Industrial robotics is one of the key drivers of the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, which aims to create smart factories that are interconnected, automated, and data-driven. Industrial robots are machines that can perform various tasks, such as welding, painting, assembling, picking, and packing, with high speed, precision, and efficiency. They can also work in hazardous or repetitive environments, reducing human errors and injuries.
According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), India ranked third in Asia and 14th in the world in terms of annual installations of industrial robots in 2019, with 6,257 units, a 15% increase from 2018. The IFR also projected that India will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% in industrial robot installations from 2020 to 2023. The main sectors that use industrial robots in India are automotive, electrical and electronics, metal, rubber and plastics, and food and beverages.
The growth of industrial robotics in India is driven by several factors, such as:
- Government initiatives: The government of India has launched various initiatives to promote the development and adoption of industrial robotics, such as Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. These initiatives aim to boost the manufacturing sector, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance the digital infrastructure and capabilities of the country. The government has also introduced policies and schemes to provide incentives, subsidies, tax benefits, and funding for the industrial robotics industry.
- Industry demand: The industry demand for industrial robotics is increasing due to the need to improve the quality, productivity, and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector, especially in the post-pandemic scenario. The industry also faces challenges such as labor shortage, rising labor costs, and stringent safety and environmental regulations, which can be addressed by adopting industrial robotics. Moreover, the industry is witnessing a shift from mass production to mass customization, which requires more flexibility and adaptability in the production processes, which can be achieved by using industrial robotics.
- Technology advancement: The technology advancement in industrial robotics is enabling the development of more intelligent, collaborative, and versatile robots that can perform complex and diverse tasks, and interact with humans and other machines. The technologies that are transforming the industrial robotics industry include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, 5G, and blockchain. These technologies enhance the capabilities, connectivity, and security of the industrial robots, and enable new applications and business models.
The future trends in industrial robotics in India are expected to be influenced by the following factors, such as:
- Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs): AMRs are robots that can move autonomously in dynamic and unstructured environments, without the need for external guidance or infrastructure, such as wires, tracks, or markers. AMRs are used for material handling, transportation, and delivery in warehouses, factories, and logistics centers. They can also navigate through obstacles, avoid collisions, and optimize routes, using sensors, cameras, and AI. AMRs are expected to become more popular and affordable in the future, as they offer more flexibility, efficiency, and scalability than traditional automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
- Cobots: Cobots are robots that can work collaboratively with humans, sharing the same workspace and tasks, without the need for physical barriers or cages. Cobots are designed to be safe, friendly, and easy to use, and can assist humans in various tasks, such as assembly, inspection, testing, and packaging. Cobots are expected to grow rapidly in the future, as they offer more versatility, productivity, and quality than conventional industrial robots. They can also augment the human capabilities and skills, and reduce the human workload and fatigue.
- Robotics as a service (RaaS): RaaS is a business model that provides industrial robots as a service, rather than as a product, to the customers. RaaS enables the customers to access, use, and pay for the industrial robots on-demand, without the need to purchase, install, maintain, or upgrade them. RaaS also provides cloud-based platforms and applications that allow the customers to remotely monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the industrial robots. RaaS is expected to become more prevalent in the future, as it offers more convenience, affordability, and flexibility to the customers, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that cannot afford to invest in industrial robots .
The industrial robotics industry in India has a huge potential to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country, as well as to the global competitiveness and leadership of the sector. However, to realize this potential, the industry needs to overcome some challenges, such as:
- Lack of infrastructure and ecosystem: The industrial robotics industry in India lacks adequate infrastructure and ecosystem, such as power, water, roads, ports, and airports, to support the smooth operations and timely delivery of the products and services. The industry also faces a shortage of suppliers, vendors, and partners, that can provide the raw materials, components, and services, such as semiconductors, sensors, actuators, and software, that are essential for the development and deployment of industrial robots .
- Skill gap and talent shortage: The industrial robotics industry in India faces a skill gap and talent shortage, as the existing education and training system does not meet the industry requirements and standards. The industry needs skilled and trained manpower to design, develop, operate, and maintain the industrial robots, as well as to innovate and create new products and solutions. The industry also needs to attract and retain the talent, by providing them with attractive compensation, benefits, and opportunities .
- Regulatory and policy issues: The industrial robotics industry in India faces some regulatory and policy issues, such as complex and cumbersome procedures, multiple approvals and clearances, high taxes and duties, and lack of clarity and consistency in the implementation of the policies and schemes. These issues create uncertainty and confusion among the stakeholders, and discourage new entrants and investments in the industry.
To overcome these challenges and leverage the opportunities, the industrial robotics industry in India needs to adopt a holistic and collaborative approach, involving the government, industry, academia, and civil society. Some of the possible measures are:
- Developing and upgrading the infrastructure and ecosystem, with a focus on creating dedicated zones and corridors for industrial robotics, and providing uninterrupted and quality power and water supply, as well as efficient connectivity and transportation services.
- Promoting and supporting the domestic production of raw materials and components, especially the critical ones, such as semiconductors, through incentives, subsidies, tax benefits, and research and development funding, as well as facilitating the technology transfer and collaboration with global players.
- Enhancing the skill and talent development in the industry, by aligning the education and training curriculum with the industry needs and standards, and providing exposure and opportunities for practical learning and hands-on experience, as well as encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in the industry.
- Simplifying and streamlining the regulatory and policy framework, by reducing the number and duration of procedures, approvals, and clearances, and rationalizing the taxes and duties, as well as ensuring the transparency and accountability in the implementation of the policies and schemes.
Key trends and drivers of industrial robotics market in India based on the web sources. Here is a brief summary:
The industrial robotics market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2020 to 2023, reaching USD 29.43 billion by 2029.
The main drivers of this growth are the government initiatives, such as Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat, that aim to boost the manufacturing sector, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance the digital infrastructure and capabilities of the country.
The industry demand for industrial robotics is also increasing due to the need to improve the quality, productivity, and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector, especially in the post-pandemic scenario. The industry also faces challenges such as labor shortage, rising labor costs, and stringent safety and environmental regulations, which can be addressed by adopting industrial robotics.
The technology advancement in industrial robotics is enabling the development of more intelligent, collaborative, and versatile robots that can perform complex and diverse tasks, and interact with humans and other machines. The technologies that are transforming the industrial robotics industry include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, 5G, and blockchain.
The future trends in industrial robotics in India are expected to be influenced by the following factors, such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), cobots, and robotics as a service (RaaS). AMRs are robots that can move autonomously in dynamic and unstructured environments, without the need for external guidance or infrastructure. Cobots are robots that can work collaboratively with humans, sharing the same workspace and tasks, without the need for physical barriers or cages. RaaS is a business model that provides industrial robots as a service, rather than as a product, to the customers.
