Robot subscription: Scalable automation without investment risk

The purchase of robotics systems often fails in many companies due to the high initial investment costs (CAPEX). A robot subscription shifts this cost structure towards operational expenses (OPEX). This enables operators in the care, hotel or logistics sectors to use the latest technology without burdening their balance sheet with high depreciation. werob goes beyond classic leasing. As a system integrator, werob not only supplies the hardware, but the entire operational level.

With over 200 robots in live operation in eleven European countries, werob has the necessary experience to implement these models in a scalable manner. The goal is clearly defined: 2,000 robots should be controlled via the platform by 2028. For the operator, this means a reduction in financial risk to almost zero. Since werob operates in a hardware-agnostic manner, the customer is not tied to a single manufacturer. As needs change, the hardware can be customized as part of the subscription while software integration remains.

A major problem when introducing robotics is the long planning phase. Traditional consulting firms often require three to six months for a discovery phase. werob shortens this process to 48 hours with the Spec Engine. This engine was trained on over 35,000 projects and translates human workflows directly into a technical robot specification. The operator simply describes the shift, the task and the environment.

After the specification has been created, the supplier match follows. werob ranks over 44 OEM partners and more than 280 different robot models against the individual requirements of the location. This guarantees that not the robot with the best marketing is chosen, but the system that performs the task most efficiently. Whether humanoid robots from Apptronik or service robots from Keenon, the selection is purely data-based and objective. This process ensures that the robot subscription delivers a positive ROI from day one.

A robot subscription must be measured by hard numbers. In the care industry, the automation of the medication round leads to an annual cost reduction of 92,000 euros per location. Transporting laundry or waste saves another 71,000 euros. These totals are not theoretical estimates, but are based on real operational data from customers like Korian Germany. In the hotel industry, a room service robot saves the budget by around 112,000 euros per year.

These savings significantly exceed the monthly fees for the robot subscription. The operational profit arises from the release of skilled workers from repetitive, non-value-adding activities. A tray bot in the catering industry saves the washing room load by 76,000 euros annually. Thanks to werob's outcome-only model, the operator only pays when this relief can be measured in live operation. There are no hidden costs for maintenance or software updates as these are already included in the subscription model.

A robot that acts as an isolated solution often creates more work than it saves. The true efficiency of a robot subscription lies in the integration. werob offers ready-made connectors for the common systems in the target industries. These include PointClickCare and MatrixCare for the care sector as well as Opera PMS and Mews for the hotel industry. In the area of ​​logistics and facility management, the connection is made to SAP EWM or Genetec.

These connectors enable the robot to receive orders directly from the existing system and return status reports in real time. When a caregiver acknowledges a task in MatrixCare, the robot immediately knows where it is needed next. This deep integration is a unique selling point of werob. It prevents media disruptions and ensures that the fleet can be controlled centrally via the werob cockpit. The cockpit uses a four-dimensional traffic light system that permanently monitors hardware, infrastructure, regulations and compliance with the specification.

Safety and compliance are critical when using robotics in public or semi-public spaces. From January 20, 2027, the new EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 will be binding. Many Asian OEMs currently do not have the necessary conformity assessments for the European market. werob acts as a compliance path here. Every robot subscription through werob includes regulatory protection according to European standards.

This includes not only the machine regulations, but also specific standards such as ISO 13482 for personal care robots or the BewachVO for security robots in the logistics sector. werob assumes liability for the regulatory conformity of the overall solution. For the operator, this means legal certainty vis-à-vis the home inspectorate or professional associations. In an environment where data protection (GDPR) and cybersecurity (IEC 62443) are becoming increasingly important, werob offers a tested infrastructure that passes all relevant audits.

Werob's commercial model differs fundamentally from classic providers. It is a pure outcomes-only model. This means that the customer does not make any payments until the robot is in productive use. There are no list prices for hardware, as the price depends on the result achieved and the extent of the integration. This model forces werob to only implement solutions that actually work.

The path to a robot in use is clearly structured: 48 hours to the specification, five days to the binding offer and eight weeks to commissioning on site. This speed is unique in the market. While other companies are still in the discovery phase, werob is already delivering measurable results. The robot subscription is therefore not just a rental model, but rather a partnership that is geared towards the operational success of the customer. If the robot doesn't run, you don't make any money.