Prateek Jain, Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer, Addverb.

How has the adoption of robots and cobots evolved in the manufacturing sector over the past decade?

The manufacturing industry has seen a significant change in the way automation is viewed and implemented during the last ten years. In the past, industrial robots were mostly employed in the automotive industry to perform repetitive tasks in controlled settings. These robots were only practical for large businesses due to their high capital and infrastructure requirements, as well as the fact that they were frequently housed behind safety cages. But the automation landscape has changed with the emergence of Industry 4.0 and, more recently, Industry 5.0. Wider use of robots and collaborative robots (cobots) has been made possible by labour- intensive operations, smart factories, and the need for production agility. Instead of replacing human workers, cobots have become a solution to assist them. They are ideal for both large-scale businesses and SMEs because they are safer, more adaptable and require less infrastructure and floor space.

The growing use of AI enabled, and vision integrated collaborative robots at Addverb is indicative of this change. Our cobots are made to collaborate with people in dynamic production settings, helping with tasks such as material handling, packaging, and quality control. Contextual intelligence gives Addverb’s robots the ability to adjust to shifting workflows without requiring complete reprogramming

From early adopters in warehousing to now developing intelligent, human-aware robotic systems for clients worldwide, Addverb's journey exemplifies this evolution.

Which industries or manufacturing processes are seeing the most significant adoption of robotic automation?

Industries with high production volumes, strict quality requirements, and complex operations are seeing a sharp increase in the use of robotic automation. Sectors such as warehousing and logistics, electronics, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods are leading this adoption curve.

By incorporating pallet and carton shuttles, mother-child Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems, and pick-to-lights, streamlining material movement in factories and warehouses, Addverb is assisting companies in the warehousing industry in moving from manual to intelligent automation. These technologies optimise warehouse processes, reducing manual labor and minimising errors. This not only streamlines supply chain management but also significantly cuts costs.

Pharmaceutical companies have long taken advantage of computer-automated machines to perform repetitive tasks that require immense precision and control. It’s possible, however, to achieve higher efficiency and lower error rates (while maintaining workplace sterility in areas like research and testing, as well as marking and packing) with cobot integration

The structural changes in India's economy amplify these trends even more. For example, large-format warehouses have emerged as a result of the post-GST consolidation of the warehousing industry. To handle higher inventory loads and quicker turnaround times, these warehouses need scalable and intelligent automation.

What are the key factors driving the increased use of collaborative robots (cobots) over traditional industrial robots?

The increased adoption of cobots is driven by several interlinked factors such as flexibility, small factory layouts, human-machine collaboration, and ease of integration. Unlike conventional industrial robots that need safety cages and preprogrammed programs, cobots are built to work alongside human workers. Our cobots are designed to improve responsiveness and modularity, enabling manufacturers to adjust to shorter production cycles, dynamic workflows and product customisation. They have vision systems, force limiting sensors, and AI integration built in to enable safe, smooth communication with human operators. Addverb’s cobots are developed to operate in decentralised environments. They can be moved between processes and are not restricted to a single task or station, which makes them perfect for sectors with frequent product changes such as electronics, FMCG, and pharmaceuticals.

Since cobots provide automation without requiring significant infrastructure changes or capital, they are particularly advantageous to SMEs in India, which account for a sizable share of the country's manufacturing economy. By providing scalable, reasonably priced, and flexible solutions, Addverb is significantly contributing to the democratisation of access to cobot technologies.

How do AI, machine learning, and vision systems enhance the capabilities of robots in manufacturing?

AI, machine learning are the technologies which allow robots to sense, interpret, decide and act- moving beyond predefined, static functions. They enhance performance across inspection, sorting, navigation, and predictive maintenance. At Addverb, we create embodied AI systems, which are robots that use computer vision and machine learning algorithms to continuously learn from their surroundings. Our autonomous mobile robots, for example, can navigate intricate warehouse environments without the need for predetermined routes thanks to real time vision systems. Our software incorporates machine learning models that analyse operational parameters such as heat signatures, and movement patterns to enable predictive maintenance.

To facilitate full-stack automation, our intelligent systems also interface with Fleet Management Systems, Warehouse Management Systems, and Warehouse Executive Systems. These platforms enable Addverb’s robots to minimise idle time, optimise task allocation dynamically and guarantee high resource utilisation. Addverb’s 5G enabled robots for Reliance Industries serve as an example of how edge computing and artificial intelligence have become crucial to machine level decision making by lowering latency, enhancing autonomy, and facilitating almost instantaneous reactions.

Are there concerns about job displacement, and how can companies address workforce transition challenges?

While concerns around job displacement are valid, automation is fundamentally changing the nature of work rather than replacing it outright. Robots often take over monotonous, physically demanding, or hazardous tasks—freeing workers to move into roles requiring supervision, problem-solving, and technical judgement.

While concerns around job displacement are valid, automation is fundamentally changing the nature of work rather than completely replacing it. Robots often take over monotonous and physically demanding tasks, releasing talent to move into roles which require problem solving, technical knowledge and supervision skills.

We at Addverb, believe that the future of automation is inclusive. We make significant investments in AI powered learning platforms that support reskilling and upskilling across functions. Additionally, our internal programmes also focus on preparing operators to work with collaborative robots, autonomous systems, and analytics platforms. We reduce adoption resistance by emphasising operator engagement during deployment and designing intuitive interfaces.

Furthermore, Addverb sees automation as a productivity enabler, not a workforce replacement strategy. For example, our deployment in FMCG warehouses has improved order fulfilment speed by over 3x, while increasing job quality by shifting workers from manual picking to system supervision and quality checks.

By 2025, automation is predicted by the World Economic Forum to generate more jobs than it eliminates worldwide. In order to prepare the workforce for a future of AI-augmented manufacturing, the Indian government is pushing for upskilling through programs like Skill India and the National Skill Development Mission.

Where do you see the biggest innovations in robotics for manufacturing in the next 5–10 years?

Humanoid robotics, multi-agent robot coordination, embedded artificial intelligence, and energy-efficient automation will all see significant advancements over the course of the next ten years. Our first humanoid robot with dual-arm functionality, bipedal locomotion, and natural language processing (NLP) skills is presently being constructed at Addverb. This robot is being developed for industries where human-like mobility and interaction are essential, such as healthcare and logistics.

Multi-robot orchestration is another key area of innovation. Soon, Addverb's robots will be able to share loads, adapt to demand, and reroute in real time by using our Fleet Management System (FMS). Even in environments with a lot of infrastructure, these fleets can function with low latency and high reliability thanks to edge AI and 5G.

Additionally, we are investing in technologies that will enable our robots to become more interactive, adaptive, and able to perform progressively complex tasks, such as digital twins, vision-language interfaces, and modular control platforms. We guarantee complete visibility and efficiency throughout factory and warehouse ecosystems through our integration of IoT, AI, and cloud-based analytics.

Factory operations are predicted to change globally as a result of the convergence of AI, 5G, cloud robotics, and cyber-physical systems. In order to stay at the forefront of creating scalable, intelligent, and human-aware robotic ecosystems for the upcoming manufacturing era, Addverb's innovation pipeline is in line with these trends.

(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented)

Prateek Jain, Co-Founder & COO at Addverb Technologies, is an expert in manufacturing technology, operations and product development. As Co-founder & COO, he is responsible for all of Addverb's Supply Chain Operations and Product Development. Prateek has an extensive portfolio of manufacturing projects under his belt and his vast knowledge of integrating automation in operations will continue to extend Addverb's reach to a global level.