Service robots prove popular at height of pandemic
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With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to spread relentlessly around the globe, “untact,” or non-contact services are emerging as a new trend, and demand for service robots to replace humans is also growing.
The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra) says interest in service robots has soared since they were employed in public-sanitation and service businesses to limit the spread of Covid-19 in China.
According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, 54 percent of all voice robots introduced in China were used more than 1 million times per day during the Chinese COVID-19 quarantine period, which lasted until February 7.
According to an analysis of some 500 cases collected by the coronavirus artificial intelligence (AI) quarantine support information platform, the most popular products were service robots, big data analysis systems and smart recognition (body temperature measurement) devices.
Service robots are divided into “professional service robots” used at companies and in public places and “home and personal service robots” used in ordinary homes.
Among them, the market for service robots stood at US$9.46 billion as of last year, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier. The average annual growth rate of service robots over the past five years also stands at 21.9 percent.
China’s service robot market stood at US$2.2 billion last year, accounting for 25 percent of the global service robot market.
It is a figure that grew 19.6 percent year on year, with an annual average growth rate of 28 percent over the past five years, exceeding the global average. Furthermore, it is expected to grow to $4 billion in 2021 as demand rises.
Chinese service robots have been focused on housekeeping, guest reception, customer service (in retail stores, restaurants and banks) and education, led by start-up companies.
However, with the outbreak of Covid-19, service robots have drawn more attention in areas such as delivery, quarantine disinfection and patrol.
In particular, during the coronavirus quarantine process, multi-function products for disinfection, temperature measurement, and mask-wear monitoring, rather than products equipped with one function, were notable.
“The market for service robots is expanding through rental services, easing the initial burden of introduction compared to directly selling hardware,” Kotra said.
Questions & Answers
Q.What types of service robots were most frequently used during the Chinese COVID-19 quarantine period?
What types of service robots were most frequently used during the Chinese COVID-19 quarantine period?
During the Chinese quarantine, 54 percent of all voice robots were used over one million times daily. Service robots, big data analysis systems, and smart recognition devices were the most popular products overall.
Q.How large was the global service robot market last year, and what was its growth rate?
How large was the global service robot market last year, and what was its growth rate?
The global market for service robots was US$9.46 billion last year, showing a 14.1 percent increase from the previous year. Its average annual growth rate over the past five years stands at 21.9 percent.
Q.How has the focus for Chinese service robots changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
How has the focus for Chinese service robots changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Initially, Chinese service robots focused on housekeeping, reception, customer service, and education. With the pandemic, attention shifted to delivery, quarantine disinfection, patrol, and multi-function products for monitoring.
Q.What new business model is helping to expand the service robot market?
What new business model is helping to expand the service robot market?
The market is expanding through rental services. This approach eases the initial financial burden for businesses, making it more accessible compared to directly purchasing the hardware.