Integration & Deployment

The stages of a deployment

Most deployments follow a similar arc. A site assessment maps the task, the space, the people and the systems involved. A design stage defines the robot's workflow, safety measures and integration points. Installation and commissioning bring the robot on site and configure it. A supervised trial tests performance against agreed targets, and only then does the robot move into routine operation. Each stage needs an owner and a clear exit criterion. Skipping the assessment or the trial to save time tends to cost more time later, when problems surface in live operation.

Integration questions to settle early

Decide how the robot will receive work and report results. In warehouses and factories that often means connecting to a warehouse management system, manufacturing execution system or line controller. Agree network, security and data requirements with your IT team, including how updates are delivered. For collaborative robots, plan tooling such as grippers and fixtures, and how the cell will be laid out around people. For humanoids, check which tasks are supported today and how new ones are taught. Ask whether the maker, an integrator or your own team is responsible for each piece of work.

Common causes of delay

Delays often come from the edges of a project rather than the robot itself. Network coverage proves patchy in the working area. Floors, doors or lighting differ from the plan. Integration with existing software takes longer than expected. Safety sign-off arrives late because the right people were not involved early. Staff are unavailable for training when the robot arrives. A simple plan that lists each dependency with its owner and date, reviewed every week, helps catch these issues before they hold up go-live.

Sources and further reading

• ISO 10218-2:2025 Robotics: Safety requirements, Part 2: Industrial robot applications and robot cells — International Organization for Standardization.
  Safety requirements for integrating industrial robots into cells, from design and commissioning to upkeep.
• ISO 13849-1:2023 Safety-related parts of control systems: General principles for design — International Organization for Standardization.
  Design principles for the safety-related parts of machine controls, central to safety sign-off.
• ISO 21423: Building Global Consensus for Mobile Robot Interoperability — Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
  A3 explainer on ISO 21423 for mobile robot interoperability and how it relates to VDA 5050.

Common questions

Who integrates a robot into our systems?

It varies. Some makers handle integration, some work through integration partners, and some expect your team to do it. Agree responsibility for each step before you buy.

What is a cobot cell?

A workstation built around a collaborative robot, including its tooling, fixtures and safety measures, designed so people can work nearby.