HaaS 100 (May 2024)

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 network-as-a-service, facades cleaning, and autonomous construction equipment, to diagnostic sensors and piece-picking, 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 volume 1, volume 2, volume 3, and volume 4.

Meter

• Founded date: 2015
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~75
• What they do: Internet infrastructure and technology
• Key customers: Brex, Stord, GoBolt, Higher Ground Education, Tishman Speyer
• Website: meter.com

Meter provides an end-to-end solution for managing internet infrastructure, including proprietary hardware, software, deployment, and management services. This ensures high availability and security for demanding networks. By providing 24/7 monitoring, automatic updates, and centralized control, Meter helps businesses prevent downtime and reduce costs.

Meter offers their solution via Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), charging by the square foot. With an all-inclusive monthly pricing model, businesses reduce upfront costs and receive fully-managed support, proactive network monitoring, and hardware upgrades.

"Our subscription model simplifies internet infrastructure management for our customers. With our model, our incentives are aligned with our customers to ensure they have fast, secure, and reliable networks that are proportionate to their needs," says James McKenna, Head of Finance at Meter.

Skyline Robotics

• Founded date: 2017
• Location: Yaqum, Israel & New York, NY
• Employees: ~35
• What they do: Window cleaning robotics
• Key customers: Platinum, Inc. & Principle Cleaning Services
• Website: skylinerobotics.com

Skyline Robotics’ Ozmo is an industrial robot that provides automated window cleaning for building facades. Ozmo is designed to address the challenges of facade cleaning for tall structures like skyscrapers. As the demand for proper facade maintenance continues to grow, Ozmo offers a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional methods.

Skyline offers Ozmo through lease options. Outside of cleaning, Ozmo also provides data, insights, and analytics on the health of a building’s facade, which enhances asset management for skyscraper owners.

"Ozmo is designed to make facade cleaning safer, more efficient, and easier to manage through transparency. Our lease option also includes training, software updates, and valuable data, all without imposing upfront commitments,” says Ross Blum, President and COO of Skyline Robotics.

Teleo

• Founded date: 2019
• Location: Palo Alto, CA
• Employees: ~50
• What they do: construction equipment with Supervised Autonomy technology
• Key customers: Tomahawk Construction, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida
• Website: teleo.ai

Teleo retrofits construction machines with autonomy equipment, allowing it to be controlled via remote operator or run autonomously. Operators can control multiple machines at once from a remote location. By integrating supervised autonomy technology into heavy equipment, Teleo streamlines operations, enhances safety, and provides insights into equipment performance and usage patterns.

Teleo sells their solution via outright purchase and subscription options, with plans available in multiple tiers including a premium tier that includes enhanced features. This structure ensures that Teleo can offer the level of functionality that aligns with their specific requirements and budget constraints.

Augury

• Founded date: 2011
• Location: New York, New York; Haifa & Tel Aviv, Israel
• Employees: ~380
• What they do: Machine health (diagnostics-as-a-service)
• Key customers: Shell, Dupont, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone
• Website: augury.com

Augury leases sensors to industrial manufacturers that allow them to diagnose a wide range of equipment in facilities and production lines. This equipment often runs 24/7 and is unsafe or difficult to access (e.g., lights-out factories) and so requires remote diagnostics.

The sensors detect changes in sound vibrations, electrical faults, temperature changes, and more. A combination of AI, IoT, and human expertise allows Augury to deliver predictions that are 99.9% accurate. This allows manufacturers to minimize maintenance costs, improve process efficiency, and eliminate downtime.

Augury offers a subscription model called diagnostics-as-a-service. The single solution includes sensors, software, connectivity, installation, support, updates, and unlimited diagnostics. Augury’s pricing model is a flat per-machine fee, billed on an annual basis.

RightHand Robotics

• Founded date: 2015
• Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts
• Employees: ~95
• What they do: Autonomous robotic piece-picking
• Key customers: Staples, Apotea, PALTAC Corporation
• Website: righthandrobotics.com

RightHand Robotics specializes in providing flexible, scalable, and autonomous robotic piece-picking solutions for order fulfillment. With the surge in online order volume and changing workplace dynamics, their technology is increasingly important today.

RightHand’s “RightPick” platform combines intelligent grippers, machine vision, and AI software to handle picking a wide SKU range with minimal need for human intervention. This ensures efficient throughput and seamless integrations for warehouse operators, and enables superior customer experiences.