Gaining Robotics Advantage
Robotics is moving from industrial niche to mainstream, so advantage goes to firms that treat it as a strategic decision rather than a capital project and act early on leverage points, build-or-buy and workforce skills.
Summary
BCG raised its 2025 robotics market estimate from $67 billion (2014) to $87 billion (2017), driven by consumer applications and a tripling of private investment from 2014 to 2015 as prices fall and capabilities rise. It offers six guidelines, including identifying leverage points, integrating robotics into strategic decisions (Nike, Adidas), acting now because first movers capture disproportionate margins (Amazon's Kiva purchase), analyzing buy versus build, and developing the workforce, where skills gaps persist.
Editor's opinion
Companies that move early to apply robotics across consumer and commercial applications can secure a sustainable competitive edge as the market grows far faster than earlier projections.
Key concepts
Robotics advantage framework · Leverage points · First-mover advantage · Buy versus build · Cobots · Workforce skills