The 8 main challenges in the robotics industry [2023]
As a CEO, manager, or director in the robotics sector, you are undoubtedly aware of a reality.
Although it is an exciting sector, the saying "the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot" often holds true.
Or, in other words, there are various challenges that separate your robotics industry from success, both operationally and in project management.
Productivity and development time have become one of your goals.
Even though you constantly learn about agile methodologies and technologies to develop agile work and standardize your processes...
You still feel that robotics design and maintenance projects become larger than they seem. ❌
If this is your case, the first and most important step is to name the main challenges you need to solve and how technology can help you.
Let's get started!
The 8 main challenges in the robotics industry
Let's dive deep into some of the main obstacles that hinder your company's operations, both short and long-term.
1. High learning curve for each project
Robotics development applies to numerous sectors, from medicine to industry and agriculture.
Professionals in robotics development must constantly update themselves in programming languages, electronics, design, maintenance...
A professional may specialize in one programming language (C#, Python, Java, MATLAB...) and have some experience in certain fields (robotic arms, autonomous vehicles...).
But continuous training is inevitable, as it is impossible for a professional to be trained in all areas currently managed by automation and industrial robotics companies.
The long training time reduces the effective work professionals need to carry out developments.
2. Lack of autonomy and high supervision requirements
Another complex aspect of managing in robotics is the high interdependence among professionals.
How to improve efficiency in companies when developments depend on each other, or when a higher-ranking and experienced person must ensure the project is progressing correctly?
A high level of supervision is required for each development area, as project deviations can significantly prolong the production processes of a robotics project.
High supervision requirements ultimately result in lower productivity and higher indirect costs.
3. Complex and unstandardized processes
The lack of standardization in the robotics industry is a reality in all businesses with a high degree of customization.
Many robotics development companies work on custom projects, leading to a higher risk of deviations from the original idea, with numerous changes and revisions making the project increasingly complex.
4. Lack of task tracking
When developing an automation and industrial robotics project or designing an industrial robot, it is essential to track task progress to ensure that different professionals are advancing.
This task tracking would provide educational and relevant help for project managers to analyze its progress and improve decision-making.
Furthermore, it is ideal for team professionals to access the history of previous interventions, making their work more productive and giving them access to real-time data.
Here is a solution for optimal task tracking.
5. Poor documentation management
In robotics and software development, it is necessary to document each process to simplify and facilitate tracking.
Poor documentation management leads to longer development times, deviations in task priorities, or difficulties in error resolution.
Anything not documented is information lost, prolonging production processes.
6. Difficulty managing remote and international teams
Much of the talent in robotics development companies is multinational.
The focus of many robotics solutions is also international, documenting numerous processes primarily in English, but also in other languages to facilitate product localization.
How to transfer knowledge from one language to another, and ensure professionals in a company team in another country can make the most of developments already carried out?
Contextual translation to other languages related to the tasks to be performed would allow your company to progress more successfully, manage synergies between different teams or company locations, and facilitate collaboration and productivity at an international level.
7. Talent shortage and lack of a succession program
Do you feel that in your robotics development industry there are essential talents without whom your company's house of cards would collapse?
Did you know that in 2022, 61% of technology companies reported having difficulties finding specialists in the ICT sector?
The shortage of technological talent is a reality that contrasts with high competition and high turnover rates.
Companies are always actively seeking professionals who want to commit to developing a project.
Moreover, ensuring succession through a continuous training program that capitalizes on your company's knowledge is essential, making it independent and not lost if some current professionals decide to seek new horizons.
8. Direct and indirect costs of industrial robotics
Overheads are another reality that robotics and ICT companies must face.
It's a vicious cycle.
If you train, the most experienced professionals must lose hours of their time, but if you don't, people won't be capable of handling significant tasks and working autonomously.
On the one hand, there are indirect costs, derived from training new professionals to acquire the skills and experience they need to take an active part in the project.
On the other hand, there are also direct costs associated with an experienced professional having to spend too much time and lose effectiveness and productivity in instructing and advising other professionals.
Technologies open a new horizon for the robotics industry
Technologies open a new horizon to respond to the needs of the robotics industries.
The ideal way to work in robotics development is primarily with 3D models, with access to documentation and real-time instructions through a simple and interactive interface, allowing the professional to have hands-free interaction with other professionals.
Moreover, there is an urgent need to centralize and capitalize on acquired knowledge and training to constantly train new professionals, reduce the learning curve, and facilitate new hires' faster adaptation to projects.
AI is making a strong impact on the robotics industry
Artificial Intelligence is not just a passing trend in robotics companies; it is consolidating as an essential tool revolutionizing how these companies operate and develop solutions, such as AI-powered robots.
Technologies like Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision and Large Language Models (LLMs) help generate images, videos, and content developed from large datasets, aiding training and teamwork.
Looking ahead, it is clear that the success and sustainability of the robotics industry will largely depend on its ability to integrate and capitalize on AI innovations.
By doing so, they will not only improve the efficiency and productivity of their operations but also be in an optimal position to offer more advanced and personalized solutions to their customers.
If you lead a robotics development team and identify with these common issues, we invite you to have a chat with us.
