Philippines Robot as a Service Market Trends

• Rising adoption of robotics as a subscription model: With the growing adoption of technology such as robotics and automation, industries in the Philippines have witnessed a paradigm shift in the way they conduct their operations. An emerging trend in this sector is the shift towards robotic systems being offered through a subscription-based as-a-service model rather than conventional outright purchases. This subscription model provides multiple benefits for manufacturing and industrial customers. The subscription models are also responding to the evolving needs of industries. Manufacturing processes and production requirements are increasingly dynamic with changing market demands. Through flexible subscription tenure, customers can optimally deploy robotics solutions according to real-time needs on the factory floor. This pay-per-use approach prevents under-utilization of capital-intensive equipment. According to recent studies by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, Philippines manufacturers have shown increased interest in subscription-based robotics with over 40% of industrial clients adoptive of as-a-service models in 2021 compared to less than 15% in 2020.
• Proliferation of collaborative robots: The growing adoption of collaborative robots or cobots in manufacturing facilities across the Philippines is driving significant changes in the robotics services sector. Cobots are designed to safely work alongside human workers without the need for heavy protective fencing. This makes them ideal for smaller manufacturers and businesses looking to automate certain processes without fully replacing their human workforce. As cobots become more affordable and versatile, more Philippine companies are leveraging robot as a service (RaaS) models to integrate them. With robot as a service (RaaS), companies can subscribe to a robot's use through a monthly or annual fee rather than paying large up-front capital costs. This reduced financial barrier is allowing even more small and medium enterprises to automate tasks that are dull, dirty or dangerous for people. According to a 2020 report from the Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, the number of local manufacturers deploying collaborative robots grew by over 30% annually from 2018 to 2020.

Figure 1. Philippines Robot as a Service Market Share (%), By Country, 2024