The latest consolidated statistics available in 2026 show, above all, that service robotics is moving beyond experimentation and finding economically viable applications in logistics, healthcare, cleaning, agriculture and other sectors.

This market can be expected to continue growing strongly throughout 2026 and the years ahead.

The global service robotics market continues to gain momentum

According to the World Robotics 2025 – Service Robots report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), published at the end of 2025, more than 199,000 professional service robots were sold worldwide in 2024, representing a 9% increase in one year.

This figure provides the latest major consolidated snapshot of the market available in 2026.

But behind those 199,000 units are very different market dynamics.

Professional cleaning grew by 34%. Medical robots recorded growth of 91%. Logistics exceeded 100,000 units sold, while other categories, such as hospitality robots, declined.

For industrial companies, these figures are particularly useful for identifying the sectors in which robotics is beginning to achieve genuine economic maturity.

Nearly 200,000 professional robots sold worldwide

The IFR recorded more than 199,000 professional service robots sold in 2024, up 9%.

However, this figure must be interpreted carefully.

Unlike statistics covering industrial robots, the service robotics study does not represent a comprehensive census of every machine sold worldwide.

IFR identifies 944 service robot manufacturers globally. Data in the 2025 edition is based on information collected from a sample of 293 manufacturers.

The organization also points out that the composition of this sample may change from one year to another.

The 199,000 units therefore serve primarily as a powerful indicator of market trends.

And those trends reveal accelerating demand across several very practical applications.

Cleaning: robot sales jump 34%

This is one of the most significant increases recorded by the IFR.

More than 25,000 professional cleaning robots were sold in 2024.

In just one year, sales increased by 34%.

Floor cleaning accounts for the majority of these applications.

Shopping malls, airports, hospitals, warehouses, factories, railway stations and large retail stores are particularly well suited to automation.

The areas involved are large, the tasks are repetitive, and routes are often structured enough for robots to operate for several hours with limited human intervention.

For companies, the economics are also relatively easy to measure.

A cleaning robot can operate for several hours, sometimes outside normal business hours, and perform repetitive tasks while human workers are reassigned to more complex activities.

This 34% increase illustrates a fundamental trend in robotics today: the fastest-growing robots are not necessarily the most spectacular ones.

Economic value is often found in automating simple, repetitive and measurable tasks.

The fastest-growing robots are not
necessarily the most spectacular ones,
but those with the clearest ROI.

Healthcare: 91% growth

The most impressive figure, however, comes from medical robotics.

According to the IFR, approximately 16,700 medical robots were sold in 2024, representing an increase of 91%.

Volumes remain lower than in logistics, but the momentum is remarkable.

The category includes applications related to surgery, laboratories, rehabilitation and various medical assistance systems.

It also has an important characteristic: the economic value of a medical robot can be significantly higher than that of a relatively simple service robot.

The number of units sold alone is therefore not enough to measure the economic importance of this market.

This growth mainly illustrates the widening scope of robotics applications.

After automotive manufacturing and traditional industry, robots are increasingly entering environments where precision, repeatability and assistance for professionals are critical.

Logistics: more than 100,000 robots sold

In terms of volume, however, logistics remains the heavyweight of the service robotics market.

Approximately 102,900 robots dedicated to transportation and logistics were sold in 2024, an increase of 14%.

This category alone therefore accounts for more than half of all professional service robots recorded by the IFR.

A significant proportion of this growth is linked to the development of AMRs – Autonomous Mobile Robots.

These autonomous mobile robots transport goods, components, bins or pallets inside warehouses, logistics centers and industrial facilities.

They address a very practical problem: a considerable amount of industrial working time is still spent moving goods from point A to point B.

Automating these movements can reduce non-value-added tasks while potentially increasing the availability of human operators.

New generations of AMRs also benefit from advances in sensors, machine vision, mapping and navigation software.

As a result, they can operate in environments that are considerably less rigid than those required by previous generations of AGVs.

Robot-as-a-Service lowers the investment barrier

The growth of service robotics is not driven solely by improvements in robot performance.

The business model is also changing.

According to the IFR, the fleet of professional robots operated under a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model increased by 31% in 2024, exceeding 24,500 units.

In logistics, growth reached as much as 42%.

The principle is similar to SaaS in the software industry.

Instead of purchasing a robot outright and committing significant capital, a company can pay for its use through a subscription or service contract.

Depending on the provider, maintenance, software updates and various additional services may be included.

For industrial decision-makers, this development is far from insignificant.

It can potentially transform part of a robotics investment into an operating expense, while reducing the risk associated with an initial deployment.

The question then becomes less about: “How much does this robot cost?” and more about: “How much does automating this task cost me every month, and what productivity gain can I expect in return?”

Agriculture: nearly 19,500 robots

Agricultural robotics also represents a significant market.

Nearly 19,500 agricultural robots were sold in 2024, although the segment declined by 6%.

Applications include automated milking systems and various mechanized agricultural operations.

Over the medium term, several factors could nevertheless support this market: labor shortages, an aging agricultural workforce, the need to improve productivity, and advances in machine vision and artificial intelligence.

Agriculture is precisely one of the environments where advances in AI and vision technologies could unlock new applications, because robots must operate in conditions that are far less predictable than an industrial production line.

Hospitality and customer service: a market down 11%

Not every segment is growing.

More than 42,000 robots designed for hospitality and customer-facing services were sold in 2024, but sales declined by 11%.

This category includes various information, guidance, telepresence and service robots.

The decline offers an interesting lesson.

Just because a task can technically be automated does not necessarily mean that doing so provides sufficient economic value.

The sectors currently recording the strongest growth are generally those where the return on investment can be identified relatively easily: moving goods, cleaning surfaces, automating industrial operations or assisting healthcare professionals.

944 manufacturers: a market that remains highly fragmented

The IFR now identifies 944 service robot manufacturers worldwide.

One important characteristic is that approximately 80% are SMEs with fewer than 500 employees.

The sector therefore remains extremely fragmented.

Alongside large industrial groups are numerous specialists developing machines for highly specific applications: cleaning, inspection, agriculture, security, healthcare, logistics and maintenance.

This fragmentation encourages innovation but could also lead to gradual market consolidation.

As volumes increase, the requirements for financing, industrialization, international maintenance capabilities and distribution networks become increasingly important.

With more than 4.6 million industrial robots already in operation, automation has become a global production infrastructure.

Industrial robotics remains on a completely different scale

To understand the overall scale of the phenomenon, service robotics must be compared with traditional industrial robotics.

According to World Robotics 2025, 542,000 new industrial robots were installed in factories in 2024.

Annual installations have now exceeded 500,000 units for four consecutive years.

More importantly, the global operational stock has reached approximately 4.66 million industrial robots.

Asia accounted for 74% of new global installations, compared with 16% for Europe and 9% for the Americas.

China alone accounted for approximately 295,000 new installations, representing more than half of the global market.

Over the past decade, the annual number of industrial robots installed worldwide has more than doubled.

More than 700,000 industrial robots per year expected by 2028

And the trend is expected to continue.

The IFR forecast approximately 575,000 new industrial robot installations in 2025, representing growth of 6%.

By 2028, worldwide installations are expected to exceed 700,000 industrial robots per year.

This trajectory puts the 199,000 professional service robots into a much broader context.

Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and services are gradually converging toward higher levels of automation.

In 2026, artificial intelligence becomes the next accelerator

Since the collection of the 2024 statistics, another trend has accelerated: the integration of artificial intelligence into robotic systems.

The implications are considerable.

For several decades, robots have excelled in extremely structured environments: the same parts, the same trajectories and the same operations.

Advances in AI, machine vision and models that allow machines to interpret their environment could gradually expand the number of tasks that can be automated.

This is one of the reasons behind the current interest in intelligent AMRs, robots capable of manipulating variable objects and, over the longer term, humanoid robots.

Robot density is becoming a strategic industrial indicator

Competition is also taking place between economies.

The latest data published by the IFR in 2026 indicates that Western Europe has reached a density of approximately 267 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees.

North America stands at around 204 robots per 10,000 employees.

Robot density is gradually becoming an indicator of industrial competitiveness.

In economies facing demographic aging and difficulties finding workers for certain occupations, robotics can help increase productivity without necessarily requiring a proportional increase in workforce size.

Key figures to remember

Latest global data paints a picture of a market undergoing rapid transformation:

• 199,000+ professional service robots sold: +9%
• 102,900 transportation and logistics robots: +14%
• 25,000+ professional cleaning robots: +34%
• 16,700 medical robots: +91%
• 19,500 agricultural robots: -6%
• 42,000+ hospitality and customer service robots: -11%
• 24,500+ robots operated under RaaS models: +31%
• 944 service robot manufacturers identified worldwide
• 80% of manufacturers are SMEs
• 542,000 industrial robots installed in 2024
• 4.66 million industrial robots operating worldwide
• 700,000+ annual industrial robot installations expected by 2028

The real question: where is the ROI?

The 34% increase in cleaning robotics and 91% growth in medical robotics are impressive.

But they reveal something even more important.

Service robotics is beginning to find its markets.

We are no longer dealing only with technological demonstrations. In logistics, cleaning, healthcare and certain industrial applications, companies can now build genuine business models around robotics.

The development of Robot-as-a-Service is likely to accelerate this transition further by lowering the financial barrier to entry.

For an industrial executive in 2026, the question is therefore probably no longer whether robots will transform the sector.

The question has become much more practical:

Which task can we automate today, at what cost, and with what return on investment?

With nearly 200,000 professional service robots sold, more than 4.6 million industrial robots already operating worldwide, and global installations expected to continue rising, robotics is gradually entering a new phase.

After the race for technology comes the race for ROI, in a market that continues to grow.

Cet article Robots: Cleaning Up 34%, Medical Robotics Up 91% est apparu en premier sur Robot Magazine.

For years, industrial robots remained confined to production cells behind safety barriers. Today, another category of machines is attracting the attention of manufacturers: AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots).

Capable of transporting components, pallets or bins without requiring dedicated infrastructure, they are becoming one of the pillars of Industry 4.0. Their adoption is accelerating in logistics, e-commerce, the automotive industry and even hospitals, driven by labour shortages, the pursuit of productivity gains and advances in artificial intelligence.

Analysts estimate that the global AMR market will exceed $5 billion as early as 2026, with annual growth ranging from 14% to 20%, depending on the research firm. This makes it one of the fastest-growing segments of industrial robotics.

From AGVs to Truly Autonomous Robots

For many years, factories relied on AGVs, or Automated Guided Vehicles vehicles that appeared autonomous, but only to a limited extent.

In reality, these machines follow predefined routes using magnetic strips, QR codes or reflectors installed on the floor. As soon as an obstacle appears, they stop.

AMRs follow an entirely different approach.

Equipped with LiDAR sensors, cameras, depth sensors and real-time mapping algorithms such as SLAM, an AMR builds its own representation of its environment, calculates its route and instantly adjusts it whenever a person, forklift or pallet blocks its path.

This autonomy significantly reduces installation costs and allows industrial sites to be reconfigured quickly without modifying their existing infrastructure.

AMRs no longer simply follow a route.
They understand their environment and
make their own navigation decisions.

Why Are Manufacturers Accelerating Adoption?

The rapid growth of e-commerce and increasing pressure on delivery times have fundamentally changed warehouse requirements.

Companies are now looking for systems capable of absorbing peaks in activity without having to recruit large numbers of additional workers.

AMRs address this challenge directly.

They handle repetitive movements between storage areas, production lines and order-picking stations, allowing operators to focus on higher-value tasks.

This trend is being reinforced by recruitment difficulties in logistics and material-handling roles across most industrialised economies.

Case Study: Decathlon Doubles Its Order-Picking Capacity

One of the most striking examples is Decathlon, which has deployed Skypod robots, developed by Exotec, across several European logistics centres.

In Portugal, order-picking capacity increased from 57,000 to 114,000 orders, while the number of stores supplied rose from 41 to 73.

In the United Kingdom, order pickers now walk less than one kilometre per day, compared with more than 10 kilometres previously, reducing fatigue and improving working conditions.

Another revealing indicator is that the order-picking error rate was cut in half.

Amazon Prepares the Next Generation

At Amazon, autonomous mobile robots are already being used in several dozen logistics centres.

In 2026, the group introduced a new version of its Proteus robot, capable not only of navigating autonomously but also of interpreting instructions expressed in natural language through artificial intelligence.

The objective is no longer simply to move loads, but to enable robots to plan their own missions and routes according to operational priorities.

Benefits Observed in Real-World Operations

Initial feedback shows several recurring benefits:

• Reduced unnecessary movement for operators
• Improved safety through obstacle detection
• Faster deployment than a traditional AGV system
• Greater flexibility when production requirements change
• Continuous operation, including during night shifts and off-peak hours

Some market studies indicate that more than 60% of companies investing in robotics achieve productivity gains exceeding 25%, while investment in warehouse automation continues to rise sharply.

AMRs do not replace operators: they optimise
their movements and improve their working
conditions.

Significant Challenges Remain

However, AMRs are not a universal solution.

Integration with information systems such as ERP, MES and WMS platforms, cybersecurity, multi-robot fleet management and safe interaction with human operators remain major challenges.

Research is now focusing on robots capable of understanding the behaviour of people around them so they can adjust their trajectories in an even smoother and safer way.

Towards Fully Autonomous Logistics?

The future of AMRs is no longer limited to transporting pallets.

Future generations are expected to cooperate with robotic arms, inventory drones and, eventually, humanoid robots capable of carrying out complete order-picking operations.

In this vision, the AMR becomes the mobile platform of the smart factory, connecting every workstation through a continuous flow controlled by artificial intelligence.

Far from being a passing trend, autonomous mobile robots are now establishing themselves as one of the most cost-effective and rapidly deployable technologies in industrial robotics. For many companies, the question is no longer whether they will adopt AMRs, but how quickly they will be able to integrate them into their operations.

Cet article What is an AMR? est apparu en premier sur Robot Magazine.

So, should we see these robots as a technologically alluring trend doomed to fade, or are we witnessing the emergence of a new industrial revolution, driven by AI, advanced robotics, and a global labor shortage?

Robot Magazine investigated this trend by analyzing recent advances, persistent limitations, and the industrial stakes that will determine the future of humanoids.

Why focus on humanoids now?

Five years ago, the question barely arose. Humanoids lacked:

• Energy autonomy

• Precision in manipulation

• Onboard computing power

• Stability in locomotion

• The ability to interpret the real world

But several developments have converged over the past three years:

1. The arrival of multimodal models capable of reasoning and manipulating
   Companies like OpenAI, Figure AI, and Tesla have introduced AI systems combining vision, language, planning, and action. These AI systems can explain why they perform a task, propose solutions, or adjust movements based on context.

2. The dramatic drop in computing costs
   NVIDIA platforms (Jetson, Orin, and now Blackwell) have lowered AI inference costs, enabling complex models to run on mobile robots.

3. Massive simulation
   Digital twins (Omniverse, Isaac Sim, Mujoco, Unreal Engine) allow humanoids to be trained in millions of virtual scenarios before entering the real world.

4. A structural labor shortage
   Logistics, healthcare, agriculture, hospitality, recycling industries are looking for solutions to difficult, repetitive, or physically demanding tasks.

These factors have shifted humanoids from an imagined future to an operational one.

Humanoid robots are not designed
to replace humans but to take over
tasks that no one wants or can perform
anymore.

What can humanoids really do today?

Public demonstrations sometimes make humanoids appear clumsy. Yet in industrial settings, their real capabilities are much more impressive.

1. Versatile manipulation
   Most new humanoids can:

   • Grasp fragile objects

   • Screw, unscrew, assemble

   • Sort irregular parts

   • Adjust movements using tactile feedback

   Robotic hands are now among the most advanced components, sometimes comparable to human hands.

2. Dynamic locomotion
   Recent bipedal robots can:

   • Climb stairs

   • Overcome obstacles

   • Navigate unstructured environments

   • Avoid people in real time

   The goal is no longer just to walk, but to walk usefully.

3. Real-time 3D perception
   They use combinations of:

   • LiDAR

   • Stereo cameras

   • IMUs

   • RGB-D cameras

   • AI models for segmentation and detection

   Result: they understand their environment much more richly.

4. Collaborative work
   Humanoids can interact with humans, recognize gestures, follow voice commands, or coordinate with other robots.

Why are industries finally taking notice?

The main advantage of humanoids is not technical but economic and logistical.

1. A robot that integrates into human environments
   Unlike industrial arms, AGVs, or AMRs, a humanoid:

   • Doesn’t need a redesigned workspace

   • Doesn’t require full-line automation

   • Works with existing tools

   • Can replace or assist an operator in a specific task

   It fits into human infrastructure rather than imposing it.

2. Unprecedented versatility
   A humanoid can change roles like a temporary worker:

   • Morning: handling

   • Afternoon: sorting and inspection

   • Evening: packaging

   This flexibility reduces the ROI threshold for investment.

3. A response to labor shortages
   In logistics, hospitality, or industry, some tasks simply have no candidates. Humanoids don’t replace skilled jobs but fill unstaffed positions.

The limits: not everything is ready for industrialization

Enthusiasm is real, but obstacles remain.

1. Cost
   A humanoid costs €60,000–€150,000 today, not including maintenance.

2. Energy autonomy
   Most operate 1.5–3 hours per charge, requiring:

   • Extra batteries

   • Quick-swap stations

   • Smart cycling

3. Robustness
   Bipedal robots remain vulnerable to shocks, dust, temperature changes, and extreme humidity compared to industrial arms.

4. Regulations
   Humanoids must comply with standards:

   • CE

   • ISO 10218

   • ISO 15066

   • ISO 13482 for personal robots

   Full safety certification remains complex.

Fad or revolution? Both, actually

A clear media effect
Viral videos of robots running or folding laundry generate buzz but can misrepresent real industrial contexts. Humanoids spark imagination, leading to both hype and skepticism.

But a structural revolution is underway
The real transformation isn’t in the humanoid shape but in:

• Context-aware robots

• Able to perceive

• Understand tasks

• Adapt to variability

• Collaborate with humans

Humanoids are a vehicle for a deeper revolution: the rise of intelligent, versatile robots.

Industry adopts humanoids not out
of fascination, but necessity: available
human labor is no longer enough.

2026–2032: What will really change

1. Massive pilot deployments
   Fleets of 100–1,000 humanoids will be deployed in logistics and modular factories.

2. Industrial standardization
   Humanoids will enter CE and ISO norms with adapted certification procedures.

3. Specialized humanoids
   Expect:

   • Handling humanoids

   • Quality inspection humanoids

   • Service humanoids

   • Agricultural humanoids

4. Integration with cloud/AI ecosystems
   Humanoids will become physical agents in multicloud architectures (Microsoft, Google, AWS) with:

   • Digital twins

   • Remote supervision

   • Shared global learning

   • Continuous optimization

The humanoid form is not a gimmick it’s an emerging standard.

Humanoid robots aren’t a universal solution but offer compatibility with human-built environments.

The question isn’t whether they will replace industrial arms or AGVs but whether they will become an additional tool for non-standardized, varied, and unpredictable tasks.

In 2026, everything indicates that humanoids are both:

• A media-fueled trend

• The start of a deep industrial revolution

Reality lies in between: they won’t dominate all workshops but will become essential where versatility, adaptability, and perception matter.

Robot Magazine will continue tracking this transformation, as humanoids’ arrival in industry could redefine the very concept of automated work.

FAQ – Humanoid Robots: Fad or Industrial Revolution?

Cet article Humanoids at Work: Game-Changer or Just a Gadget? est apparu en premier sur Robot Magazine.

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR, 2025), cobots represent only 8% of installed industrial robots worldwide. Their potential for SMEs is enormous: they are flexible, quick to deploy, and relatively affordable, making them a key lever for modernizing production and addressing labor shortages. So why do French SMEs lag behind and what can be done to accelerate adoption?

Why Are Cobots Underused by French SMEs?

The issue lies less in the technology itself and more in perception and lack of awareness. Common barriers include:

• Initial investment: cobots cost between €20,000 and €45,000, which may appear steep for a small structure despite ROI often achieved in under a year.
• Skills gap: many SMEs assume specialist engineers are required to program cobots, even though most modern systems feature drag-and-drop interfaces or tablet-based controls.
• Social perception: some managers fear employee resistance, worried that robots may be seen as job destroyers.
• Lack of integrators: SMEs often lack access to robotics integrators who can support them through deployment.

In short, cobots aren’t rejected they’re simply misunderstood.

What Concrete Benefits Do Cobots Bring to SMEs?

Contrary to misconceptions, cobots don’t replace humans they augment them. Key advantages include:

• Flexibility: cobots can be reprogrammed in minutes to switch from packaging to screwing, polishing, or gluing.
• Productivity gains: according to Universal Robots, cobot adoption delivers ROI in less than 12 months in most cases.
• Reduced musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): repetitive and strenuous tasks can be automated, improving workplace health.
• Improved quality: cobots execute tasks with high precision, reducing human error.

Case study: A French agri-food SME introduced a cobot for packaging and saw +25% productivity alongside a reduction in absenteeism linked to joint pain.

How to Democratize Cobots in France

Several levers can help accelerate adoption:

• Public subsidies
  • The France Relance plan supports industrial modernization through robotics investments.
  • Regional programs can cover up to 40% of a cobot’s cost.
• Leasing models
  • Companies now offer cobots on rental contracts, allowing SMEs to pay monthly fees instead of large upfront costs.
• Integrator support
  • Structures such as Proxinnov (La Roche-sur-Yon) provide tailored assistance for SMEs exploring collaborative robotics.
• Simplified training
  • Manufacturers like Universal Robots and Fanuc offer online training modules enabling operators to master cobot programming in just a few hours.

The key to adoption is not the technology itself it’s financing and support.

Which SME Sectors Benefit Most?

Cobots are versatile, but certain industries gain disproportionately:

• Agri-food: packaging, palletizing, quality control.
• Metallurgy & machining: welding, screwing, polishing.
• Logistics: order picking, sorting.
• Pharmaceuticals & cosmetics: dosing, filling, labeling.

Across Europe, cobots are already widely used in SMEs, particularly in Germany, where over 30% of SMEs in machining and automotive supply chains use collaborative robotics.

Cobots vs. Traditional Industrial Robots

The difference is stark:

• Traditional robots: fixed in cages, optimized for large series, highly productive but rigid.
• Cobots: mobile, safe to work alongside humans, easily reprogrammable, adapted to small-batch, high-mix production.

For SMEs facing fluctuating demand, cobots offer the agility that traditional robots cannot.

Why Is France Behind Compared to Europe?

• Germany invests heavily in automation, with over 400 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, compared to fewer than 200 in France (IFR, 2024).
• Denmark, home of Universal Robots, has a strong ecosystem of integrators and training programs, boosting adoption.
• China aggressively subsidizes robot adoption, making cobots accessible even to smaller factories.

France risks losing competitiveness if SMEs fail to catch up in collaborative robotics adoption.

Cobots represent a unique opportunity for French SMEs to remain competitive despite global pressure and recruitment difficulties. Adoption is still slow, but the solutions exist: tailored financing, simplified training, and integrator support.

The SMEs that take the leap report fast ROI often under 12 months greater productivity, better quality, and healthier working conditions. Far from replacing employees, cobots free them from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value missions.

For SMEs still hesitating, now is the time to explore cobots. They don’t just modernize processes they also empower human teams, returning time, value, and competitiveness to French industry.

FAQ – Cobots in French SMEs

Cet article Why Do French SMEs Still Hesitate to Adopt Cobots? est apparu en premier sur Robot Magazine.