Warehouse Robot Costs and How Robots as a Service Fits in to the Mix

Warehouse robot cost can vary greatly in cost depending on the specific system and its capabilities. Factors that can affect the cost include the size and complexity of the system, the type of robot or automation equipment used, and the level of customization required. 

A basic warehouse robot system can cost anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. For example: 

• A simple robotic arm used for picking and packing tasks may cost around $50,000 to $100,000.  
• Depending on payload and the level of customization Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) can cost up to $300,000 or more.  
• Fully automated warehouse system with multiple robots and advanced features such as computer vision and machine learning capabilities can cost millions of dollars. 

Additionally, there are other costs associated with warehouse robot implementation, such as installation and maintenance costs, as well as the cost of any necessary software or programming. Training and educating staff on the robots they’ll be working with and alongside is almost important to factor in and can greatly improve how they feel about the introduction of automation. All these costs can add up and should be taken into consideration when evaluating the total cost of a warehouse robot system. 

Another cost to consider is the implementation of warehouse management software which can be integrated with warehouse robots to make the system work more efficiently. This will add extra cost to the total cost of the system, but it can pay off in the long run by increasing productivity, efficiency, and accuracy. 

A new way to deploy automation: Robots as a Service (RaaS) 

Robot as a Service (RaaS) is much like the familiar Software as a Service (SaaS) pricing models in that it removes high upfront costs and rolls all fees into one, low regularly scheduled payment. This allows customers to realize ROI faster and does not tie up capital with a single lump sum payment.  

While there are many benefits to RaaS pricing, the most important is shifting from Capital Expenditure to Operational Expenditure. Rather than having to gain executive-level approvals to purchase assets up-front, RaaS pricing requires a multi-term commitment (e.g. 3-year or 5-year) and a recurring annual payment model. This speeds up decision-making and allows a for a more efficient use of capital to deploy more robots faster, thereby realizing a measurable return on robotics within the first year. Another benefit of RaaS is that maintenance, support, and services costs are included which means that there are no downstream cost surprises and ensures mission-alignment between the automation provider and the warehouse operator.  

Overall, the cost of a warehouse robot system can vary greatly depending on the specific system and its capabilities. Basic systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars, while more advanced systems can cost millions of dollars. It’s important to evaluate the cost of not just the initial purchase, but also the ongoing costs of installation, maintenance, and software integration. RaaS pricing models vastly simplify the automation buying experience and free up capital to deploy more automated throughput quickly and avoid any surprise cost as the system matures in out years. 

Vecna Robotics has a wide range of AMR pallet handling solutions designed to optimize warehouse operations with automation and improve overall throughput. Our solutions are available exclusively via Robots as a Service that allow you to deploy our AMRs for your most demanding warehouse workflows fast. For more information about how to get your facility started with our automation solutions, go to our From No Bot to Robot page, or contact us today to schedule a consultation with a material handling automation expert.