Digital Lifescapes

Embodied AI is shifting industrial robotics from precise to perceptive — from rigid automation to adaptive execution in messy, variable production environments. For manufacturers and logistics providers, this isn't just a technology upgrade; it's a structural change in how work gets organized and business value gets created. Industrial robots have long excelled in static workflows: automotive assembly, fixed production lines, repetitive tasks. Where variability or human interaction arose, they stalled or required prohibitive engineering. Embodied AI Market Development Embodied AI changes this by closing the "sim-to-real" gap. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, AI-augmented robots have reached genuine adaptive automation with tangible ROI for early adopters. The shift rests on robust algorithms — particularly Dynamic Policy Adjustment and robotics foundation models — that learn and adapt in real time rather than following hard-coded rules. ...

For decades, industrial automation has followed a predictable, programmed path. Robots have excelled at repetitive, high-speed tasks within structured, static environments. However, the next leap in business technology hinges on moving past this paradigm. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into physical systems, often termed "Embodied AI" or "Physical AI," is not just an incremental improvement; it represents a fundamental shift that is finally delivering on the decades-old promise of truly adaptive, intelligent automation. Embodied AI Market Development ABI Research recently underscored the criticality of this pivot, confirming that AI-augmented industrial and collaborative robots have achieved the necessary technological maturity for widespread commercial adoption. This moment marks the successful closing of the persistent "sim-to-real" gap, where promising algorithms in a virtual environment failed to cope with the unpredictable nature of t...

The market for industrial facilities networking is undergoing a significant transformation. Operational Technology (OT) networks, traditionally reliant on wired connections, increasingly embrace wireless solutions. This shift is driven by several factors, including the need for greater flexibility, improved efficiency, and the emergence of new applications fueled by the Internet of Things (IoT).  At the forefront of this transformation lies a utilization of the 6 GHz band in industrial Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), a communication innovation. Industrial WLAN Market Development According to the latest worldwide study by ABI Research, they forecast a surge in industrial WLAN access points supporting the 6 GHz spectrum, with shipments rising from 2 percent in 2023 to 71 percent by 2030. The growth of industrial WLANs can be attributed in large part to the limitations of traditional wired networks. Dense deployments of sensors, robots, and other connected devices create a const...

The once-quiet hum of the warehouse is being overtaken by a new rhythm – the whirring wheels and gentle beeps of mobile robots. As eCommerce booms and customer expectations soar, the pressure is on for faster, more efficient online purchase fulfillment. Warehouse automation has mostly been taken on by big organizations with deep pockets, but growing accessibility and maturing vendors are allowing solutions to trickle down and grow through the market.  According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the global installed base of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in warehouses will surpass 500,000 by 2030. Mobile Robotics Market Development "There are now many options to automate a warehouse. Both stationary and mobile automation solutions have continued to expand to new form factors and are becoming more effective as Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing grows," said Ryan Wiggin, industry analyst at ABI Research . After their year in the spotlight with high-prof...

Robotics have become the cornerstone of modern manufacturing, revolutionizing many industries across the globe. The applications span from automating repetitive tasks to enhancing precision and efficiency in complex operations. With the relentless pursuit of operational excellence, and the increasing need for production agility and cost-effectiveness, the demand for industrial robots continues to surge. Based on current estimates, there are already well over three million industrial robots installed worldwide, and the pace of installation is increasing rapidly. Industrial Robotics Market Development Moreover, robotics use cases are proliferating from shelf stacking, to cleaning, and various forms of manufacturing. Robots are important to economic growth, as nations struggle with labor shortages and aging populations. Against this growing applications backdrop, the robotics market is forecast to reach $218 billion by 2030, according to the latest worldwide study by GlobalData. Numerous ...

The impact of technology is seen in nearly every industry, and every region of the world. The Global Networked Economy is in a perpetual state of evolution. This creates both challenges and opportunities. Following the COVID-19 global pandemic, the market saw some recovery due to rising demand from remote working and the need for a connected ecosystem. Now there are new overarching issues affecting the global supply chains for many consumer electronics sectors. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, these conditions have led to weaker demand, but with technical advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fifth Generation (5G) mobile connectivity, and new form factors, 2023 will be a recovery year for the consumer technology market. Consumer Technology Market Development "In smartphones, the replacement cycle followed by the migration to 5G smartphones and eagerness to embrace new form factors like foldable devices will be the main growth drivers for acce...

Within the C-suite of forward-thinking organizations, something remarkable is happening. More executive leaders are now focused on an inspirational alternative to the legacy status quo "Return to Normal" mindset. According to the latest market study by IDC, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APeJ) "Future of Work" spending is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 18.4 percent and reach $196.2 billion by 2026. IDC expects APeJ FoW spending to grow at a year-over-year rate of 19.9 percent in 2023 compared to 21.5 percent in 2022. Despite the slowdown of the growth rate, the total spending of the market continues to increase over the forecast period. Future of Work Market Development IDC defines the Future of Work (FoW) as a fundamental change to the work model to one that fosters human-machine collaboration, enables new skills and worker experiences, and supports a re-imagined physical workplace and border-less digital workspace. This IDC market forecast presents spending forecast...

Healthcare sector innovation tends to progress at a slow pace, due to a number of historical factors that inhibit agility. For example, the Smart Home healthcare market continues to grow and evolve, but the scale of the opportunity remains under-penetrated. Last year, new smart home healthcare shipment and service revenues grew 25 percent to reach $22.9 billion worldwide, but that growth rate may be hard to sustain, despite the potential for further growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, new smart home healthcare shipment and service revenues will reach $26.5 billion in 2023 -- that's up by 15 percent from 2022. Smart Home Healthcare Market Development Smart home healthcare, encompassing connected home care, remote patient monitoring, and social robotics, can improve the health and care of the most vulnerable while reducing staffing and other costs. It also represents an opportunity for a host of players from smart home vendors and beyond to extend ...

Hybrid and fully remote work are inevitable in the Global Networked Economy where high-performance talent demands flexibility from employers. To enable these progressive work models, organizations are investing in a wide range of technologies to support more agile types of employment.  According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), leading organizations will spend nearly $1 billion on the Future of Work (FoW) in 2023 -- that's an increase of 18.8 percent over 2022. Future of Work Market Development "Work models continue to evolve, but 37 percent of decision-makers in a recent global survey note that Remote and Hybrid work models will be an embedded part of accepted work practices, supported by a continued shift to the cloud, increasingly instrumented and interconnected physical workplaces, and intelligent digital workspaces," said Holly Muscolino, group vice president at IDC . According to the IDC assessment, organizations must mak...

Forward-thinking retailers now have a bright future. In contrast, those that failed to enhance their business model via digital transformation have struggled, declined, and their assets were eventually liquidated. The key difference between these two business outcomes is applied strategic foresight. Even as the world continues to emerge from a global pandemic, retail is growing at levels not seen in the last two decades. Retail sales grew by 7 percent in 2020 and by over 14 percent in 2021, which is in stark contrast to the 3.7 percent annual growth between 2010 and 2019. The increased demand for retail has put a strain on supply chains and retail operations worldwide. As a result, retailers and stakeholders are turning to automation solutions such as mobile robotics for operational ease. Retail Transformation Market Development According to the latest market study by ABI Research, worldwide commercial robot revenue in retail stores will have a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of o...

The global enterprise wireless networking market is evolving. Driven by a desire to take advantage of the available 6 GHz communications spectrum, with greatly improved broadband throughput and latency rates, more organizations may choose to adopt Wi-Fi 6E technologies. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, shipments of Wi-Fi 6E access points and routers will rise from 1.5 million units in 2022 to 5.2 million units by 2024. Wireless spectrum expansion is just one facet of the commercial wireless network market transition, as the technology of Wi-Fi customer premise equipment will be upgraded once again with Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be standard) devices. Enterprise Wireless Network Market Development "The adoption of Wi-Fi 7 access points will accelerate following the protocols standardization in 2024, and just two years later, most 6 GHz enabled access point shipments will be supporting Wi-Fi 7," said Andrew Spivey, industry analyst at ABI Research . Anot...

Forward-looking leaders across the globe continue to apply digital transformation strategies for competitive advantage. The latest release of a regional IDC market study reveals that the recent acceleration in digital investments sets Asia-Pacific ahead of the rest of the world. Investments in new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT),  Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and blockchain are expected to contribute close to 40 percent of total ICT investments by the end of the forecast period from around 30 percent in 2020. Digital Transformation Market Development Compared to other regions in the world, this Asia-Pacific upside opportunity is the highest and represents close to 18 percent growth in dollar terms during the IDC forecast period of 2020-2025. "The pandemic induced digital-first shift in the region led to increased investments in new technologies and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future," says Vi...

The healthcare sector has advanced technological innovation. But the fragmented way in which many hospitals acquire solutions can introduce cost, time, and resource inefficiencies that hinder care delivery and the ability to meet strategic objectives. Therefore, the last several years have seen healthcare providers around the world embrace the concept of the 'smart hospital' as a means of optimizing multiple aspects of their IT performance. However, hospital implementation of new technologies can present significant challenges for the adopting organizations in terms of cybersecurity, interoperability, and execution. Smart Hospital Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, smart hospitals will deploy 7.4 million connected Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices globally by 2026 -- that's estimated to be over 3,850 devices per smart hospital. This global figure represents total growth of 231 percent over 2021 when 3.2 million dev...

The retail and wholesale back-office infrastructure market is being transformed by technology. The warehousing industry has accelerated automation efforts due to the increased order volume and labor shortages driven by the global pandemic. In addition to technology solutions such as handheld devices with enhanced capabilities, autonomous, collaborative, and mobile robots are proving to be the fastest-growing productivity-enhancing solution in the warehouse workspace. Commercial Robotics Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, global commercial robot revenue in warehouses will have a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 23 percent from 2021 to 2030 and exceed $51 billion by 2030. "Mobile robots are at the heart of the warehouse robotics market and account for most shipments and revenue. These robots, made up of Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), are being used to move goods within the warehouse a...

The application of new technology is an opportunity for traditional retailers to enhance customer engagement via digital transformation. Many of these established retailers are confronted by disruptive competition from eCommerce. Savvy retailers are evolving their business model into an omnichannel offering, where they combine the best of their offline experience and supplement it with an online shopping experience. Therefore, retailers that intend to maintain a physical in-store presence must operate more effectively. There are several technologies being combined to enhance the way retail store operations function -- including self-checkout apps, beacons, RFID tags, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). That said, the current global economic environment requires retailers to become more agile and decisive. Retailer Technology Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the value of transactions processed by smart checkout technologies, ...

As we look to the future, more robots are likely to appear in the typical workplace. These robots will perform repetitive tasks that were once performed by humans. This automation promises to improve productivity significantly. In some cases, robots will also augment human capabilities. With the popularization of mobile robotics in a wide range of industries, more organizations will store the collected data from these robots in public cloud services, and then use that data to train more advanced AI algorithms that enable robot cognition. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, the robot-related services powered by cloud computing will reach $157.8 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Mobile Robotics Market Development "Since 1961, most commercial robots have been wired or tied to external infrastructure for movement. The next generation of robot deployments will be increasingly mobile, tied to cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, will consume vast troves ...

Some technology sector M&A activity is relatively immune to market disruptions. The robotics industry received significant investment in 2019, reaching $46 billion. A total of $17.8 billion went to acquisitions and a further $29 billion went into investments, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research. Most of the funding was focused on autonomous passenger vehicles (APV’s), surgical robotics, and warehouse automation, with significant new growth for field robotics and drone services. Robotics Technology Market Development "Despite not having commercialized their technology, autonomous passenger vehicle developers like Waymo, Cruise, Zoox and company have continued to amass enormous funding from the corporate and VC world," said Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research . Surgical robots also received significant new funding, and have already been commercialized to a considerable extent, with Intuitive Surgical selling over 5,000 Da Vinci ro...

Across the globe, the traditional legal profession is still very labor-intensive. Higher salaries and the limited use of automation has driven up the cost of performing even the most mundane routine tasks. That's going to change. The disruption has already begun. The intense pressure from senior executives on their legacy corporate legal department has pushed lawyers to consider robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and natural language processing benefits, according to the latest worldwide market study by Gartner. In fact, they now predict that law robots (or lawbots) will handle a quarter of the typical enterprise internal legal support requests by 2023. The virtual legal assistant (VLA) will be commonplace. Legal Process Automation Market Development  "While VLAs, legal chatbots, and lawbots may seem like hype, their use in legal departments can yield significant benefits," said Zack Hutto, director at Gartner . "...

Global spending on robotic systems and drones will reach $128.7 billion in 2020 -- that's an increase of 17.1 percent over 2019, according to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). By 2023, IDC expects the investment will reach $241.4 billion with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8 percent. Robotic systems will be the larger of the two categories throughout the five-year forecast period with worldwide robotics spending forecast to be $112.4 billion in 2020. Spending on drones will total $16.3 billion in 2020 but is forecast to grow at a faster rate (33.3 percent CAGR) than robotics systems (17.8 percent CAGR). Robotics and Drones Market Development Hardware purchases will dominate the robotics market with 60 percent of all spending going toward robotic systems, after-market robotics hardware, and system hardware. Purchases of industrial robots and service robots will total more than $30 billion in 2020. Meanwhile, robotics-relat...

Across the globe, CIOs and CTOs are evaluating the adoption of intelligent automation and other technologies that will be applied within a factory environment. New applications, such as Digital Twin, will transform the manufacturing process by creating a replica of the physical production plant. Technology investments in the industrial and manufacturing sector are set to grow significantly, going from $59 billion in 2019 to $375 billion in 2030. Including hardware revenues, that figure will climb to over $1 trillion, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research. Manufacturing is in the midst of a major digital revolution and is investing in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), robotics (AGVS, AMRs) and cloud-based simulation and modeling. Digital Factory Market Development "The transformative shift toward Industry 4.0 technologies and the broader field of software-defined manufacturin...