Automation partner service provider medium-sized companies: werob Guide
Medium-sized companies don't need months-long discovery phases, but rather measurable operational results. Find out how werob, as a hardware-agnostic system integrator, radically shortens the path from specification to live operation.
Logistics center, 3:15 a.m. The night shift is half over. An autonomous robot patrols the outside area while medication is being picked for dispatch in the hall. No technician is on site. The system runs autonomously, integrated into SAP EWM. This is not a pilot project, but rather everyday operations in over 200 live installations of werob in eleven European countries. For medium-sized businesses, choosing the right automation partner is crucial in order to cushion the shortage of skilled workers and achieve cost savings of up to 112,000 euros per location per year. werob offers a platform for this that delivers a ready-to-use specification in 48 hours.
Key Takeaways
- 148 hours to specification instead of months of advice from AI-powered spec engine.
- 2Hardware agnostics protects against vendor lock-in with access to over 44 OEM partners.
- 3Pre-built connectors enable integration with SAP, Opera and MatrixCare in record time.
The difference between a consultant and a system integrator
In German medium-sized businesses there is often a confusion between classic management consulting and operational system integration. While consulting firms often need three to six months to create discovery decks, werob relies on the Spec Engine. This AI-powered platform has been trained on over 35,000 projects and translates the description of your workflows into a technical specification within 48 hours. An effective automation partner for medium-sized businesses must not hold up the process with theoretical analyses, but must pave the path to implementation.
Users also ask: How much does an automation partner for medium-sized businesses cost? At werob we follow an outcome-only model. This means that you only pay when the robot is operational. There are no hidden list prices or upfront fees for just planning. This approach significantly minimizes the investment risk for medium-sized companies and shifts the focus from the acquisition costs to the actual cost reduction in operations.
Hardware agnostics as protection against vendor lock-in
A critical mistake in automation in medium-sized companies is the early commitment to a single robot manufacturer (OEM). A specialized service provider like werob remains hardware-agnostic. With a catalog of over 44 OEM partners and 280 maneuverable robot models, including systems from Boston Dynamics, Keenon, Pudu and Apptronik, werob offers a neutral ranking. The Supplier Match process compares your specific requirements with the performance data of the world's leading manufacturers.
This approach prevents the so-called vendor lock-in. If your site's needs change or a manufacturer discontinues software support, the werob platform enables seamless hardware switching without having to rebuild the entire integration layer. For medium-sized companies, this means long-term investment security in a rapidly developing market for humanoid and service robots.
The regulatory hurdle: EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230
An often underestimated aspect when choosing an automation partner is legal compliance. From January 20, 2027, the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 will be binding. Many Asian OEMs do not have the necessary conformity assessments for the European market. werob acts as a necessary compliance path here. We ensure that every unit deployed complies with European safety standards, including ISO 13482 for service robots in direct human environments.
Without a partner to take on this regulatory responsibility, medium-sized operators risk having their fleets decommissioned by regulators. werob integrates regulatory monitoring directly into the live cockpit. This means compliance officers have access to the necessary documentation and safety evidence at any time, which is particularly essential in sensitive areas such as care or food processing (HACCP).
Integration into the operator stack via connectors
A robot that acts as an isolated system often creates more work in medium-sized businesses than it saves. True efficiency comes from integration into existing software systems. werob offers pre-built connectors for market-leading platforms such as SAP EWM, Opera PMS, Mews, Toast and MatrixCare. These integrations allow robots to receive orders directly from the inventory management system or property management system.
Users also ask: How long does it take to implementation of robotics? By using these standardized interfaces, werob reduces the time until live operation to eight weeks. Manual programming of interfaces is no longer necessary. In the hotel industry, for example, this means that a room service robot is automatically summoned via Mews as soon as a guest places an order, which can lead to a cost reduction of up to 112,000 euros per year.
Economic efficiency and verified cost reductions
Automation in medium-sized businesses has to pay off. werob provides concrete numbers for this instead of vague adjectives. In the care industry, the automation of the medication round enables an annual cost reduction of 92,000 euros per location. In logistics, automated yard patrol leads to savings of 68,000 euros per year. These numbers are based on real deployment data from customers like Korian Germany.
| Area | Use case | Cost relief per year |
|---|---|---|
| Care | Medicine round | 92,000 € |
| Hotel industry | Room service | €112,000 |
| Logistics | Yard patrol | 68,000 € |
| F&B | Tray transport | 76,000 € |
| Golf | Ball collection | 38,000 € |
These reliefs result not only from pure working time savings, but also from the reduction of errors and relieving specialist staff of repetitive, physically demanding tasks. An automation partner for medium-sized businesses must be able to precisely calculate these business cases in advance.
The werob cockpit: transparency in live operations
After implementation, the fleet management phase begins. The werob Cockpit offers a four-dimensional traffic light system that monitors the status of hardware, infrastructure, regulations and specifications in real time. Medium-sized companies often do not have their own robotics departments. Therefore werob takes over the operational monitoring of the fleet. If a robot encounters an obstacle in a hotel lobby or a nursing home that it cannot avoid independently, the system reports this immediately.
This live monitoring ensures that the promised efficiency gains are realized in the long term. It also provides the database for continuous optimization of routes and task distribution. The Cockpit is the central tool for the Director of Operations to control the performance of the entire robot fleet across multiple locations without requiring deep technical expert knowledge.
Outcome-only: A fair business model for medium-sized businesses
Werob's commercial model is fundamentally different from classic distributors. We act as a partner who is measured by the success of automation. The outcome-only model means that the commercial phase only begins when the robot successfully takes on its defined task in operation. This eliminates the risk of bad investments in expensive hardware that ends up sitting unused in the corner.
Users also ask: Which robots are suitable for medium-sized businesses? The answer always depends on the individual specification. Thanks to the werob model, medium-sized companies are not forced to take on the risk of a single manufacturer. We rank the best options and ensure that the chosen solution is economically viable. This model promotes a long-term partnership in which werob acts as an extended workbench for the customer's automation strategy.
The 8-week path to implementation
Speed is a competitive advantage. The process at werob is trimmed for maximum efficiency. You will receive a completed specification within 48 hours of the initial intake conversation. A concrete offer will be available within five days. Once the order has been placed, it usually only takes eight weeks until the first robot is in live operation on your site. This tight schedule is only possible because werob relies on standardized processes and ready-made connectors.
This speed is crucial for medium-sized companies that suffer from an acute shortage of personnel. While traditional integrators are still in the planning phase, we are already delivering operational results. The eight-stage onboarding process takes you safely from the initial idea through the site analysis to the final commissioning and training of your staff on site.
Future security through humanoid robotics
The market for humanoid robots is developing rapidly. Partners like Apptronik, Figure AI and Unitree are making enormous progress. werob is monitoring this market closely and has already successfully launched the first pilot projects, such as in a nursing facility in Hamburg. For medium-sized businesses, this means that the infrastructure built today and the werob platform are already prepared to integrate future generations of humanoid robots.
Users also ask: Is robotics in medium-sized businesses GDPR-compliant? Yes, werob integrates a comprehensive data protection layer. The robots’ cameras and sensors are configured to comply with strict European guidelines. Data is processed locally or transmitted via secured, encrypted connections. This is particularly important in areas with public traffic or in private living areas of care facilities. A professional automation partner for medium-sized businesses solves these complex compliance issues in the background so that the operator can concentrate on his core business.
FAQ
- What distinguishes werob from a classic robot manufacturer?
- werob is not a manufacturer, but a hardware-agnostic system integrator. We do not sell our own robots, but select the best solution for your specific workflow from over 44 partners and integrate it into your existing IT infrastructure.
- Which software systems can werob connect?
- We have ready-made connectors for systems such as SAP EWM, PointClickCare, MatrixCare, Opera PMS, Mews, Toast, Lightspeed and Genetec. This enables fast and error-free data transfer between your systems and the robot fleet.
- Does the new EU Machinery Regulation apply to all robots?
- Yes, the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 is binding for all machines and robots operated in the EU from January 20, 2027. werob ensures that all systems used meet these requirements and undergo the necessary conformity assessments.
- How does werob's Spec Engine work?
- The Spec Engine translates your verbal descriptions of shifts, tasks, and environments into a technical robot action graph. Based on data from over 35,000 projects, you will receive a ready-to-use specification within 48 hours.
- What does the outcome-only commercial model mean?
- With werob, you only pay when the solution is operational on your site. There are no upfront fees for planning or advice. We bear the risk of implementation together with you and are measured by success.
- Can werob also supply humanoid robots for medium-sized businesses?
- Yes, werob already has humanoid robots such as the Apptronik Apollo or systems from Unitree in its portfolio. We are already running pilot projects in nursing and can integrate these systems into your operational processes as soon as the specification requires it.