iRobot, known for its Roomba robot vacuum, has recently filed for bankruptcy, handing control of the business to its Chinese manufacturing partner, Picea Robotics. The Roomba has been a significant player in the household robotics market since its introduction in 2002, but the company has struggled to maintain its position amid increasing competition and changing market dynamics.
Despite early excitement about robot vacuums and their initial success, iRobot’s market share has dwindled from a peak of 88 percent to around 30 percent by 2022. A variety of factors contributed to its decline, including a failure to innovate rapidly and increased competition from brands such as Roborock and Ecovacs, which offered more advanced features at competitive prices.
Former CEO Colin Angle asserted that governmental regulations—particularly the blocking of Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot—played a critical role in the company’s downfall. He argued that the loss of this partnership defined a shift in the market and limited the company’s growth potential. Others believe that iRobot relied too heavily on its established patent portfolio rather than on new innovations to stay relevant.
In 2018, iRobot launched the Roomba i7, a high-end product featuring advanced navigation and cleaning capabilities that helped the brand maintain some popularity. However, increased manufacturing costs and supply chain issues due to tariffs further diminished its competitiveness. The company’s newly-released vacuum models were designed to address criticism but failed to regain consumer confidence or support.
As iRobot navigates through bankruptcy proceedings, questions arise regarding its future and implications for the consumer robotics market. Many are left to wonder how a once pioneering company in consumer robotics could succumb so dramatically.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/844964/how-irobot-invented-the-roomba-and-lost-the-future-of-home-robotics