As the robotics and industrial automation industries rapidly evolve, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are uniquely positioned to unlock new growth opportunities through strategic automation. Unlike large corporations, SMBs often lack the resources to implement large-scale automation, but this doesn't mean they're left behind. In fact, SMBs that approach automation strategically – not merely as a cost-saving measure but as a tool for agility and growth – will be better equipped to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
Driving Growth Through Strategic Automation
"Automation technologies should be seen as a way to enable new growth, enhance commercial agility, and improve service levels for customers," Mechatronics Engineer Suraj Bhosale notes. "In fact, modern automation allows for mass customization and reconfigurability, giving companies the flexibility to innovate at the business strategy level."
While cutting-edge automation technologies such as digital twins, big data management, and machine learning are powerful, many SMBs are unsure how to integrate these advancements with their existing legacy systems. The solution for many lies in hybridizing current mechanical systems with modern digital equivalents rather than starting from scratch. This may involve adding digital sensor layers to established equipment or incrementally updating production line subsystems. By focusing on small, manageable changes, SMBs can move towards automation without overwhelming their operations or finances.
Incremental Automation for Long-Term Gains
The transition from mechanical systems to fully digital or AI-driven automation can feel daunting, especially for SMBs with limited resources. However, as Lead Roboticist Alex Volkov notes, robust, pre-developed software components are increasingly available. These include essential elements like real-time operating systems, software orchestration, physics simulation, nonlinear controls, computer vision, path planning, optimization, and machine learning. By leveraging these tools, businesses can build on existing systems rather than starting from scratch. This democratization of core robotics and automation technologies offers SMBs the opportunity to make meaningful upgrades in manageable steps, focusing on immediate operational bottlenecks and gradually building more complex solutions over time.
Industries such as agriculture, medical, food processing, mining, and forestry—where further automation is needed—require equipment that remains highly reliable under challenging conditions. These industries could benefit from the automotive industry’s familiarity with mass production of complex, software-controlled electromechanical machines, such as modern cars. Developers pushing the frontiers of automation in these sectors can draw valuable lessons from the car industry’s focus on design-for-reliability and cost efficiency to create durable and scalable robotic solutions.
Although tackling automation challenges holistically often leads to more effective results, this may not be feasible for smaller firms with limited capital expenditure budgets. Instead, SMBs may take an incremental approach by updating specific subsystems within their existing operations. This strategy allows them to build and test novel infrastructure on a smaller scale before fully committing to a comprehensive automation plan. By targeting operational bottlenecks or pain points, these companies can optimize their upfront R&D and capital expenditures while minimizing long-term financial risks through staged plans for achieving returns on automation investments.
External technical consultants can also play a pivotal role in helping SMBs recognize the broader benefits of automation. Rather than executing pre-defined plans, forward-thinking consultants help businesses map out strategies for long-term growth, ensuring that automation investments pay off both now and in the future.
By approaching automation as a tool for agility and growth, SMBs can adopt innovative solutions that enhance their competitiveness without being overwhelmed by the complexity of full-scale transformations.
Motivo is at the forefront of this transformation helping companies navigate the complexities of integrating new technologies with legacy systems, developing future-proof hardware, and exploring innovative applications for next-gen robotics. As we look ahead, our goal is to continue supporting our clients with the expertise and insights they need to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.
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