New study: the triumph of robots

The survey of 1,000 managers, including 150 in Germany, from the healthcare, manufacturing, automotive and mechanical and plant engineering sectors revealed that the majority (71%) currently use robotics in their companies or plan to do so in the future. Almost four out of five respondents in Germany and among the international survey participants (77%) are confident that robotics will take over key tasks in their industry. However, almost 30% of Germans do not feel particularly comfortable when it comes to the question of whether they want to work with robots. This suggests that there is still a long way to go before all employees see robots as tools they can trust.

On a global level, trust is particularly strengthened by advances in security and risk minimization (42%) as well as proven reliability and performance (40%). Nevertheless, German users are wondering how the transformation will succeed and whether the technology can really deliver an ROI. Many decision-makers in Germany are thinking about how they can use robotics from a cost perspective. They face a number of challenges: 41% of respondents fear high initial costs, and a quarter (25%) are concerned about maintenance and downtime. Meanwhile, companies across all industries worldwide are increasingly turning to the use of robots in the workplace - particularly for automation (50%), production (46%), support (36%) and high-risk tasks (28%).

Challenges in terms of comfort

70% of international respondents feel comfortable working with robots in their industry. However, trust depends heavily on the task: While most welcome robots taking over simple tasks such as assembly line work (77%), material handling (73%) or logistics and delivery (70%), they are more skeptical about tasks with more human interaction. For example, 63% are comfortable with the use of robots in maintenance and repairs and 55% in customer service, and only 51% in medical procedures - an indication that these areas will be automated more slowly than others.

The global robotics market is growing rapidly and changing noticeably. According to international market research and technology consulting firm ABI Research, sales of collaborative robots will increase from USD 51 billion in 2024 to USD 163.9 billion in 2030. Advances in AI and machine learning are improving the capabilities and acceptance of robots - a trend that points to increased robotics integration in many industries.

Protection of workers and workplaces

Despite the enthusiasm for robotics, the survey also reveals clear concerns: almost a third of those surveyed worldwide (32%) do not yet consider their own workplace to be ready to use robots. This could pose a challenge for employers - both in terms of using the technology and employee safety. In addition, 58% are concerned about potential safety risks and 29% report that dangerous situations involving robots have already occurred in their organization. Keyword 'German Angst': a third of respondents in Germany fear the loss of jobs. At the same time, however, more than three quarters (76%) state that they use robots to remedy the labor shortage.

"From surgical instruments to self-driving forklifts, industries around the world are using robotics in the workplace and are increasingly comfortable with the new technologies," explains João Pereira, Director EMEA, General Embedded Markets at QNX. "However, as the data makes clear, this trust is fragile and can easily be destroyed if robotics are designed and deployed without the necessary underlying software to make them efficient, reliable and safe. Only if we prioritize the safety of human workers and their environment will robotics in the workplace reach its full potential."

Other important results of the global survey:

• Technological advances (90%) and improved safety (86%) were cited as the two biggest factors influencing the decision to introduce robotics.
• 92% of respondents believe that employees need to be included in the discussion about the integration of robotics.
• Almost two-thirds (64%) believe that current legal AI and robotics guidelines and regulations are sufficient to address the ethical implications in their industry.

Background to the survey

The online survey on robotics among decision makers in the healthcare/medical device, manufacturing, automotive, and machinery and equipment industries was commissioned by QNX and conducted by market research firm OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's Code of Conduct. Survey respondents are from the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, China and Japan. The data was collected between 05.03.2025 and 14.03.2025. All participants double-consented to participate in the research and were compensated based on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was monitored and processed by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll is an MRS Company Partner, a corporate member of ESOMAR and a member of the British Polling Council.