Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Robot Type (Cartesian, SCARA, Articulated, Delta, 6-Axis Robot, Redundant, Dual Arm and Parallel), By Component (Motor, Generators, Motor Controls, Automation Equipment and Power Transmission Equipment), By Organization Size (Small & Medium Enterprise and Large Enterprise), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.83 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	22.36%
Fastest Growing Segment	Automation Equipment
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 19.57 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market will grow from USD 5.83 Billion in 2025 to USD 19.57 Billion by 2031 at a 22.36% CAGR. Robotic Process Automation for smartphone manufacturing involves the deployment of intelligent software bots and automated systems to execute repetitive, rule-based tasks ranging from supply chain data management to assembly line coordination. The market is primarily driven by the imperative to minimize operational costs and the necessity for superior precision to accommodate shrinking device form factors. Furthermore, manufacturers are accelerating the adoption of these technologies to enhance production agility and mitigate external economic pressures. According to the IPC, in 2025, 31% of electronics manufacturers invested in automation or optimization strategies to counter the impact of rising trade tariffs.

One significant challenge hindering the broader expansion of this market is the substantial capital expenditure required to integrate modern automation tools with legacy manufacturing infrastructure. Many producers face difficulties in synchronizing advanced robotic software with older enterprise resource planning systems, creating a barrier to entry that delays full implementation and prolongs the return on investment period.

Key Market Drivers

The integration of Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory technologies is fundamentally reshaping the Global Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market by necessitating the deployment of intelligent, interconnected systems. As smartphone designs become increasingly intricate, manufacturers are transitioning from isolated automation islands to fully synchronized smart platforms where RPA bots manage data flow between engineering, supply chain, and production units. This strategic pivot toward high-tech infrastructure is evident in the investment patterns of major industry players; according to Tech in Asia, August 2025, in the 'Foxconn to invest $1b in US for AI, robotics' report, the company approved a $1 billion investment specifically to focus on smart manufacturing, robotics, and advanced automation. Such massive capital allocation underscores the industry's commitment to creating self-optimizing production environments that leverage RPA for real-time decision-making and defect reduction.

Concurrently, the push for faster time-to-market and supply chain agility is driving RPA adoption as a critical tool for mitigating external economic pressures and trade volatility. Manufacturers are utilizing automation to rapidly reconfigure assembly lines and adjust logistics in response to shifting global policies, ensuring that production schedules remain uninterrupted. The urgency of this flexibility is highlighted by the sector's operational landscape; according to the National Association of Manufacturers, March 2025, in the '2025 First Quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey', trade uncertainties were cited by 76.2% of manufacturers as a primary challenge, necessitating adaptable production systems. To address these localized manufacturing needs and enhance responsiveness, companies are localizing advanced facilities. For instance, according to Area Development, December 2025, in the 'Taiwan-Based Foxconn Technology Locates First U.S. Manufacturing Plant In Louisville, Kentucky' article, Foxconn Technology Co. confirmed a capital injection of more than $173 million to construct a facility that integrates AI and robotics into all production phases.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial capital expenditure required to synchronize modern robotic process automation with legacy infrastructure poses a severe impediment to market expansion. Smartphone manufacturers often operate on established enterprise resource planning frameworks that are fundamentally incompatible with newer automated software, necessitating costly and complex integration phases. This financial burden extends beyond the initial acquisition of robotic units to include significant investments in system retrofitting, specialized technical personnel, and prolonged downtime during the deployment phase. Consequently, the high barrier to entry disproportionately affects smaller and mid-sized manufacturing entities, forcing them to defer modernization initiatives to preserve liquidity despite the long-term efficiency gains.

This hesitation to commit to large-scale automation investments has resulted in measurable contractions within the wider electronics sector. According to the Association for Advancing Automation, in early 2025, robot orders from the semiconductor and electronics industries declined by 37% annually. This sharp downturn illustrates the direct impact of these financial and technical hurdles, as producers scale back or delay automation projects when faced with the complexities of retrofitting aging production lines. Until the cost of interoperability is addressed, this capital-intensive integration process will continue to create volatility and delay the widespread adoption of robotic processes across the smartphone manufacturing market.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is advancing beyond basic automation to include generative models that enhance quality control and operational resilience within smartphone production lines. Manufacturers are increasingly deploying these technologies to identify subtle defects and optimize workflows in ways that static, rule-based bots cannot, effectively closing the gap between standard robotic process automation and adaptive intelligence. This shift toward self-correcting systems is quantifiable; according to Rockwell Automation, June 2025, in the '2025 State of Smart Manufacturing Report', 95% of manufacturers have invested in or plan to invest in AI and machine learning technologies over the next five years, with quality control ranking as the top use case. This surge reflects a critical move toward production environments that autonomously minimize waste and maximize yield rates for complex mobile components.

The Focus on Sustainable and Green Manufacturing Practices is compelling vendors to utilize automation for rigorous environmental compliance and energy management. Robotic process automation is becoming essential for monitoring carbon footprints in real-time and orchestrating the circular economy, such as the precise disassembly and recycling of valuable materials from discarded devices. This commitment to eco-friendly operations is evident in the strategies of leading OEMs; according to Samsung Electronics, June 2025, in the '2025 Sustainability Report', the company's Device eXperience Division, which oversees smartphone production, achieved a 93.4% renewable energy transition rate across its global manufacturing sites by the end of 2024. Such initiatives highlight how automation is being leveraged not just for speed, but to meet aggressive carbon neutrality targets in high-volume electronics production.

Segmental Insights

The Automation Equipment segment represents the fastest-growing area within the Global Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market. This trajectory is fueled by the escalating requirement for exact precision when handling delicate components like processors and sensors, which significantly reduces error rates compared to manual assembly methods. Organizations are increasingly acquiring these automated units to streamline production lines and offset the volatility of labor availability in major manufacturing hubs. Consequently, the strategic push for consistent product quality and higher throughput rates establishes physical machinery as the central element of capital expenditure for smartphone manufacturers worldwide.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the largest share of the robotic process automation for smartphone manufacturing market, driven by the extensive concentration of electronics production hubs in China, Japan, South Korea, and India. This dominance is attributed to the presence of major original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers seeking to optimize high-volume assembly lines. Rising labor costs in these territories have accelerated the adoption of automation software to maintain cost competitiveness. Additionally, regional government initiatives supporting smart manufacturing infrastructure further facilitate the integration of automated solutions into legacy production systems.

Recent Developments

• In September 2024, ABB Robotics released a joint research study conducted with Porsche Consulting that analyzed the impact of automation in the electronics manufacturing industry. The research highlighted that advanced robotic machining solutions could increase productivity by up to 33 percent while significantly reducing waste and operating costs compared to traditional methods. The study emphasized the potential for high-precision robots to replace manual processes in surface finishing and assembly, providing a strategic roadmap for electronics manufacturers to improve sustainability and operational resilience.
• In June 2024, Foxconn Technology Group announced a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to build advanced digital twins of its manufacturing facilities using the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. This partnership focused on integrating industrial digitalization technologies to simulate and optimize factory layouts and robotic workflows before physical deployment. By leveraging AI-driven simulation, the company aimed to enhance the efficiency of its global smartphone and electronics assembly lines, enabling rapid replication of production standards and reducing the time and cost associated with setting up new manufacturing operations.
• In May 2024, Universal Robots showcased its latest AI-powered collaborative robot capabilities at the Automate trade show, specifically highlighting applications for the electronics and manufacturing sectors. The company demonstrated the "UR30" cobot, which was engineered for high-torque tasks such as screw tightening and machine tending, alongside new AI-based perception tools that enabled robots to handle unstructured environments without complex programming. This development aimed to address labor shortages and precision requirements in electronics assembly by allowing cobots to dynamically adjust to variable parts and production layouts.
• In February 2024, Xiaomi Corporation inaugurated its new "smart factory" located in the Changping district of Beijing, designed to specialize in the production of flagship smartphones. The facility was reported to utilize a highly automated production system known as the "Xiaomi Hyper IMP" (Intelligent Manufacturing Platform), which autonomously diagnoses equipment issues and optimizes process flows. According to the company, this plant automated 100 percent of key manufacturing processes and was projected to produce approximately 10 million units annually, serving as a critical hub for the company's intelligent manufacturing capabilities.

Key Market Players

• ABB Ltd.
• Fanuc Corporation
• KUKA AG
• Yaskawa Electric Corporation
• Universal Robots A/S
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
• Seiko Epson Corporation
• Comau S.p.A.
• Denso Wave Inc.
• Nice Ltd.

By Robot Type	By Component	By Organization Size	By Region
Cartesian SCARA Articulated Delta 6-Axis Robot Redundant Dual Arm and Parallel	Motor Generators Motor Controls Automation Equipment and Power Transmission Equipment	Small & Medium Enterprise and Large Enterprise	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market, By Robot Type:

• Cartesian
• SCARA
• Articulated
• Delta
• 6-Axis Robot
• Redundant
• Dual Arm and Parallel

• Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market, By Component:

• Motor
• Generators
• Motor Controls
• Automation Equipment and Power Transmission Equipment

• Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market, By Organization Size:

• Small & Medium Enterprise and Large Enterprise

• Robotic Process Automation for Smartphone Manufacturing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE