HaaS 100 (late August 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 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, 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 January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and earlier in August. 

Scythe Robotics

• Founded date: 2018
• Location: Longmont, Colorado
• Employees: ~75
• Industry: Autonomous robots for outdoor environments
• Key customers: ServiScape, Yardmaster, Level Green Landscaping
• Website: scytherobotics.com

Scythe Robotics builds autonomous electric lawnmowers that support commercial landscaping teams to complete their work more efficiently. The robot can mow all day on a single charge, and its array of sensors allow it to operate safely in dynamic environments. The M.52 mower identifies objects such as humans, animals, cars, and trees in order to navigate and complete tasks successfully.

Scythe’s robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) pricing model is usage-based: Customers only pay per acre mowed. Pricing per acre under the “pay-as-you-mow” model varies since not all acres are the same, but the model saves Scythe’s customers up to 40% of the costs of traditional mowing.

"With a usage-based model, Scythe is able to align incentives better with our customers,” says Jack Morrison, CEO of Scythe. “Landscapers want one thing: a mower that can reliably and efficiently mow as much as possible. On a pay-per-use model, customers create an ongoing partnership that ensures we all have exactly the same goal.”

Rapid Robotics

• Founded date: 2019
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~40
• Industry: Robotics solutions for manufacturing and supply chain
• Key customers: Westec Plastics, Delphon, some Fortune 100 companies
• Website: rapidrobotics.com

Rapid Robotics develops AI-powered robots for industrial and supply chain so manufacturers can automate their end-of-line operations. The company offers fully-productized solutions for tasks like picking, packing, sorting, palletizing/depalletizing, and kitting. Rapid’s AI and computer vision technology support handling high-mix operations. The hardware is pre-programmed to carry out dozens of common workflows, so in-house expertise isn’t necessary.

Customers can either buy the robots outright—allowing them to depreciate their hardware and lower their subscription fees—or buy into a hardware subscription. A subscription includes implementation, ongoing software updates and optimization, and 24/7 service and support with no-cost maintenance and repairs. Prices vary across solutions depending on the complexity of the operation and the number and size of robots required for the job, but solutions start at around $50k/year (paid at a flat monthly fee) plus a one-time onboarding fee.

“Our goal is to make robotic solutions that can adapt with the complexity of operations today at a price that can break down to under $10/hour after the first year,” says CEO Kim Losey. She adds that “the value proposition of RaaS subscriptions is lowering the barrier to entry for manufacturers while guaranteeing predictable annual operating costs, since customers get service and support for the full life of the deployment. It’s a very low-risk model.”

Simbe

• Founded date: 2012
• Location: South San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~35
• Industry: Store intelligence platform for retailers
• Key customers: BJ’s, Carrefour, Giant Eagle
• Website: simberobotics.com

Simbe’s flagship commercial robot is “Tally.” Tally autonomously collects and analyzes inventory data in retail environments, scanning products on shelves to ensure they’re in stock, in the right location, and accurately priced. The robot and its navigation are powered by computer vision, radio frequency identification (RFID), and machine learning. Tally operates during store hours, giving retailers real-time recommendations to improve brick-and-mortar operations.

With their robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model, Simbe doesn’t sell Tally units outright. Instead, retailers pay a monthly fee depending on the deployment size, the number of SKUs scanned, or which of Tally’s features are actively used (e.g., whether customers are utilizing the robots’ computer vision and/or RFID).

Formlabs

• Founded date: 2011
• Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
• Employees: ~800
• Industry: High-performance 3D printers
• Key customers: Google, Lufthansa, Hasbro, Sony, Ford
• Website: formlabs.com

Formlabs manufactures a 3D printing ecosystem used for prototyping and in-house printing in the industrial, automotive, manufacturing, dental, and other industries. Alongside a series of industrial-quality 3D printers (Formlabs offers 5 different models), the OEM also manufactures post-processing machines for washing, curing, and finishing prints. The company also has a portfolio of 45 proprietary resins.

Formlabs’ hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) business model offers both full and hybrid options: Some customers purchase their printers outright, while others lease them short-term in order to scale, respond to supply chain shortages, or launch limited-edition products. Customers can also purchase accessories (materials, resin tanks, built platforms, etc.) as they require them.

Formlabs also has three proprietary software offerings—PreForm, which simplifies print preparation, and Dashboard, both of which are free; and Fleet Control, which is available at a monthly subscription cost. The company also offers service plans like dedicated phone support and “hot swap” replacements.

Particle

• Founded date: 2012
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~130
• Industry: Integrated IoT platform-as-a-service
• Key customers: Watsco, Jacuzzi, Goodyear, Intellihot
• Website: particle.io

Particle is an edge-to-cloud infrastructure for the Internet of Things. The company’s full-stack platform brings IoT software, connectivity, and hardware together in one infrastructure to help customers power their connected sensors, devices, and machines, and quickly and securely deploy new IoT solutions—from design, to prototype, to shipping, to scale, to management.

Alongside its cellular-enabled devices—e.g., sensors and developer boards—Particle’s subscription package includes a secure data pipeline and device management portal, integrated SIMs, connectivity diagnostics, API and SDK documentation, and more. Under the company’s platform-as-a-service (PaaS) model, recurring monthly subscription options allow customers to start for free and scale quickly into more sophisticated plans.