Swisslog Healthcare teams up with Diligent to launch hospital delivery robots
Swisslog Healthcare has formed a strategic alliance with Diligent Robotics to bring autonomous delivery robots to hospitals in the United States. The partnership seeks to integrate Diligent Robotics' autonomous mobile manipulation robots with Swisslog Healthcare's automation solutions, aiming to improve logistics and operational workflows in healthcare settings.
Robot integration
The collaboration introduces Diligent Robotics' Moxi robot as a last-mile delivery solution within hospitals. These robots will transport a range of items, including those too large or sensitive for existing pneumatic tube systems. Current Swisslog Healthcare customers will be able to access these autonomous robots as part of an expanded logistics suite, enabling more flexible onsite delivery options.
Swisslog Healthcare plans to offer the robots as a turnkey solution to its network of hospitals and health systems, allowing for seamless integration with established transport automation systems. This expands the company's capabilities beyond its established pneumatic tube network, designed and installed by TransLogic.
Operational focus
The alliance is designed to address the growing demand for end-to-end logistics in hospitals. By combining Swisslog Healthcare's legacy in pharmacy and transport automation with Diligent Robotics' track record in delivery robotics, both organisations expect to help reduce staff workload and allow hospital employees to focus more on patient care.
"Our strategic alliance with Diligent Robotics adds a complementary pillar to our automation offerings and reinforces our vision to lead change for better care," said Cory Kwarta, President and CEO, Swisslog Healthcare. "Last mile delivery robots reinforce our commitment to innovative solutions and addresses our customers' evolving needs."
Market context
The partnership is aligned with Swisslog Healthcare's strategy to address the service robotics market, which is forecast to grow at an average rate of 15-18% annually in the next three to five years. The company aims to maintain its position in healthcare transport automation while meeting the developing requirements of hospitals for automation outside traditional tube systems.
Diligent Robotics reports that its Moxi robot has already completed over one million deliveries in more than 25 U.S. hospitals, including 300,000 pharmacy deliveries. Moxi is designed to navigate hospital corridors, deliver medicine and specimens, and interact safely with staff and other hospital systems.
Customer demand
The partnership responds to hospital and health system requests for reliable and efficient last-mile delivery solutions that work within their existing workflows. The robots will complement current systems, enabling the transport of items that hospitals prefer not to send through tubes, such as sensitive samples or larger equipment.
"For our customers who have been asking for reliable, efficient last-mile delivery robots that integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, this cooperative effort with Diligent Robotics allows us to connect them with a proven solution for smarter and safer deliveries that staff and patients trust," said Ray Castro, Director of Strategic Programmes for Transport Automation, Swisslog Healthcare.
Partnership expectations
With the adoption of autonomous robots, Swisslog Healthcare seeks to improve both delivery speed and traceability of goods within hospitals. Hospitals using Swisslog Healthcare solutions will be able to automate a broader set of logistical tasks, potentially improving operational efficiency in high-pressure medical environments.
"Together with Swisslog Healthcare, we're setting a new standard for healthcare logistics," said Dr. Andrea Thomaz, CEO and Co-Founder, Diligent Robotics. "Swisslog Healthcare's unmatched reach, combined with their deep trust and decades of experience in pharmacy automation, makes them the ideal partner to bring our autonomous delivery robots to health systems at scale."
