Construction Robots Now Available by Subscription in France

Construction companies can now access sophisticated robots without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront, thanks to a rental model that's transforming how the industry adopts new technology.

The system, called Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), works like a Netflix subscription for construction robots. Companies like Les Companions in France rent out their machines with full training, maintenance, and technical support included in the monthly fee.

The model solves a major problem for builders. Construction projects vary wildly in size and timing, making it risky to invest heavily in equipment that might sit idle between jobs. With RaaS, contractors can scale their robot fleet up during busy seasons and down during slow periods.

Antoine Rennuit, founder of Les Companions, pioneered the approach after watching it succeed in warehouse logistics. Amazon and other logistics giants have used rental robots for years to handle seasonal spikes like Black Friday without buying machines outright.

The construction version goes beyond simple equipment rental. The robotics company stays involved throughout the project, helping contractors bid on jobs, calculate cost savings, and manage the robots on active worksites. This hands-on support matters because most painters and electricians didn't train to operate advanced machinery.

New specialized leasing companies have emerged to finance these arrangements. They fund the robots so manufacturers can offer subscriptions, creating a financing ecosystem that didn't exist five years ago.

The Ripple Effect

The subscription model is opening construction work to smaller companies that could never afford robotic equipment. A mid-sized painting contractor can now access the same technology as major firms, competing on quality and speed rather than capital reserves.

The approach also accelerates innovation across the industry. Because the robotics companies retain ownership, they continuously update software and improve machines based on real-world data from job sites. Contractors automatically benefit from these improvements without additional investment.

For workers, the robots handle repetitive physical tasks like moving materials or painting large surfaces, while humans focus on skilled work that requires judgment and craftswork. The partnership between human expertise and robotic precision is producing higher-quality results on tighter timelines.

The financial flexibility matters most in an industry where cash flow depends on winning the next bid. Contractors can now propose competitive prices knowing they'll only pay for robots during the actual project months.

France is leading this shift, but the model is expanding across Europe as more construction companies discover they can innovate without gambling their business on expensive equipment purchases.