The spread of coronavirus has crashed
international markets. In fact, it is influencing everything from local
businesses to the film industry to air travel. However, it does not mean that
every firm is at a disadvantage. There are a number of organizations that stand
to benefit from the spread of the virus. Some of these firms include the ones
that sell sanitizers, face masks, remote services, and deep-cleaning products.
The sellers of unique products also
perceive coronavirus as a business opportunity. For instance, robotics
companies assert that robots could assist in defending against the virus. The
reason is that people practicing social distancing and isolation tend to
purchase online. Obviously, there have to be people to deliver these orders and
meet the demands of customers.
Still, it cannot be forgotten that for the
prevention of coronavirus, social-distancing is necessary. It means that
service-oriented companies cannot make a large number of employees work
together. So, what does it imply? This is when robotics companies come in.
Over the past decade, extensive work has
been performed on artificial intelligence. A number of robots have also been
introduced which are capable of interacting with customers. These robots have
the capability of performing the same tasks as humans. It implies that such
companies can depend on the deployment of robots for meeting the needs of
customers during the pandemic. In this manner, they will not only continue to
serve their clients but they will also be able to protect their employees.
Effect
on Robotics Companies
At the moment, coronavirus has an adverse
influence on almost every business. The same applies to robotics companies and
in a survey which included robotics companies, 60 percent of the respondents
said that they are being affected negatively by the pandemic. Meanwhile, 40
percent of the respondents said that the pandemic has provided them with unique
business opportunities.
Still, it is important to note that 40
percent of respondents did not say that they are positively affected by
coronavirus. According to them, a new direction had been opened and it required
work.
Some robots and providing assistance in the
battle against the pandemic by facilitating conversation between the hospital
staff and infected patients, and delivering necessities such as medication. A
number of robot vendors have utilized the outbreak for pushing the capabilities
of their service robots, a transformation and automation that can be programmed
for quizzing people on their health, answering questions, and giving tours.
Recently, Promobot based in Philadelphia
deployed a robot in Times Square. Actually, the robot which has been observed
in the Bryant Park of New York City, it quizzes individuals to see if they are
affected by the coronavirus or not.
In addition to it, an automation company
based in Israel, Caja Robotics determined that it has experienced a 30 percent
increase in its inbound inquiries regarding its technologies. In accordance
with the firm, many customers are thriving to make their capabilities more
immune to the disruptions which are caused by events such as the current
outbreak of coronavirus.
Gradually, more and more companies are
turning towards automation. Why? Because coronavirus has served as an
eye-opener for firms.
Implications
for the Future
Although a major revolution has yet to be
observed among robotics companies, it would not be wrong to say that
coronavirus has alerted businesses. In simple words, it has provided them with
a direction that they need to follow to stay competitive in the market, even in
the times of another crisis in which every business is forced to shut down.
There are many robotics companies which
have increased their investments in the development of more user-friendly
robots which can be easily used by companies to perform their functions.
Meanwhile, service-oriented businesses are
changing their perspective on the traditional modes of reaching their customers
and doing their businesses. Coronavirus pandemic has shown organizations that
there can be times when they might be forced to shut themselves down. Thus, if
they need to continue serving their consumers, they must automate their
processes and undergo a vital transformation.
For instance, with the use of robots, they
can continue to perform their functions and satisfy their customers.
So, what is stopping businesses from
automating?
Actually, it is quite important to note
that although significant developments have been made in the field of robotics,
there is still lots of work to do. There are countless businesses which rely on
the traditional workforce, mainly because robots for performing the same work
as humans have not been developed.
Moreover, even if they have been developed,
they still require the assistance of humans. Therefore, they are not suitable
to be used at the moment as work is required on them. Still, it does not mean
that every robot is the same.
There are some robots which can be used
amid the crisis such as Rozum Café. This barista coffee robot is capable of
brewing coffee for 24 hours and it is considered one of the most advanced
coffee makers. It is an adequate solution for coffee shops that are unable to
meet the demands of their customers.
This robot can be operated by a single
person and it replaces the need of a workforce. What makes it unique is that it
can handle multiple orders. This innovation implies that robotics companies can
now take advantage of situations in which businesses are restricted.
What
should Robotics Companies do?
During the pandemic, a number of robotics
companies are already working on the development of robots which can help
customers in performing the work. However, it is important to note that the
majority of companies are still not operating due to the lockdown and restrictions.
Therefore, as soon as the restrictions are
eliminated, robotics companies should focus on the development of user-friendly
robots which can produce the results needed by customers. The field of robotics
has quite a long way to go and robotics companies can put their focus on it
because the future is bright for them.