Daily: China’s Food Delivery Robots Are Accelerating Their Move Overseas

Reference News Network reported on February 9. According to a report by Nihon Keizai Shimbun on February 8, with the strong rebound in demand after the epidemic, Shanghai Qinglang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese food delivery robot manufacturer, is vigorously exploring overseas markets. In 2022, the company will open three branches in Europe and the United States. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the proportion of overseas shipments will expand from the current approximately 30% to 50%. Other companies in the same industry are also competing with Qinglang on price and quality of "customer service." Against the background of manpower shortage, the popularity of catering service robots is expected to accelerate.

In a restaurant in Shanghai, a mobile device that is only as tall as the chest of an ordinary waiter is flexibly shuttled between the tables, with a moving speed of up to one meter per second. This is Qinglangshuang who is busy serving dishes. Meal robot.

Qinglang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2010. According to statistics from the International Data Corporation (IDC) of the United States, Qinglang Intelligence has occupied approximately 49% of China's catering service robot market in 2021, ranking first. Looking at the world, it can also rank among the first echelons.

According to reports, as of December 2022, there are approximately 35,000 Qinglang robots in working condition, and nearly 10,000 units in overseas markets such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia.

In order to accelerate the expansion of overseas markets, Qinglang Intelligent established local legal persons in the United States, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands in 2022. Together with the branches in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong established in 2021, Qinglang already has branches in many countries and regions outside China. branches. An important reason for turning our attention to overseas markets is the vast space for development.

Forecasts from the China Institute of Electronics and other institutions show that in addition to retail, the market size of service robots for medical, education and other industries will reach US$25 billion in 2023, 15% higher than the forecast value in 2022.

The sensors installed on the Qinglang food delivery robot can sensitively detect obstacles and can carry up to 40 kilograms at a time, helping customers cut costs by reducing the number of people employed. The new robot adapted to the hotel can independently choose to take the next elevator during busy hours based on the number of passengers in the box-type elevator. The robots that serve in hospitals require a higher level of security because they transport medicines, specimens, etc., and are also equipped with a card unlocking function.

The price of Qinglang robots is approximately US$10,000 to US$30,000 per unit, which is lower than the prices of products from Japanese, European and American competitors. Wan Bin, the company's chief operating officer, emphasized: "China has a complete manufacturing supply chain and can purchase parts and components at low prices. Mass production helps to reduce manufacturing costs."

Companies in the same industry are also launching offensives inside and outside China. The person in charge of the publicity department of Shenzhen Pudu Technology Co., Ltd. told reporters that the company's total number of robots sold at home and abroad has exceeded 56,000 units. From 2021 to 2022, in Japan alone, about 2,100 restaurants under the Skylark Catering Group have purchased 3,000 Purdue food delivery robots. The person in charge of a Japanese robotics industry consulting company said: "The appearance of the Pudu robot is very cute, the touch screen is designed to look like a cat's head, and it can carry out simple conversations. It sells well in Japan."