The transportation and logistics sector has become the largest user of service robots globally, driven largely by staff shortages, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

In its World Robotics 2025 Service Robots report, the IFR says robots are increasingly being used in materials handling applications with the transportation and logistics sector accounting for 52% of professional use robots currently being utilised.

The top five application groups to adopt service robots is rounded out with hospitality in second place (23%), professional cleaning (13%), agriculture (10%) and security 1%.

“With 102,900 units (+14%) sold in 2024, more than every other professional service robot was built for the application class transportation and logistics,” the IFR states. 

“These robots cover mainly mobile robots for the transport and handling of goods.”

This comes as new data from the IFR on industrial robots reveals 542,000 robots were installed in factories internationally throughout 2024; more than double the number of robot installations a decade ago.

IFR president, Takayuki Ito, says the 2024 figure is the second highest in history - just 2% lower than the all-time high two years ago.

“The transition of many industries into the digital and automated age has been marked by a huge surge in demand,” Ito continues. “The total number of industrial robots in operational use worldwide was 4,664,000 units in 2024 – an increase of 9% compared to the previous year.”

Asia accounted for 74% of new deployments in 2024, with China representing 54% of total deployments globally.

Japan maintained its position as the second-largest market for industrial robots with 44,500 units installed.

By contrast, Europe accounted for 16% of 2024 deployments, with installations falling 8% across the continent. Germany is the largest robot market in Europe and the fifth-largest in the world.

The Americas accounted for just 9% of 2024 installations.

The IFR says the OECD and the IMF expect global growth in a range of 2.9% to 3% in 2025 and 2.9% and 3.1% in 2026. 

“However, geopolitical tensions, violent conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and trade disruptions are exerting their negative impact on the global economy,” it states.

“The robotics industry is not immune to global macroeconomic conditions, but there is no indication that the overall long-term growth trend will come to an end any time soon. 

“While regional trends vary substantially, the aggregate global trajectory remains positive. Globally, robot installations are expected to grow by 6% to 575,000 units in 2025. By 2028, the 700,000-unit mark will be surpassed.”