Let’s put this tired argument to bed: robots aren’t coming for your job. This type of fear isn’t new; it’s just the latest version of stories we’ve told ourselves since Luddites smashed looms in the 1800s, even though the result was more jobs and tremendous prosperity. Today, clinging to similar fears about robotics feels just as outdated. Here’s the truth: Businesses that fail to embrace robotics aren’t safeguarding jobs; they’re jeopardizing them.
Let’s look at robotics for what it truly is: a catalyst for better work, smarter operations, and stronger business. Robots, and more specifically, collaborative robots (cobots), enhance and empower people to focus on higher-value tasks while automation handles the rest. The companies that understand this and invest accordingly will be the ones that thrive in this new industrial era. Those that don’t will watch from the sidelines as their competitors surge ahead.
Robotics isn’t the enemy; It’s the solution.
The industrial landscape has shifted. Labor shortages, skills gaps, supply chain volatility, and heightened demand for flexibility are the new normal. Robotics has transitioned from a nice-to-have to a foundational element of resilient, competitive businesses, helping organizations take people out of hazardous environments, eliminate tedious repetitive tasks, and reassign talent to higher-value work.
According to a study by the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, America faces a manufacturing workforce deficit of more than two million positions, a gap anticipated to widen to over three million within the next decade. We cannot solve this with labor alone; there aren’t enough people. Wage increases alone can’t solve this problem either. Robotics, and specifically, cobots, offer a critical path forward—augmenting human labor where it’s needed most and helping manufacturers remain competitive despite shrinking labor pools.
We see this reality play out every day with our manufacturing, logistics, and critical infrastructure customers. Robotics delivers what the modern market demands: faster changeovers, greater precision, enhanced safety, and increased throughput, all while supporting a workforce stretched thin by demographic shifts and evolving expectations. From cobots to advanced motion systems, the technology is already transforming industries that once resisted change. Companies embracing robotics can build flexibility into their DNA and insulate themselves from future disruptions.
Robots make people better.
Please disregard the sci-fi trope of machines versus humans. That’s not how modern automation works, and it’s not how businesses succeed. Robotics is about people and machines working together to augment human capability, enhance productivity, and drive better outcomes for everyone.
Robotics takes on tasks that drain human potential, including repetitive, physically taxing, and precision-driven work. It frees people to do the work only humans can do: creative problem solving, innovation, and strategic thinking.
For example:
- At Schneider Electric’s Lexington Smart Factory, collaborative robots now handle repetitive assembly tasks, improving ergonomics while boosting throughput.
- In Batam, Indonesia, another smart factory uses robotic automation to reduce quality incidents by 40% while accelerating production.
- For ACMA, deploying EcoStruxure™ Machine robotic and digital twin solutions for its automatic packaging machines enabled more compact, flexible, and modular feeding systems, which improved productivity, reduced footprint, and allowed staff to shift from tedious manual processes to value‑added tasks.
These results show that when people and robotics collaborate, manufacturers can unlock a multiplier effect on safety, efficiency, and performance.
Think of robotics like AI: those who learn to work alongside these technologies will thrive. Those who cling to outdated roles and resist adaptation will be left behind. The data clearly shows that companies that leverage robotics are reporting improved employee satisfaction, higher retention, and enhanced operational agility. This is precisely because their people aren’t stuck doing tasks better suited to machines, and because automation is proving cost-effective, especially for small and mid-sized businesses facing tighter margins and greater workforce constraints.
Cobots: Robots and people can succeed together.
Look no further than cobots for proof that robotics is about collaboration. Designed to work safely alongside humans, collaborative robots aren’t confined behind safety cages or separate lines. They’re integrated into teams, handling tasks that improve speed, precision, and consistency while freeing up people for higher-value, more creative work.
These are already present realities on factory floors, in logistics centers, and across industries where flexibility and adaptability are paramount. They’re easy to program, fast to deploy, and versatile enough to evolve in tandem with business needs. And they’re expected to reach a market value of almost $12 billion by 2030.
Cobots are not competitors to the workforce, but partners. And they are the clearest signal yet that people and robotics can thrive together.
The real cost of ignoring robotics? Your business’s future.
Given the growing workforce deficit, we cannot solve this with labor alone; there aren’t enough people. As the workforce deficit grows, businesses—especially small and mid-sized ones—must look beyond conventional staffing approaches to remain competitive. There is still work to be done, however. In 2023, the U.S. had a robot density of roughly 197 units per 10,000 manufacturing employees—tenth in the world—well behind industrial leaders like Korea (over 1,000) and Germany and Japan (over 400). This gap underscores a missed opportunity and a clear call to action for manufacturers seeking to thrive in a resource-constrained future.
Schneider Electric’s new Robotics and Motion Center of Excellence, opened June 26th in Raleigh, NC, is a direct response to this challenge. Focused on AI-enhanced motion and robotics solutions, this facility will help manufacturers build more efficient, agile, and resilient operations. It will also ensure our industries have the tools they need to thrive despite the labor shortages we all face.
This investment aligns with our Schmoooth approach, highlighting the measurable benefits that robotics and automation can unlock. These proof points demonstrate what’s possible for manufacturers who fully embrace digital transformation:
- 7x better system agility
- 10x faster incident resolution
- 55% higher workforce efficiency
- 20% energy savings
The technology is here, it works, and it pays off. Companies leaning into robotics today are the ones building the foundation for long-term success.
A clear message to leaders: The future isn’t waiting. Neither should you.
Consider this a wake-up call: The era of hesitant experimentation with robotics is over. Your competitors aren’t hesitating. They’re integrating. Robotics shapes their strategies, accelerates digital transformations, and builds future-ready operations.
Investing in robotics boosts the bottom line, yes, but it also invests in your people, your brand, and your long-term resilience. It ensures your business has the agility to respond to disruption, the tools to improve continuously, and the capacity to compete on a global stage.
Ready to see robotics in action? Join us at Innovation Summit.
Discover how Schneider Electric is shaping the future of industrial automation and robotics at our upcoming Innovation Summit. Connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, and experience firsthand how robots and cobots are transforming operations across sectors. Learn more and register here.
Add a comment