Before the pandemic, the growth of China’s robotics industry is slow. However, the situation changed when the global coronavirus pandemic hit. For some, the pandemic is seen as an accelerator of change as the demand for robotics equipment is increasing.
Industries Affected by the Pandemic
How the pandemic affects is different from one to another. For example, the manufacturing industry is disrupted by a labor shortage caused by a lockdown. This, in turn, negatively affects production.
Meanwhile, the healthcare industry is affected by the shortage of frontline medical staff as well as the risk of infection. Due to the pandemic, medical professionals were overwhelmed by the influx of COVID-19 patients.
The situation is quite different in the hospitality industry. This industry is disrupted by the limited sales caused by the lockdown ad travel restrictions.
China’s Robotic Industry: Robotics Solutions
Manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitalities are disrupted in different ways. Different issues require different solutions.
To name a few, the issue of labor shortage in the manufacturing industry can be solved by employing industrial robots. The increased use of automation and AI can restore production in the factories.
In the healthcare industry, the shortage of frontline medical staff and the risk of infection can be managed by using service robots. Service robots can be used to deliver and monitor, patrol, and disinfection. This alleviates the pressure on the medical staff.
Similar to the healthcare industry, the hospitality industry can also benefit from using service robots. Unlike in the healthcare industry, however, service robots are used to capturing the rebounding demand of tourism as well as minimizing the costs.
Benefits of China Robotics Solutions
Robotic solutions bring different long-term benefits to different industries. For example, the manufacturing industries will benefit from lowered costs and higher productivity in the long run. The industry can produce a larger capacity while its manpower is utilized to drive sales.
The long-term benefits for the healthcare industry include complementing the labor shortage and lower infection risks. There is a shortage of the medical workforce in China. The use of robotics solutions can help to complement it.
As for the hospitality industry, it can benefit from improved efficiency, better customer experience, and lower infection risks. The robotics solutions provide a safer feeling and a sense of novelty for the customers.
Future Trend
Robotics solutions can lead to future trends in each industry. For example,
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing industry, the future trend will be collaborative robots where robots are used as a service. Robots will work with humans in industry 4.0.
Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, there will be cheaper robots. China’s healthcare system for the most part relies on foreign robotic products. Soon, it will change as home-grown players will enter the market, lower the price, and increase competition.
Hospitality
In the hospitality industry, there will be robotic concierge and waiters. Robots will be used to handle repetitive tasks. High-quality service robots will become more available at a reasonable price.
The coronavirus pandemic disrupts China’s robotics industry. The disruption, however, is not all negative. Although the pandemic initially did slow down the industry, some consider it an accelerator of change as it increases the growth of the industry in the long-term.
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