Automation without barriers: RaaS and cobots for everyone

Introduction

Until recently, there was a simple rule: robotics was only for large corporations with budgets in the millions and armies of engineers. This myth was a huge barrier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), even though they are the ones suffering the most from the shortage of people and the pressure for efficiency.

Today the situation has changed dramatically. .

The accessibility revolution is happening on two fronts: technological and financial. The technological revolution was brought about by the collaborative robot (cobot) – safe, easy to program and flexible. The financial revolution was provided by RaaS (Robot as a Service), or robot rental.

Thanks to this combination, robotic automation is finally accessible, safe and economically viable for even the smallest workshop.

⚙️ Two barriers that hindered the growth of SMEs

Why couldn't small and medium-sized businesses automate for a long time?

• 1. TECHNOLOGICAL barrier: Traditional robots were complex, expensive to integrate (need cages) and required expert programmers. Completely unusable for a company with 15 employees.
• 2. FINANCIAL (CapEx) barrier: The purchase price of the entire workplace represented a huge risk and blocked the cash flow needed for normal operations.

🤖 How cobot and RaaS complement each other

The combination of a cobot and RaaS (rental) is an ideal solution that removes both barriers at once.

1. Collaborative Robot (Cobot) – Technological Availability

Cobots are designed for SMEs:

• Easy programming: Programming is done by hand-guiding. A craftsman, not an engineer, can do it.
• Safety: Works without cages (after risk assessment), saves space.
• Flexibility: Arms like the UR10e or Dobot CR10 can be relocated and reprogrammed for a new task within an hour (ideal for small series).

2. RaaS (Rental) – Financial Availability

RaaS (Robot as a Service) is a principle where you rent a complete robotic cell (including grippers, software and service) for a fixed monthly fee.

• End of CapEx: Instead of a one-time investment, it is an operating expense (OpEx).
• Zero risk: Rental is ideal for ROI verification or for seasonal peaks.

📈 Key benefits: Flexibility and instant profit

• 1. Immediate Return on Investment (ROI)
  Renting a robot is a monthly expense that is often less than the super gross salary of the worker the cobot will replace. The cobot earns immediate payback and minimizes the return.
• 2. Managing seasonal peaks
  Instead of hiring expensive and unreliable part-time workers, you can rent a palletizing cobot that works 24/7 during the Christmas rush. You return it after 3 months.
• 3. No-obligation testing
  An SME can verify whether a robot can handle a given task (e.g., inserting a complex part) in real-world conditions in its operation without having to purchase a robot.
• 4. Always the latest technology
  You are renting modern technology without expensive assets "aging" and depreciating in your warehouse.

🧠 What does real deployment look like (RaaS in the workshop)

Scenario: A company has won a 4-month contract for welding small batches.

• Before RaaS: The company would have to reject the order because it cannot find a welder or buy an expensive robot for 4 months.
• After deployment: The company rents a welding cell with a Dobot CR10 and accessories.
• Monthly result: The savings in labor costs and the profit from the produced pieces far exceed the monthly rent. After 4 months, the order is fulfilled and the cobot is returned.
• Technological benefit: An experienced welder learns to program the robot using manual guidance, and the company gains valuable know-how for the future purchase of its own robot.

📦 Technology for RaaS (Flexibility is key)

Robots that have an open platform and can be deployed quickly are suitable for RaaS:

• UR10e – collaborative robot Universal Robots
  The gold standard of RaaS. Easy manual guidance and modular accessories ensure that the robot can be quickly reconfigured for a new customer.
• Dobot CR10 – flexible robotic arm
  Often chosen for RaaS due to its excellent price/performance ratio. The low purchase price guarantees low monthly payments for the end customer.
• OnRobot RG6 – smart handling gripper
  A key component of RaaS. OnRobot grippers (or vacuum cups) are Plug-and-Play. The integrator can connect them in minutes, saving on installation costs (and thus reducing monthly rent).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is more advantageous – RaaS or Leasing? RaaS (Lease) is for short-term projects, testing and managing peaks (months). Leasing is for long-term investments with the goal of owning the robot (years).

What is included in the monthly rental price? Ideally, everything: robot, end gripper, software, installation, training and complete service. The customer only pays a fixed amount.

Can I extend/buy out the lease after it ends? Yes. Most partners offer the option of extending the lease or "Rent-to-Own" (rent with the right to buy out).

🧭 Conclusion

The availability of robotics is no longer a problem. Collaborative robots (cobots) have brought simple technology and RaaS has brought simple financing. SMEs can now immediately eliminate manual labor, increase productivity, and fully utilize their capacity.

Don't wait until you save a million. The robot will start earning for itself.

Find out which technologies are best suited for rental. Visit svet-robotu.cz and we will help you design a RaaS solution for your seasonal peaks.