Joe Wieciek

Taking robots from controlled pilot environments to real-world deployment presents a significant hurdle. White initial deployments often occur in controlled environments, the subsequent “messy middle” phase exposes them to varying environmental factors and levels of human interaction. This transition presents several challenges that must be overcome to effectively scale a fleet.

First, moving away from custom solutions for individual robots and toward standardized designs and methods for a fleet. Second, gaining customer buy-in requires developing a deep and thorough understanding of each customer’s unique needs. This includes their particular environment, labor structure, and deployment preferences. Finally, data overload can become a trap. While monitoring KPIs is essential, getting bogged down in data analysis during software updates and iteration can hinder progress. The inability to quickly iterate and test solutions can impact productivity and risks misalignment over Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with customers.

Drawing on extensive experience scaling robot fleets, Joe Wieciek, Director of Technical Operations at Outrider, shares his practical strategies to ensure your robotic fleet delivers consistent value to customers. He will discuss how to navigate the complexities of cradle-to-grave deployment to effectively scale past the pilot phase. Attendees will learn:
- Why adopting a standardized, ‘cattle, not pets’ approach simplifies the logistics of your fleet and optimizes it for deployment
- Strategies for building mutually beneficial partnerships with your customers and being attentive to their unique needs
- How to leverage proactive monitoring to identify issues quickly, roll out solutions, and maximize value for you and your customer