Why Cartken pivoted its focus from last-mile delivery to industrial robots

Cartken, a startup renowned for its autonomous delivery robots, is making a significant pivot from its original focus on delivering food to catering to the industrial sector. Co-founder and CEO Christian Bersch revealed that the idea of utilizing their delivery robots in industrial environments had always been on their radar. As inquiries from companies regarding the use of their robots in factories and laboratories began to pour in, Cartken decided to explore this new market. "What we discovered was a substantial demand for robots in industrial applications," Bersch stated, emphasizing the direct benefits that companies could achieve through optimized material and production flows. In a notable development for 2023, Cartken secured its first major industrial client, the German manufacturing firm ZF Lifetec. Initially utilizing Cartken's existing delivery robot, the Cartken Courier, which can transport loads up to 44 pounds, ZF Lifetec quickly saw the advantages of the technology. Bersch noted, "Our food delivery robot began relocating production samples, becoming our most active robot in the process. This experience highlighted the genuine market needs and real-world use cases we could address, prompting us to focus more intently on this sector." While Cartken was simultaneously pursuing partnerships for their food delivery services with companies like Uber Eats and GrubHub, the early success with ZF Lifetec encouraged the team to rethink their business model. Transitioning the robots from food delivery to industrial applications was relatively seamless, according to Bersch. The AI technology driving these robots has been developed using years of data from food deliveries, and the robots are engineered to navigate various terrains and weather, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments. The data collected during their food delivery operations in bustling locations like Tokyo has equipped the robots to adeptly avoid obstacles. To align with its new focus, Cartken has begun expanding its fleet, launching the Cartken Hauler, a larger version of the Cartken Courier capable of carrying up to 660 pounds. Additionally, the company has introduced the Cartken Runner, tailored for indoor deliveries, and is actively developing a robotic forklift. Bersch shared, "We have a navigational system that can be adjusted for different robot sizes. The AI and machine learning advancements we’ve made apply directly across our robot lineup." Cartken is also strengthening its collaboration with Mitsubishi, which has been a crucial partner since the company sought the necessary certifications to operate their robots in Tokyo. Recently, Melco Mobility Solutions, a Mitsubishi subsidiary, announced plans to purchase nearly 100 Cartken Hauler robots for deployment in Japanese industrial settings. Bersch concluded by highlighting the growing interest from various industrial sectors, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. These industries typically require efficient movement of materials between buildings, whether manually or using smaller vehicles. While Cartken will maintain its food delivery operations, it will not be expanding this segment, focusing instead on testing new capabilities within their existing delivery routes.