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 August, early and late September, early and late October, and early and late November.
The Sabanto Autonomy System is a retrofit kit that converts a conventional tractor into a fully autonomous machine. Each kit includes satellite-corrected GNSS receivers, onboard cameras, perception sensors, electronic actuators, and a central control unit that manages and monitors the tractor’s systems. Sabanto's autonomy is available through a network of certified dealers across the United States and Australia. Installation is performed by dealers and typically takes about one day. Once installed, the system connects to Sabanto’s Vehicle Mission Control (vMC) and Vehicle Operating System (vOS). Together, these platforms allow autonomous navigation with minimal human oversight. Using a phone or computer, farmers can plan daily field operations, start and deploy tractors, and monitor live data, such as the tractor’s location, speed, and fuel levels.
Rather than selling its systems outright, Sabanto operates under a Farming-as-a-Service (FaaS) model. Farmers subscribe annually to deploy and maintain their autonomy kits, with plans that include dealer installation, maintenance, cellular/GNSS connectivity, and continuous software updates. Each retrofit—priced around US $65,000—includes the full hardware package, while an annual service fee of US $10,000 covers upkeep, connectivity, and technical support. This approach lowers the upfront cost of adoption while ensuring farmers always have access to the latest performance and safety updates.
“Sabanto was founded to make autonomy accessible, affordable, and scalable for farmers,” says CEO Craig Rupp. “Instead of investing in oversized equipment, our customers gain a smarter solution that lowers capital costs, reduces labor needs, and expands operational capacity, delivering savings from day one.”
Activ Surgical
Activ Surgical is a medtech company building advanced intraoperative imaging solutions to help surgeons make more informed, real-time decisions during minimally invasive procedures. Its flagship product, ActivSight Intelligent Light, integrates directly with existing laparoscopic and robotic surgical systems to provide augmented reality overlays of physiological functions and critical structure identification. ActivSight is powered by the company’s broader ActivEdge platform, which combines AI, machine learning, and sensing technologies to enhance visualization and reduce preventable surgical complications. Surgeons can easily toggle between imaging modes like ActivPerfusion (which visualizes real-time blood flow and tissue perfusion) and ActivICG (which highlights critical anatomical structures) to access different insights during a procedure—without changing their workflows or equipment.
The company offers its products through a subscription-based pricing model that eliminates the need for capital purchases. This includes access to the ActivSight hardware module and its associated AI-driven software capabilities. The modular, plug-and-play design allows hospitals to upgrade their current surgical imaging systems with real-time intelligence, while the subscription ensures continual software updates, support, and access to new features over time. This technology-as-a-service (TaaS) approach—akin to a hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model—also includes performance insights and compatibility across a wide range of surgical systems, making advanced visualization tools broadly accessible without requiring hospitals to invest in entirely new platforms.
Gideon
Gideon builds autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) powered by proprietary spatial AI and 3D vision technology, designed to automate trailer loading, unloading, and other high-variability warehouse tasks. Its flagship robot, Trey, is an autonomous forklift that operates safely alongside people in dynamic environments, helping logistics and retail operators reduce manual labor and streamline dock operations. The system integrates with existing warehouse management systems (WMS) and enables real-time orchestration of humans, robots, and equipment. Capable of handling unpredictable pallet types, product mixes, and loading patterns, Gideon’s robots drive both efficiency and safety in high-throughput environments.
The company offers its solutions through a subscription hardware model. Customers can purchase or lease the hardware and subscribe to an ongoing service layer that includes AI software updates, maintenance, and technical support. This model ensures continuous product enhancement, platform reliability, and access to actionable utilization insights. It also enables flexible, scalable deployments across varied operational footprints, without the barrier of significant upfront investment.
Gridware
Gridware builds and operates an intelligent grid monitoring system that combines rugged hardware and cloud-based analytics to deliver real-time situational awareness for utilities. Its flagship Gridscope device mounts directly to utility poles and uses mechanical sensors, on-device computing, and multi-modal communication (cellular, satellite, mesh) to detect faults, equipment stress, and wildfire risks—even on de-energized lines. Data from thousands of sensors flows into Gridware’s Active Grid Response (AGR) platform, which enables proactive maintenance, faster outage response, and real-time alerts across distributed energy infrastructure. The system is designed to scale across diverse geographies and grid topologies, enhancing visibility and resilience in the face of storms, aging infrastructure, and climate-related threats.
Utilities deploy Gridscope hardware across their networks—either through capital purchase or leasing arrangements—and subscribe to the AGR platform for ongoing monitoring, analytics, and support. The subscription includes real-time event detection, software updates, and predictive tools that help utilities pinpoint fault locations, reduce patrol times, and prevent wildfires. This structure allows utilities to modernize their grid operations without a heavy upfront investment, while benefiting from a continuously evolving service layer that enhances safety and efficiency.
CES+
CES+ provides turnkey cinema solutions, offering everything from projection and audio systems to seating and digital signage. Their services support both new theater builds and retrofits, and include consulting, equipment procurement, installation, and integration. In addition to hardware, CES+ delivers remote monitoring, content management, and 24/7 technical support through its CIELO platform, helping exhibitors optimize uptime, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance the theater-going experience. The company works with independent and international cinema operators across North and South America, offering tailored solutions that adapt to operational scale and complexity.
CES+ operates under a hybrid model that blends capital equipment sales with a subscription-based Cinema-as-a-Service (CaaS) offering. While some clients purchase projection and sound systems outright, others subscribe to a bundled model that includes hardware access, ongoing service, software tools, and technical support. This approach reduces the need for large upfront investment while ensuring continuous operational support and future-ready upgrades. The CaaS offering is particularly well-suited for independent exhibitors and markets looking for flexibility and cash flow control.