INDUSTRIAL Production: Mr. Engels, what was the specific catalyst for founding RoboFinder?

Brian Engels: In my previous role as the person responsible for the product portfolio at a leading German service robotics company, I gained in-depth insight into the market, its developments, various manufacturers, and their solutions. It became clear that service robotics offers enormous potential for addressing key challenges such as labor shortages, rising cost pressures, and stricter hygiene requirements. At the same time, finding the right solution is a very complex process for many companies. It was precisely this gap that led to the founding of RoboFinder.

What market gap or problem have you identified in the implementation and selection of service robots?

Service robotics is a young, rapidly growing market that now includes over 500 manufacturers worldwide. New models, varying distribution structures, and a wide range of financing options make it considerably more difficult for potential users to get started. Companies are faced with questions such as: Which solution best fits my specific needs? Which providers have proven themselves in practice? Which business models make sense? This lack of transparency and comparability are the key challenges we address.

RoboFinder positions itself as an independent platform for professional service robotics. What sets your offering apart from traditional manufacturer directories, marketplaces, or consulting services?

Manufacturers are limited to their own product portfolios. Consultants and distributors often specialize in specific manufacturers or industries. Marketplaces often have little or no expertise in robotics and, as a result, are able to assess customer needs only to a limited extent.

We combine structured comparison logic with our robotics expertise and a growing network of qualified manufacturers and suppliers.

This allows companies to save an incredible amount of time during the procurement process while also reducing their risk of making the wrong decisions.

Service robotics is gaining importance, particularly in the healthcare sector, facility management, and intralogistics. In which of these areas do you currently see the greatest growth potential—and why?

It is currently difficult to identify a clear focus. Over the past one to two years, the technology has made great strides, particularly in terms of autonomy and reliability. At the same time, all of the areas mentioned share a high proportion of physically demanding and repetitive tasks. This is precisely where service robotics delivers its greatest value, which is why we continue to expect strong growth in all three segments.

Many companies are interested in robotics but struggle to select suitable solutions or assess their cost-effectiveness. How does RoboFinder help users make faster and more informed decisions?

From the very beginning of the platform's development, we made a conscious decision to focus clearly on technologically mature, ready-to-use robotics solutions in the entry-level segment, particularly in the areas of transportation and floor cleaning.

In addition, we support companies throughout the entire decision-making process—from initial research and structured product and service comparisons all the way through to successful implementation by qualified partners. In this way, we create transparency and significantly reduce complexity.

The official launch of the platform is just around the corner. What features and added value can users expect at launch, and what developments are planned for the coming months?

For the launch, we are collaborating with seven leading manufacturers and already support over 50 robot models for various use cases. We are currently in concrete discussions regarding additional partnerships.

At the heart of the platform is our comparison feature: Users can filter robotics solutions based on specific criteria and compare them directly without having to wade through individual data sheets. If you’re seriously interested, we’ll also help you obtain and clearly organize suitable quotes.

In the coming months, we will continue to expand both our partner network and the platform's features.

When we speak again in three years: Where do you see RoboFinder by then, and how would you like to contribute to the further adoption of professional service robotics in Europe?

Our goal is to establish RoboFinder as the leading platform for professional service robotics in Europe. We want to make automation significantly more accessible to companies while also helping to reduce the workload on employees through the sensible use of robotics. In this way, we see ourselves as enablers for the responsible and practical adoption of service robotics.