HaaS 100 (week of December 4, 2023)

Hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) is gaining momentum across a variety of industries. Many of the early adopters of HaaS are in robotics, offering robots-as-a-service (RaaS) to decrease barriers to entry and improving overall value to customers. Others offer machine-as-a-service (MaaS), device-as-a-service (DaaS), or equipment-as-a-service (EaaS).

Some companies pitch outcomes more than assets, offering data-as-a-service or platform-as-a-service models. From commercial cleaning robots, autonomous warehouse bots, and automatic bread-baking machines, to automatic strawberry pickers and smart camera systems, these companies are on the cutting-edge of their fields.

This post is one in a series about modern hardware companies, their business models, and the future of HaaS.

Avidbots

• Founded date: 2014
• Location: Kitchener, Ontario
• Employees: ~264
• Industries: commercial cleaning
• Key customers: DHL, 3M, Ceva Logistics, Walmart
• Website: avidbots.com

Avidbots offers autonomous commercial floor scrubbing robots, the Neo and Neo 2. These robots are designed to autonomously clean large floor spaces, such as warehouses, airports, and shopping centers. Neo utilizes advanced sensors and AI technology to navigate spaces efficiently while ensuring thorough cleaning. Its scrubbing capabilities coupled with machine learning algorithms enable it to deliver consistent cleaning results across diverse environments.

Avidbots’ rental program focuses on minimizing disruptions, boosting ROI, and support. They also sell via outright purchase and offer ongoing service plans. Service plans may include fleet monitoring, consumable replacements, maintenance, and customer support.

Fetch Robotics

• Founded date: 2014
• Location: San Jose, California
• Employees: ~78
• Industries: e-commerce, warehousing, manufacturing, logistics
• Key customers: DHL, GEODIS, RK Logistics Group, and Ryder
• Website: fetchrobotics.com
  

Fetch Robotics (part of Zebra Technologies) specializes in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) primarily for warehousing, manufacturing, and logistics. Fetch offers a fleet of robots, each tailored for specific tasks like inventory management, material handling, and order fulfillment within dynamic and changing warehouse environments.

Fetch offers their AMRs through a variety of sales models including subscription options. Prominently featured along with Workflow Builder when it launched in 2020, the robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model also allows customers the ability to change the type of AMR if their needs change.

Wilkinson Baking

• Founded date: 1998
• Location: Walla Walla, Washington
• Employees: 6
• Industries: food production
• Key customers: Sendik’s, Andy’s Market, Super 1 Foods
• Website: wilkinsonbaking.com

Wilkinson Baking’s BreadBot is a fully automated customer-facing bread machine, producing freshly baked bread on-site at supermarkets and grocery stores. The BreadBot automates the entire bread-making process — mixing, forming, proofing, baking, and cooling bread all on its own. By automating these steps, the BreadBot significantly reduces the need for human intervention in the bread production process, making it possible for retailers to offer freshly baked bread right in-store.

Wilkinson offers the BreadBot on several different pricing models, including hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) per loaf pricing model or monthly fee, and a capital purchase option with a monthly monitoring plan.

“The hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model facilitates a strong partnership between us and our customers, creating an easy entry for retailers that see the strategic value of sustainably made fresh bread,” says Paul Rhynard, CEO of Wilkinson Baking.

Tortuga AgTech

• Founded date: 2016
• Location: Denver, Colorado
• Employees: ~52
• Industries: agriculture
• Key customers: The Summer Berry Company
• Website: tortugaagtech.com

Tortuga AgTech produces agricultural robots that provide harvesting, forecasting, and pest treatment services to farms. Its robots are precise, able to harvest crops like strawberries individually and without damage to the fruit. Tortuga focuses on partnering with farmers to perform critical farm services and providing growers with information they haven’t previously had access to.

Tortuga offers its robots through a robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model, with a fee structure based on the volume and performance of its robots. This aligns the company’s business model with their customers’ needs.

SpotAI

• Founded date: 2018
• Location: Burlingame, California
• Employees: ~134
• Industries: security
• Key customers: TruFusion, YMCA, Wine Direct, Ruggable, MIXT
• Website: spot.ai

SpotAI’s camera system utilizes IP cameras, intelligent video recorder, and software to provide smart video data to it’s customers. The hardware is designed to facilitate an easy setup process, ensuring that customers can easily implement and access video recording without facing complex installation. Businesses and users alike are able to harness video data for security, analytics, and operational enhancements.

SpotAI provides its system through an all-inclusive pricing plans including camera feeds, video recorder, and cameras in a single price. Every license includes support and hardware warranty. The hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) structure ensures customers are able to scale up or down depending on their needs.