published : 23 Apr 2021 at 15:07 SPONSORED CONTENT 2 With physical distancing and lockdown measures in place across most countries around the world, companies are scrambling to find the means of ensuring business continuity while minimising the amount of contact between their workers. To achieve this, they are increasingly turning to robots and automation to perform many of the roles that their employees cannot do while working from home. Global surge amid shifting trends In its World Robotics Report 2020, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reported a 12% YoY (year-on-year) increase in the number of industrial robots operating in factories around the world in 2019. The 2.7 million units in operation worldwide was the highest number ever recorded. Commenting on the findings of the report, Mr. Milton Guerry, the IFR President, stated that: “The remaining months of 2020 will be shaped by adaption to the ‘new normal’. Robot suppliers will be forced to adjust to the demand for new applications and developing solutions.” Taking a closer look at specific regions, Asia remains the strongest market for industrial robots. In 2019, the annual installations of industrial robots in Asia accounted for about two-thirds of the global supply. China led the ranks, registering almost 140,500 new robots, followed by Japan and the United States with 49,900 and 33,300 units, respectively. South Korea, Taipei, and India are also major Asian markets for robots. The three economies ranked in the top 10 largest markets globally in 2019 with the number of robots installed standing at 27,900 units, 6,400 units, and 4,300 units, respectively.