Case study: Robot bar without staff
Recently, the first event of the new format "TECHTIDE Talk" took place. Supported by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transport and Digitalization and Lower Saxony companies such as Laser Visiontechnik or Yuanda, robotics was considered in many ways. Highly interesting for me was the presentation of the Swiss company Smyze (from minute 40:0 in the video). Smyze already operates three robot bars in Switzerland and is currently rolling out the bar. It is not for sale, but the landlord of the booth space receives a rent and a revenue share.
System is not sold - lessor receives revenue share
The complete stand is worth 150,000 CHF (Swiss francs), but also includes premium coffee machine and a Franka Emika. More than 70 hot and cold drinks can be ordered via app or touch screen. Payment via app or credit card at the terminal. The featured model is located at Messe Zürich and had fetched CHF 900 on the peak day during the recent bad weather front. I think weather and Corona (even though Switzerland is open, Corona does deter some) reduced potential sales. The acceptance in the fair was - rather technology-savvy audience - very large, in shopping centers it is still large.
When it comes to pricing, the feasible capacity will certainly be important here as well: There are core times when customers come. It takes much longer to make a cappuccino than to provide a simpler drink. This should be taken into account here in terms of price. But this is a small matter.
Great sales potential for robotics manufacturers
What is significant for robotics is that, if accepted, such a bar can easily be set up 100 times in our globalized world, or 1,000 times within a few years. I.e. one application can then generate 1,000 robot sales. Conversely, this means enormous price pressure for the robotics manufacturer. Not yet today, but in all likelihood when the number of units is large.
From minute 40:00, but also otherwise interesting (among other things, the Robokind Foundation introduces itself):
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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/ robotics project Boost-Bot. He advises robotics companies and investors on market (entry)/business development and funding/subsidies. The standard book on cobots is also written by Guido Bruch. More about him can be found here.