Robot as a Service: Use professional robotics flexibly instead of buying

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Deploying robotics without high initial investments and long-term capital commitment: With Robot as a Service (RaaS), Terra Robotics offers companies flexible access to professional cleaning, service, transport, and other robotic solutions. Consulting, implementation, and ongoing operation are combined into a predictable, integrated model.

Instead of a traditional purchase of a robot, the required robotics are utilized via a regular fee. Terra Robotics guides the process from selecting the appropriate system and commissioning to maintenance, support, and—depending on the agreed service level—securing ongoing operations.

This makes robotics particularly attractive for companies that want to gain initial experience, preserve their liquidity, or scale automation step-by-step across additional processes and locations.

What does Robot as a Service mean?

Robot as a Service at Terra Robotics is a usage model for professional robotics.

Unlike a classic purchase, the focus is not on owning the robot, but on its deployment in ongoing operations.

The monthly fee allows companies to distribute investment costs over a predictable period while simultaneously including services related to the robot.

Terra Robotics describes the RaaS process as an end-to-end service chain—from model selection and commissioning to maintenance and on-site support, up to potential replacement provision.

The goal: Robotics should become calculable, scalable, and as easy as possible to integrate into existing processes.

No high one-time investment

One of the biggest hurdles in automation projects is often the initial investment.

After all, professional robotics consists of more than just the device itself. Additional costs can arise for implementation, mapping, training, maintenance, and technical support.

With RaaS, these costs are converted into a predictable usage model.

As a result, companies do not necessarily have to tie up a large amount of capital at the start of the project, but can integrate robotics into their ongoing cost planning.

This creates a lower entry barrier, especially for initial automation projects.

Terra Robotics therefore cites the predictable monthly fee as one of the key advantages of the RaaS model.

From consulting to ongoing operation

At Terra Robotics, Robot as a Service does not just mean renting out a robot.

The process begins with the question of which task is to be automated.

During a site and requirements check, the following points are considered, for example:

• desired task
• floor area and walking paths
• bottlenecks and transitions
• operating hours
• existing infrastructure
• Wi-Fi and charging points
• necessary key performance indicators
• service and support requirements

Subsequently, a suitable model or setup is selected. For this, Terra Robotics works with a cross-manufacturer portfolio of different robotic solutions.

Depending on requirements, a pilot phase can precede regular operation.

Test first, then scale

Especially with new automation solutions, a controlled field test makes sense.

On a real-world site, it is much easier to assess how reliably a robot works and what actual added value it creates.

During such a pilot project, metrics can be recorded, such as:

• cleaned square meters per hour
• number of completed tasks
• travel and waiting times
• utilization rate
• errors and necessary interventions
• saved manual routes
• operational readiness

Terra Robotics explicitly includes test deployments or pilot phases and a subsequent KPI-based evaluation in the RaaS process.

Only then is a decision made on whether the deployment should be expanded.

This allows automation to be evaluated using real operational data rather than exclusively on theoretical assumptions.

Professional implementation is included

A robot only unfolds its full benefit once it has been correctly integrated into the respective process.

For a cleaning robot, for example, areas must be mapped, zones defined, and cleaning routes planned.

A service or delivery robot requires defined stop points, handover processes, and possibly interfaces to other systems.

The RaaS process therefore also includes implementation and training. Depending on the application, Terra Robotics handles tasks such as mapping, setup of relevant areas, and instruction of operational teams.

Maintenance and support for ongoing operation

An important difference between a simple rental model and a comprehensive RaaS concept lies in the operation after commissioning.

Robotics are often used daily. Failures can therefore have an immediate impact on the operational process.

Terra Robotics combines RaaS with an in-house service team and cross-manufacturer technical support.

Depending on the agreed model and SLA, ongoing operation may include:

• regular maintenance
• remote monitoring
• technical support
• evaluation of operational data
• proactive fault management
• replacement or loaner devices in case of failure
• adjustment of maps and routes
• expansion to additional devices or locations

Thus, it is not just the robot being provided. The goal is the highest possible technical availability throughout the entire deployment period.

Manufacturer-independent instead of tied to one brand

Not every robot is suitable for every application.

A compact cleaning robot for an office has different requirements than a system for a large warehouse. A service robot in the catering industry, in turn, differs fundamentally from a transport solution in intralogistics.

Terra Robotics therefore relies on a consistent multi-brand strategy.

This makes it possible to first analyze the process and then select the appropriate solution from various manufacturer portfolios.

The Terra Robotics website offers professional systems for cleaning, service, transport, marketing, reception, industrial, and humanoid applications, among others.

The crucial starting point is therefore not:

Which manufacturer would we like to use?

But rather:

Which robot solves the specific task most reliably and economically?

Cleaning robots as a classic RaaS use case

RaaS is particularly well-suited for professional cleaning robots.

In building cleaning, facility management, retail, offices, clinics, industry, and logistics, many recurring floor-surface tasks occur.

Autonomous cleaning robots can process defined areas independently, thereby supporting existing teams with time-consuming routine activities.

In operation, key figures such as cleaned area, operating time, consumption, error rate, and capacity utilization can be measured. Terra Robotics explicitly uses such performance data to evaluate the RaaS deployment.

This makes it easier to assess whether the use of robots is actually cost-effective.

Flexible use of service and delivery robots

Service robots can also be deployed within the RaaS model.

Typical areas of application are, for example:

• catering
• hotel industry
• retail
• shopping centers
• office buildings
• healthcare
• events
• internal transport

Robots can transport food and materials, inform visitors, or take over recurring walking routes.

RaaS can be particularly useful for new applications, as companies can first test how well the robot integrates into their existing processes.

Robot as a Service for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Terra Robotics is expanding Robot as a Service throughout the DACH region in collaboration with regional partner structures.

Collaboration with ElectronicPartner plays an important role in this.

The ElectronicPartner robotics initiative started in Austria and Switzerland and was subsequently extended to Germany. Terra Robotics provides technology, products, and robotics know-how, while the regionally established ElectronicPartner specialized dealers utilize their customer relationships and advisory expertise.

ElectronicPartner explicitly describes their shared goal as establishing a comprehensive sales and service network designed to permanently establish robotics in the market through consulting, service, IT expertise, and regional proximity.

This creates a decisive advantage for companies:

Innovative robotics meets regional contacts and long-term support.

RaaS is not only for large companies

Automation is often associated with large industrial companies and extensive investment budgets.

The RaaS model lowers this entry barrier.

Terra Robotics directs its offer, among others, to:

• catering and hotel industry
• retail and shopping centers
• building cleaning and facility management
• offices and administration
• clinics and healthcare
• educational institutions
• logistics and warehouse
• production and industry

This allows even medium-sized companies to automate individual tasks without having to immediately buy an extensive fleet of robots.

Scale when the use case works

Another advantage of the RaaS approach is scalability.

If a robotics project works successfully at one location, the solution can be extended to additional areas or locations.

Terra Robotics explicitly includes expansion to further devices, areas, and locations, as well as continuous optimization, in the RaaS process.

This creates a step-by-step path:

Pilot → collect data → evaluate benefit → optimize → scale

This reduces the risk of having to make a large investment decision at the very beginning based on theoretical assumptions.

Keep data and fleets centrally in view

As the number of deployed robots increases, their digital management also becomes increasingly important.

The Terra Suite creates a central platform for this within the Terra Robotics ecosystem.

It is complemented by the Terra Cloud, through which operational and device data can be processed on infrastructure located in Germany.

For Terra Robotics, therefore, it is not just the hardware that belongs to professional robotics operation.

Service, data, software, monitoring, and fleet management are becoming just as important as the robot itself.

Using robotics instead of long-term capital commitment

Robot as a Service is changing the way companies invest in robotics.

Instead of having to make a long-term decision for a single robot model at the very start, the focus can be more on actual utility.

Companies receive:

• a calculable entry
• predictable monthly costs
• professional implementation
• technical support
• cross-manufacturer consulting
• the option for step-by-step scaling

Robotics is thus increasingly evolving from a traditional investment good into a flexibly usable service.

Robot as a Service for your company

Would you like to deploy professional robotics without planning for high initial acquisition costs?

On our Robot as a Service page, you will find further information about the process and potential areas of application.

Via the Terra Robotics requirements assessment, you can also send us your requirements and the planned area of deployment.

Together, we will examine which robotics solution and operating model suit your company technically and economically.