Global Sales of Professional Service Robots Jump by 30%

Robotics
Global Sales of Professional Service Robots Jump by 30% 

2024-10-14

Source:

IFR


3 min Reading Time

Professional service robot sales surged by 30% worldwide, with over 205,000 units registered by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in 2023. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the market, accounting for nearly 80% of global sales with 162,284 units. Europe followed with 33,918 units sold, while the Americas registered 8,927 units. These figures were presented in the 2024 edition of the World Robotics Service Robots report, highlighting a significant growth in the deployment of robots across various industries.

In 2023, over half of all professional service robots sold were designed for the Transportation and Logistics sector. Sales in this category surged by 35%, with nearly 113,000 units sold. The growing demand for automation is largely driven by the labor shortages facing the industry, particularly in tasks like loading and unloading trucks, which are time-consuming for drivers. Robotic solutions are increasingly being adopted to streamline these processes. To ensure widespread adoption, making the technology user-friendly for non-technical staff is crucial, simplifying the integration of robotics into daily operations.

A shortage of skilled workers is also driving demand for automation in outdoor environments without public traffic. Robot types in this class range from automated conventional vehicles, such as forklifts or tractors, to customized solutions, often with a weatherproof enclosure for the goods being transported.Hospitality robots are becoming increasingly popular: More than 54,000 units (+31%) were sold in 2023. Robots for mobile guidance, information and telepresence account for the majority of these robots. As the sector is evolving rapidly, some key applications have emerged, such as food and beverage preparation, as well as guidance and information points in public environments.

The service robotics industry is on the move: more and more robots are serving on factory floors, in shopping centers or helping with deliveries on the street .

Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics

Sales of agricultural robots show strong growth (+21%), with almost 20,000 units sold in 2023. The shortage of human labor in times of severe demographic change and the demand for more sustainable precision agriculture make service robots a key player in this market.The market for professional cleaning robots grew by 4% to almost 12,000 units sold. The main application is floor cleaning. This represents approximately 70% of the units sold in this application group.In accordance with ISO standard the World Robotics 2024 yearbook considers medical robots as a third category alongside service robots and industrial robots: Sales of medical robots increased by 36% to around 6,100 units in 2023. Sales of rehabilitation and non-invasive therapy robots were up 128%. Demand for surgery robots rose by 14% and sales of robots for diagnostics increased by 25%.

Top 3 countries of Service and Medical Robot Suppliers

The United States is home to the largest number of service and medical robot manufacturers in the world, with 199 companies headquartered there. 66% of these manufacturers produce professional service robots, 27% consumer service robots and 12% medical robots.China ranks second with a total of 107 service and medical robot manufacturers. The proportion of companies offering professional service robots is even higher than in the US, at 80%. A total of 34% offer consumer robots and only 5% medical robots.Germany ranks third with 83 companies. Like China, it has a very high proportion of professional service robot manufacturers, with a share of 79%. A total of 17% offer consumer applications and 12% medical robots.

Regional Market Insights for Service and Medical Robots: Europe Leads with 44% Market Share

Europe holds the largest share of global service and medical robot manufacturers at 44%, followed by Asia with 29%, and the Americas at 25%, according to the World Robotics Service Robots 2024 report. However, it is important to note that these figures are based on a sample of 298 service robot producers. The data presented should not be generalized across the entire industry, as the sample composition changes yearly. Caution is advised when comparing data across different World Robotics reports, as variations in the sample can lead to inconsistencies.This regional breakdown provides key insights into the current distribution of service robot production, with Europe maintaining a leading position in this rapidly growing market.