HaaS 100 (early March 2025)

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 improve 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 network-as-a-service to facades cleaning; managed service providers (MSPs) to managed security service providers (MSSPs); and autonomous construction equipment to diagnostic sensors and 3D printers, these companies are on the cutting-edge of their fields.

This post is part of a series about modern hardware companies, their business models, and the future of HaaS. For more, see posts from early and late November, early and late December, early and late January, and early and late February.

KCF Technologies

• Founded date: 2000
• Location: State College, Pennsylvania
• Employees: ~200
• What they do: Machine health monitoring solutions-as-a-service
• Key customers: Georgia-Pacific, RYAM, Calfrac, Talen Energy
• Website: kcftech.com

KCF Technologies develops wireless sensors and SMARTdiagnostics software for real-time, continuous machine monitoring. The company’s core product family of connected hardware includes the High-Definition Vibration Sensor; Piezo Sensing, built for large, slow rotating equipment; the IoT Hub, which ingests data on oil condition, motor health, pressure, vibration, and sound emissions; and the Base Station Gateway, which transfers data from sensors or other connected devices back to a central system for trend diagnostics. KCF’s proprietary software, SMARTdiagnostics, leverages machine learning to deliver actionable insights and recommendations. It offers intuitive visualizations of the equipment’s current health, prioritizes assets for streamlined maintenance, and automatically generates CMMS work orders.

The company offers its solution through a device-as-a-service (DaaS) business and pricing model. The full-stack solution includes hardware (IoT devices), enterprise software, advanced analytics, remote monitoring services, and 24/7 operational support and training from KCF’s SENTRYsolutions team. KCF Technologies is responsible for maintenance, priority checks, efficiency improvements, predictive maintenance advice, and more.

“Equipment failures are a significant hurdle in fields such as oil & gas, mining, chemicals, and utilities," says co-founder and CEO Jeremy Frank. “They lead to unplanned downtime, rising operational expenses, and potential safety concerns. An end-to-end subscription model ensures that machine operators across companies of any scale have access to vital predictive maintenance, with the flexibility to expand as their businesses grow.”

Nomagic

• Founded date: 2017
• Location: Warsaw, Poland
• Employees: ~120
• What they do: Pick-and-pack robots for ecommerce warehouses
• Key customers: ASOS, FIEGE, BRACK.CH
• Website: nomagic.ai

Nomagic is a developer of warehouse robotics. The company’s fleet includes justPick, a robotic arm capable of identifying and selecting an item from an unordered selection and transferring it to a designated location; justPack, which precisely orients objects and places them in boxes at a throughput of more than 200 units per hour; and justInduct, a high-throughput solution capable of handling over 600 multi-SKU soft or shrink-wrapped goods per hour. Each robotic arm is equipped with cameras for visual analysis and can determine the best tool for the job based on the object’s properties. These innovations free up warehouse associates to focus on high-value tasks and robotic supervision, significantly reducing workplace monotony and injuries.

Rather than focusing on direct product sales, Nomagic is committed to a comprehensive, end-to-end service model. For customers, the company’s robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) pricing plan eliminates the need for substantial upfront capital investments to purchase and maintain robotic systems. Rather, they benefit from a subscription-based “pay-per-use” model that aligns costs with usage. A subscription includes full service with regular maintenance visits, onsite spare parts, guaranteed replacement, and fast interventions (less-than-30 minute response time).

“RaaS removes a significant obstacle to the adoption of robotics, freeing more fulfillment leaders to use robots in their warehouses,” says Kacper Nowicki, co-founder and CEO. “AI driven robotics is evolving at an incredibly fast pace and intelligent machines keep getting better. There is a clear divide emerging: as leading brands use smart robotics that continuously learn and improve, the gap between fulfillment centers with an AI-based automation strategy and those without will accelerate. RaaS has removed a major barrier for a lot of organizations, which has injected a high level of enthusiasm for AI-controlled robotics; we see this in our own growth and across the industry. Ultimately, it’s about making the right choice for the efficiency and longevity of the warehouse. RaaS makes this available to everyone.”

VergeSense

• Founded date: 2017
• Location: Mountain View, California
• Employees: ~140
• What they do: Occupancy intelligence platform
• Key customers: Cisco, Boston Consulting Group, Autodesk, Genentech, Shell, Twilio
• Website: vergesense.com
  

VergeSense is an occupancy intelligence platform powered by AI-enabled sensors for commercial real estate. Among its hardware offerings are entryway sensors (which track occupancy trends at the building and floor levels) and area sensors (which deliver more precise occupancy information for conference rooms, desks, and shared spaces). Area sensors can also identify passive occupancy—when spaces are filled with items like bags, laptops, or jackets, indicating that someone is utilizing the area. VergeSense also integrates and analyzes data from existing WiFi networks to obtain occupancy insights, which are displayed on analytics dashboards. This allows real estate investors, property managers, and workplace tenants to more confidently answer questions about cleaning schedules, office design, meeting room availability, capacity planning, and more.

The company’s business model is sensor-as-a-service, a subset of hardware-as-a-service. Customers pay a recurring fee for the full solution—software and hardware, alongside analytics dashboards accompanied by AI-powered recommendations. Sensors can be installed within minutes, with no IT integration required. The solution includes regular product updates, ensuring customers can enjoy the latest features without requiring hardware modifications.

Figure

• Founded date: 2022
• Location: Sunnyvale, California
• Employees: ~180
• What they do: Autonomous humanoid robots, currently for manufacturing
• Key customers: BMW (pilot)
• Website: figure.ai

Figure develops humanoid robots designed to automate labor-intensive tasks in complex environments like warehouses and factories. The humanoids currently perform standard tasks such as box moving, pick-and-place, and pallet unloading and loading. Figure 02, the  latest iteration, is equipped with a six-camera computer vision system for precision task execution. It also features human-like hands with four fingers and an opposable thumb, each powered by an integrated unit containing sensors and a motor for advanced dexterity in handling tasks. In collaboration with OpenAI, Figure 02 is capable of live, interactive speech-to-speech communication. The robot can carry up to 25 pounds in each hand and operate for up to 10 hours.

While its humanoids are estimated to cost upwards of $150,000 per unit, Figure also offers Figure 02 as part of a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model. Subscriptions include the robots, training, hardware and software upgrades, maintenance and repairs, and more. As individual robots encounter new challenges and refine their abilities in real-world scenarios, their learnings are shared across the entire fleet, creating a system of continuous collective improvement. This feedback loop amplifies the value of the hardware-plus-software ecosystem, benefitting both customers and the company.

ViaBot

• Founded date: 2016
• Location: Santa Clara, California
• Employees: ~25
• What they do: Robotic automation for facility and property maintenance and management
• Customers: Bay Area properties managed by Cushman & Wakefield
• Website: viabot.com

ViaBot’s RUNO is an autonomous sweeper robot for parking lots and garages, common areas, warehouses, hotels, campuses, and more. The robot is equipped with real-time kinetic (RTK) GPS, lidar, computer vision, proximity sensors, retractable side-brushes, main brooms, and vacuums. With these technologies, RUNO autonomously detects and identifies debris, dynamically plans its own path around obstacles, swaps out the tools it needs, empties itself into its trash station attachment, and self-docks for charging. As it works, RUNO doubles as a security robot—monitoring and detecting suspicious activity, capturing license plate information, and escalating alerts, alongside video clips, to facilities’ security teams.

ViaBot offers its solution under a robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model: Customers pay a fixed monthly fee for all hardware, software, parts, consumables, and maintenance. The subscription includes ongoing hardware and software upgrades, so property managers can stay equipped with the latest functionality and tools. It also includes 24/7 customer support. Customers have access to the MyViaBot Fleet Management Portal, where they can download reports on the work that’s been completed, monitor performance across the fleet, and get real-time visibility of the property.