189: Lowering Barriers to Entry in Adopting Robotics with Søren Peters, Founder and CEO of HowToRobot.com

The barrier to entry when it comes to robotics is breaking down fast. More and more companies and industries are realizing that robotics is a realistic solution to all sorts of problems. And companies like HowToRobot are paving the way forward.

In this episode, we sit down with Søren Peters, CEO and Founder of HowToRobot.com, a platform that provides information and advice on robot suppliers and industrial automation. We hear how Søren stepped away from the world of IT and found his feet in the world of robotics.

He shares his take on the evolution of robots, the challenges in adoption, the disconnect between suppliers and buyers, and more. We talk about why manufacturers tend to focus on automating complex tasks over easier, more immediately impactful ones.

We round off the episode with some fun talk about Danish expressions and favorite beer spots in the U.S. and Copenhagen in true Manufacturing Happy Hour style!

In this episode, find out:

• How companies can get started with robotics in manufacturing
• Why manufacturing companies have gone beyond the “why should we use robots stage?”
• A common mistake when using robots for the first time
• Why people get overwhelmed when purchasing robotics equipment
• Why custom solutions aren’t always the best option and how it can hurt your chances of getting financing
• How the industry can make robots more accessible
• The common challenges in financing robot equipment
• Why more people are seeing the value of what HowToRobot has to offer
• Why Søren made his career pivot from IT to robots
• Søren’s predictions on robotics in the next few years
• Danish phrases and beer talk!

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Tweetable Quotes:

• “I think a lot of people in the manufacturing world are past the “why robots,” if that makes sense. The “how,” on the other hand, I think it's a big one, you know, where do you get started?”
• “We see sadly often that they start by replicating a human. They think of it as an addition, or an add-on, or a replacement of that specific person's task, which is often a terrible place to start.”
• “The platform game is still too immature. You need to help the buyer much, much more and sometimes the seller. So, there’s an advisory management part to this that if we don't do that, these deals are just going to fall through.”

Links & mentions:

• HowToRobot.com, the go-to platform to find industrial automation, robotics suppliers, and expert advice on robots
• Mikkeller Brewing, a world-renowned Danish craft brewery
• Søernes Ølbar, Chris’ favorite beer bar in Copenhagen
• Cows on Ice and Owls in the Bog: The Weird and Wonderful World of Scandinavian Sayings, by Katarina Montnémery

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.