The New Robot Business Model Robots as a Service

Robot arms are getting cheaper, but the bigger shift is in how they're sold. Lucas and Luna explore the rise of 'Robots as a Service' (RaaS) — a subscription model that lowers the barrier for small and mid-size manufacturers. They dig into a case study: Formic Technologies, a startup that leases autonomous mobile robots and robotic arms for a monthly fee of around $8 per hour of operation, no upfront capital required. Formic has signed on over 50 manufacturers in the U.S., including a Texas-based metal fabricator that automated its welding line for $6.50 an hour — less than the cost of a human operator. The hosts discuss why this model works for low-margin shops, how it changes the risk calculus for automation, and why traditional robot vendors like FANUC and ABB are starting to offer their own as-a-service plans. They also touch on the potential downsides: lock-in, software dependency, and the question of who owns the data the robot generates. A practical look at a quiet revolution in industrial finance. #RobotsAsAService #RaaS #FormicTechnologies #IndustrialAutomation #ManufacturingTech #RobotLeasing #AutomationFinance #Cobot #RoboticArm #WeldingAutomation #FANUC #ABB #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HardwareStartups #SubscriptionModel Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo