FieldBots Radar is proud to have initiated the first worldwide ranking for cleaning robot fleets. With our partners, we searched for the largest fleets over three months. Download the brochure for the results and the lessons we learned along the way, or listen to our podcast on “The Biggest Fleet 2024.” FieldBots Radar congratulates all participants on their documented leadership in cleaning automation!
Whether on the plane, in the car, or secretly in a
boring Zoom meeting, the most critical learnings from “The Biggest Fleet 2024” are also available
as a video podcast.
from "The Biggest Fleet 2024"
On our way to the first ranking for cleaning robot fleets, we made hundreds of phone calls, wrote even more e-mails, and sent a research team to look into the media coverage of the last three years. In addition to the hard facts of the fleet table, we learned a lot about our industry, the status quo of robotics, and prospects during the process. Below, you will find our seven learnings.
The cleaning industry is under pressure to adopt robotics, with large companies fearing market disruption and smaller ones struggling with high costs and uncertain returns. Conflicting perceptions of automation progress between North America and Europe create reluctance to openly discuss robotics strategies. As customer demand for automation grows, companies are increasingly hesitant to share their experiences, fearing a loss of competitive edge.
Our ranking and international industry feedback suggest an essential lesson to be learned: Microbots and robots are rarely thought of together. Numerous fleets are limited to one type of robot. While some see the low-cost microbots as
tripping hazards, others purchase entire swarms of small vacuum
cleaner robots. We have juxtaposed both prevailing opinions.
For decades, manufacturers, dealers, and FM service providers have worked together in a well-established triad: manufacturers develop and produce cleaning equipment, dealers distribute it in close regional cooperation, and service providers use it at the end customer’s premises. This construct is stable, familiar, and based on long-standing personal relationships. However, with the introduction of robotics into cleaning, fear of change is growing in all parts of this chain.
The development of cleaning robotics has varied worldwide in recent years, shaped by the specific requirements of regional markets. Our ranking of fleet operators also shows that the markets in North America, Europe, and Asia sometimes differ significantly in their use of robotics. We shed light on the challenges and opportunities this presents for fleet operators and the long-term implications these differences have for the industry.
There are still clear regional preferences in the market penetration of individual manufacturers. In North America, the US manufacturer Tennant and the Canadian robotics experts from Avidbots dominate. Chinese manufacturers are gaining a foothold in Europe, while European manufacturers are solid in the microbots segment. Singapore is strengthening its domestic brands, but the Chinese market remains a blind spot for foreign countries.
The informative value of the Biggest Fleet Ranking should still be treated with caution, but it does at least indicate trends in market penetration. We expected some results, but we also discovered some unexpected ones.
Robotic cleaning has experienced a remarkable upswing in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. But what developments can be expected in the coming years? Based on our observations and market analyses, we venture into the future of cleaning robotics and derive ten theses from them.
The ranking results and our learnings are in the results brochure. You can download it in English or German. The brochure is also available as a free print version. Please order using the form.
from around the world
Our research and ranking show that robotics is thought of and used differently in different parts of the world. This is reason enough for us to interview experts from Europe and Asia to learn more about cultural and regional differences. FieldBots Radar would like to thank the interviewees for their time and valuable expertise.
Expert for Europe
Martin Haubensack, CEO of Philon Reinigungsservices AG, shares his insights on the future of cleaning robotics and the industry's challenges. He highlights the growing adoption of robotic solutions but notes the hesitation in Central Europe, largely due to concerns around data security and regulatory frameworks.
Expert for Asia
Dr. Tamaki Horii, head of the Business Innovation Division at Obayashi Corporation, discusses the evolving role of robotics in the construction and cleaning industries. He highlights the challenges of introducing robots, particularly in Japan, where the adoption rate is slower compared to countries like Singapore or China.
Show the world that your company takes robotics seriously and spend a few minutes to become part of the only ranking for cleaning robot fleets.
If you are interested in even more content on cleaning robotics, we look forward to welcoming you to FieldBots Radar. All our content is available free of charge for the industry.
