Service robotics is booming: Global sales of professional systems rise by 24 percent
Logistics, cleaning, and medical robots, in particular, are seeing strong growth, while humanoid systems remain in the testing phase
The global market for service robots experienced a significant growth spurt in 2025. According to the latest World Robotics 2026 Report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), sales of professional service robots rose by 24 percent to just under 250,000 units. This continues the trend toward the automation of service and business processes across numerous industries.
Transportation and logistics automation remains the largest area of application. With approximately 117,500 units sold, this sector accounted for 47 percent of all professional service robots. The systems are primarily used for intra-facility material transport and the automation of goods and delivery flows. At the same time, the “Robotics as a Service” (RaaS) business model is gaining increasing importance.
The hotel and hospitality industry is also among the most important growth markets. There, mobile service robots are used in particular for information and assistance tasks. Professional cleaning robotics follows in third place, with strong demand primarily for automated floor cleaning.
Humanoid robots continue to attract significant attention. According to the IFR, approximately 7,000 humanoid systems with a height of more than 140 centimeters were sold worldwide in 2025 for professional applications. Although advances in artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and control systems are accelerating development, the IFR considers the market to still be in its early stages. High costs, safety concerns, and a lack of economically viable application scenarios have so far hindered widespread adoption.
Medical robotics is also experiencing particularly dynamic growth. Sales of surgical robots increased by 57 percent, reaching a new record high with approximately 8,400 units sold. The growing acceptance of robot-assisted procedures and improved clinical outcomes are key drivers of this trend.
Growth in the consumer market is even greater. Sales of service robots for end consumers rose by 37 percent to approximately 34.2 million units. Key trends include smart home robots, AI-powered features, and integration into smart-home environments.
The figures show that robotics is no longer limited to traditional manufacturing applications. In particular, advances in AI, sensor technology, and image processing are continuously expanding the range of possible applications and driving the commercialization of new robotic solutions in industry, medicine, and everyday life.
