, which came in at the right time.
Staying afloat as a team in the competitive market
As the robotics industry evolves, it is essential to stay on top of emerging trends and technologies. We have observed a shift in robotics from industrial equipment to more accessible household machines, making them more readily available to the public.
However, current trends in mobile robot products have made the application process less straightforward. Mobile robots are essentially moving platforms with limited capabilities, and users must choose from a variety of accessories, upgrades, and modules to meet their specific application requirements. This can make the process of employing mobile robots time-consuming, difficult, costly, and inefficient.
In addition to the complexity of customisation, the currently available products require frequent modifications to the factory layout, which can be quite difficult and time-consuming. As a result, we believe that creating products that are functional right out-of-the-box requiring minimal setup, is critical to stand out in a competitive market.
For instance, one of our products includes functional modules that eliminate the need for lengthy and laborious setups. Similar to smartphones, our products require no assembly and are ready for use. By providing a streamlined and simplified solution, we hope to provide our customers with an unmatched experience and distinguish ourselves from larger competitors in the industry.
Also Read: Southeast Asia paves the way for new value in robotics
Our team recognises that perseverance and resilience are essential not only for surviving in a competitive environment but also for overcoming the difficulties associated with launching a robotics startup. The journey has been challenging, given the numerous setbacks and obstacles we have encountered along the way. However, we are firm believers in the value of persevering through difficult times by keeping our eyes on the prize, changing strategies as required, and never giving up.
We recognise that setbacks and failures are inevitable in any startup, but we acknowledge them as opportunities for our teams’ growth and learning. We are constantly evaluating and enhancing our business strategies, pivoting when necessary, and taking on calculated risks to advance.
The future of us
In conclusion, we are highly optimistic about the future prospects of our robotics startup, and we remain committed to driving innovation and growth within and beyond the industry. Our commitment to creating cutting-edge hardware and software solutions for mobile robots has positioned us for continued success, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Looking to the future, we plan to expand our reach into new industries and applications, leveraging our expertise to meet the evolving needs of our customers. As a startup, we recognise the value of agility and flexibility, and we are committed to adjusting our strategy as necessary to stay ahead of the curve. We believe that with hard work, dedication, an open mindset and the willingness to embrace change, we can achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact in the world of robotics.
To our fellow entrepreneurs, we advise you to never lose sight of your vision but be willing and ready to pivot when necessary. Business is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the key to success is staying flexible and open-minded. With persistence and an openness to accept change, all things are definitely possible.
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