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 December, early and late January, early and late February, and early March.
Civ Robotics is bringing automation to the high-stakes world of construction layout with robots that accelerate surveying and improve precision on large infrastructure projects. The company’s flagship platform, CivDot, marks thousands of layout points per day on large infrastructure projects such as solar farms, roads, data centers and airports, reducing reliance on manual surveying crews and significantly cutting labor costs and timelines. Powered by real-time RTK GPS, CivDot works directly from CAD files and seamlessly integrates with existing workflows, helping teams shave days or weeks off project timelines while boosting accuracy and safety.
In the US, the company operates under a pure Robot-as-a-service (RaaS) model, offering robots via a flat monthly fee that includes unlimited usage, onboarding, maintenance, and support. This all-inclusive pricing structure eliminates the need for upfront capital investment and lets teams scale robot usage to match project needs—no ownership required. Customers can choose to purchase a unit outright later, but Civ Robotics emphasizes accessibility and speed-to-impact by lowering the barrier to entry. At the moment, oversees customers purchase the unit outright alongside a software subscription. This makes it easier for contractors of all sizes to bring advanced robotics into the field without lengthy procurement cycles or risk.
“Construction crews face intense pressure to deliver faster, cheaper, and more precisely,” says co-founder and CEO Tom Yeshurun. “We built CivDot to meet them where they are: on the jobsite, under deadline. Our goal is to give every crew access to automation that makes their work more efficient, more accurate, and more rewarding.”
Sandvik Coromant
Sandvik Coromant is a global producer of metal-cutting solutions, supplying an extensive portfolio of turning, milling, drilling, and threading tools alongside digital machining platforms. With more than 54,000 products in its catalog and 1,700+ patents, the company has built its reputation on tool innovation. In recent years, Sandvik has expanded into digital manufacturing, process optimization, and sustainability services. Its CoroPlus suite integrates sensors, cloud monitoring, and analytics to help manufacturers unlock data-driven efficiency gains. By combining consumable tools with subscription-based digital offerings, Sandvik helps customers improve both shop floor productivity and long-term operational resilience.
The company’s business model is hybrid: physical hardware and consumables are sold under traditional CapEx or per-unit purchase models, while its digital solutions (like CoroPlus and machine-monitoring subscriptions) generate recurring revenue. Sandvik also offers services such as tool lifecycle management, training, consultancy, and—in select high-volume engagements—outcome-based models like “payment per part,” in which tool costs are bundled into production output. This mix of up-front purchases, recurring software fees, and performance-based contracts allows customers to choose pricing structures that match their scale and production needs.
Blue Ocean Robotics
Blue Ocean Robotics is a robotics venture studio that develops autonomous service robots addressing critical challenges in hygiene, patient handling, and human communication. Its flagship portfolio includes UVD Robots, a line of autonomous UV-C disinfection systems used in hospitals, airports, and cleanrooms; GoBe Robots, mobile telepresence units designed for remote communication, social inclusion, and reduced CO₂ emissions; and PTR Robots, smart robotic platforms for safe patient transfer and early-stage rehabilitation. Each brand originated from an unmet need in healthcare or public service and has evolved into a standalone venture within Blue Ocean’s Robot Venture Factory model.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all subscription plan, Blue Ocean commercializes its robots through vertically integrated subsidiaries, each focused on a specific market segment. This structure allows each brand—UVD Robots, GoBe Robots, and PTR Robots—to tailor its sales, service, and support models to its customer base. While some customers purchase hardware outright (e.g., healthcare systems purchasing UVD robots via EU contracts), others engage in leasing, managed service agreements, or bundled software + maintenance packages, depending on geography and use case. A cloud-based customer portal streamlines support, performance tracking, and remote diagnostics. This model reflects a flexible, outcomes-oriented approach that shares many characteristics with hardware-as-a-service (HaaS): offering automation without the capital burden and complexity.
Aethon
Aethon (an ST Engineering company) develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for healthcare and hospitality environments, combining advanced navigation with robust fleet management software. Their robots include the T3 and T3 XL, industrial-strength delivery robots with omnidirectional drive, cart-capture mechanisms, and auto-docking capabilities for high-capacity transport. The Zena and Zena RX models are secure, enclosed robots designed for multi-stop deliveries in hospitals and hotels, with biometric access control, elevator integration, and customizable compartments for medications, meals, or linens. All four models use laser SLAM navigation and are designed to operate safely and autonomously around people, including through elevators and doorways. Complementing the hardware is Aethon’s cloud-based Command Center, which enables real-time fleet monitoring, over-the-air software updates, remote dispatching, and proactive support for system recovery.
The company offers its robots through a bundled hardware + software + service model, often under a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) or leasing framework. Hospitals have the option to lease fleets at a monthly cost or purchase units outright. The model includes remote monitoring, engineering support, software updates, and system maintenance, which minimizes upfront costs and delivers predictable operational value. While the software is not sold separately via subscription, it’s embedded in the ongoing RaaS offering, enabling Aethon to maintain and evolve customers’ autonomy stacks over time.
Mapless AI
Mapless AI provides a retrofit teleoperations platform that enables trained remote operators to safely drive and reposition existing fleet vehicles. Its offering centers on automotive-grade hardware modules—cameras, sensors, control linkages, and low-profile racks—that can be installed and removed without cosmetic damage. The hardware connects to Mapless’ cloud and edge software stack, enabling low-latency remote driving, active safety controls for incident handling, and fail-operational behavior under degraded network conditions. The platform includes fleet-level tools for live dispatch, mapping, safety monitoring, operator assignment, and real-time visibility, serving use cases across car sharing, rental fleets, airport logistics, and last-mile delivery.
Mapless operates a hybrid commercial model combining CapEx hardware with recurring software and service revenue. Fleet operators purchase or lease the retrofit kits and pay ongoing fees for teleoperations services, including monthly fleet subscriptions, per-use dispatch fees, or managed-services contracts. Subscription services include access to Mapless’s remote-operator network (“Fleet Valet”), insurance coverage during remote operation, continuous technical monitoring, fleet-management dashboard access, and operational support. The company also provides installation, training, and compliance support for commercial and pilot deployments.