Lünendonk Analyses the Use of Robots in Hospitals

19 per cent of hospitals already use service robots in building operations, while a further 38 per cent are testing their use in pilot projects or planning long-term implementation. The primary application for robots in hospitals remains the cleaning of large areas such as corridors and rooms. These findings come from the newly published study Hospital Barometer Facility Service by market research company Lünendonk.

Hospital budgets for facility services are increasing

The increasing use of robots is cited by 75 per cent of hospitals as the most important trend in facility services, alongside a growing focus on cost efficiency and budget control. According to the study, this development is driven by the increasing technological maturity of service robots, which can autonomously navigate between floors and dynamically avoid obstacles. In addition to cleaning large areas, hospitals are also considering robots for internal logistics, while applications in reception services, catering, and disinfection remain secondary.

Stefan Schubert, Consultant at Lünendonk & Hossenfelder, comments:
"The acceptance of robots in hospital building operations has increased significantly in recent years. Robots primarily take on standardised tasks or serve as a supplement, helping hospitals ensure long-term quality assurance. As the technology advances, the potential applications for robots will continue to grow."

According to the study, around two-thirds of hospitals increased their facility services budgets by an average of 4.7 per cent last year. Cleaning and laundry services are the main beneficiaries of this trend: over 70 per cent of hospitals plan to increase their budget for cleaning services in 2025,  43 per cent plan to increase their budget for laundry services, and 29 per cent plan to increase their catering budget.