Global shipments of professional service robots increased by 24% to reach nearly 250,000 units in 2025, according to the World Robotics 2026 Service Robots report released on September 30, 2026, by the International Federation of Robotics. Jane Heffner, President of the International Federation of Robotics, stated that sales climbed across all three segments with double-digit growth rates.
Transportation and Logistics Lead Professional Sector
Transportation and logistics maintained its position as the top application for professional service robots in 2025. The segment recorded 117,500 units sold, representing a 21% increase from the previous year and capturing a 47% market share. These machines are primarily deployed for moving goods, automating material flows, and managing delivery processes within industrial and commercial spaces.
While direct sales remain the primary monetization channel, Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) business models continue gaining traction. In the United States, RaaS has established itself as the dominant business model for deployment.
Hospitality robots secured second place in the professional market. These machines are deployed primarily for mobile guidance, information kiosks in public environments, and telepresence tasks. Professional cleaning robots followed closely in third place, driven largely by floor-cleaning applications.
Humanoid Robot Shipments Reach 7,000 Units
Humanoid robots designed to resemble humans and operate in human-centric environments drew significant attention in 2025 for their operational flexibility. Recent advances in artificial intelligence, sensor suites, and control systems facilitated several high-profile pilot projects. However, most current deployments remain specialized and frequently depend on human teleoperation.
Global sales of full-size humanoids standing above 140 cm reached approximately 7,000 units in 2025. These deployments target commercial and professional settings rather than research and development or entertainment. High training and maintenance costs, evolving safety standards, and a lack of clear business cases in industrial environments continue to limit broader adoption.
Dr. Werner Kraus, Chair of the IFR Service Robot Committee, addressed the sector in a special chapter of the report, noting that humanoids represent the newest market segment for robotics. Broad everyday use will require further progress in intuitive programming, robust physical manipulation, economic scaling, and standardized safety protocols.
Medical and Consumer Robotics Expansion
Medical robotics experienced growth in 2025, led by surgical systems. The market recorded 8,400 units sold, marking a 57% growth rate driven by increased clinical adoption. The transition from technological development to commercial deployment has accelerated over the past decade, supported by improved clinical outcomes and growing acceptance among healthcare professionals.
In the consumer segment, domestic robots aimed at mass markets propelled overall sales up by 37% to nearly 34.2 million units in 2025. Key growth drivers included the automation of routine household tasks, deeper integration of artificial intelligence, and seamless connectivity with smart home ecosystems.
Industry Impact and Labor Shortage Solutions
The International Federation of Robotics published a position paper titled “Service Robots – Impact of Robots on Human Life.” The document examines how service deployments address labor shortages, boost productivity, and support operations across healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, cleaning, and security sectors. Carsten Heer, Press Officer for the International Federation of Robotics, manages press inquiries for the organization.