7 questions to ask before choosing a service robot

Service robot investments usually start with hardware comparison: payload, battery life, sensor lists. Yet the first thing that determines success in the field is not hardware — it's how the robot connects to your workflow.

The first question should be: which task will the robot do, how many times a day, instead of whom? If you can't answer clearly, you're not at the robot-selection stage yet; you're at the needs-analysis stage.

The second critical topic is integration. Will your ordering system, reservation software or ERP talk to the robot? A robot without API access remains an isolated device, however capable it is.

Third, language and interaction: which language will your guests use with the robot? Natural local-language interaction is a defining part of the guest experience and is often a weak afterthought in global products.

Finally, question the service model: when the robot fails, who intervenes and how fast? Is there a commitment for spare parts and software updates? The right answers also point to the right partner.