The global robotics industry reached a significant milestone in 2024, with industrial robot installations totaling 542,000 units worldwide—more than double the level seen a decade ago. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the market value of these systems hit a record $16.7 billion. These numbers reflect a shift from prototype-driven hype to real-world deployment, as companies increasingly turn to automation to address persistent labor shortages and rising operational costs.
The IFR's Top 5 Global Robotics Trends for 2026 confirms that humanoid and AI-enabled robots are now "moving beyond prototypes to deploy … in real life," with reliability and operating efficiency becoming the key purchasing criteria. This evolution is evident in the data: professional service robot unit sales reached nearly 200,000 in 2024, a 9% year-over-year increase, while robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) fleets expanded by 31%. Operators are gravitating toward subscription models to avoid large upfront capital expenditures, a trend highlighted by IFR President Takayuki Ito, who noted that "more and more companies are deciding to enter into subscription or rental agreements rather than purchasing robots outright."
Labor shortages are a primary driver of this adoption. In the U.S., industrial robot installations climbed 11% in 2025 to approximately 38,000 units, with the food industry seeing a 30% uptick as companies struggled to staff production lines. Robot density in U.S. manufacturing has reached 307 units per 10,000 employees, ranking eighth globally. The hospitality sector faces similar pressures, with service robots becoming the second-largest category of professional service robots sold globally, behind transportation and logistics.
One company positioning itself at the forefront of this trend is Nightfood Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: NGTF), operating as TechForce Robotics. The company recently announced a letter of intent with Singapore-based NBR Intelligence Pte. Ltd. for a factory automation initiative with a nonbinding planning target of approximately 5,000 robotic systems. The program is structured with a phased approach: five pilot units are targeted to be running within 120 days, followed by a 30-day performance evaluation measuring availability, task completion, throughput, accuracy, and safety. Only after successful pilot acceptance would the program advance to an initial scaled rollout of 100 systems, then potentially expand by approximately 500 systems per month toward the full target.
TechForce's CEO Jimmy Chan emphasized the importance of addressing labor shortages: "In addition to helping prospective site operators address ongoing labor shortages and production constraints, the contemplated automation program is designed to materially expand production capacity and create additional revenue opportunities for the targeted operations." The planned robotics combination includes 4- to 6-axis robotic arms and TechForce's LIM-E and Kebb-i platforms, designed to automate up to 30% of identified workflows at each site.
The RaaS model is central to TechForce's approach, with the NBR framework contemplating a subscription arrangement with an option for operators to acquire systems outright after a 24-month term. This structure reduces the financial barrier for potential customers, allowing them to evaluate automation with lower risk before committing to full ownership. Rick Nguyen, CEO of NBR Intelligence, highlighted the real-world need: turnover across their factory network is about 15% to 20% annually, and a generational shift in education levels is shrinking the traditional labor pool.
As AI moves deeper into physical operations, companies across the ecosystem are innovating. Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) outlined a five-layer AI framework for surgical care, Teradyne (NASDAQ: TER) introduced a test cell solution for AI devices, Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) unveiled AI-driven quality management integration, and Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ: HON) launched an AI-powered operations assistant. These developments underscore the expanding role of AI in critical industries.
The robotics industry has entered a new phase where execution matters more than innovation alone. Companies that can demonstrate reliable performance in real-world environments and scale through structured rollouts are poised to lead. TechForce's deployment-first model, combined with the industry's shift toward RaaS, positions it to capitalize on the growing demand for automation solutions.
