What we learn on site — failure patterns, service-life numbers, integration notes and the things nobody puts in a datasheet.
After the FCC robot entry: what a quadruped model can still do in the US, what Canada is useful for, IP ratings and winter operation, shipping large batteries, three repair levels, data and OTA questions, and a costed pilot example.
For robot makers · Robot armsBefore a robot arm runs at a North American site: certification marks part by part, field evaluation when there is no mark, risk assessment to ISO 10218:2025 / CSA Z434:26 / R15.06-2025, a pre-shipment document pack and an acceptance checklist.
For robot makers · Repair and RMAWhen a robot really has to go back to the factory in China, what the round trip costs, the export and re-import rules (EEI, 19 CFR 10.8, Section 301 on repair value, CBSA D8-2-10, China inbound repair), damaged batteries, and a pre-shipment checklist.
For robot makers · Service partnersBefore outsourcing field service: the 13-item training kit, L1/L2/L3 diagnostic software access, per-technician certification with seeded-fault tests, field report fields, and how to define time to site, first-time fix rate and MTTR.
For robot makers · IT securityEnterprise, hospital and hotel IT teams treat a robot as an unattended IoT device with cameras. The 9 questions they ask (802.1X, VLAN, allow-list, proxy, remote access, data location, patches and SBOM, vulnerability disclosure, questionnaires), the document pack to send, and who does what on site.
For robot makers · After-sales complianceConsumer law covers home robots, not B2B; since 2024 third parties may bypass software locks to repair but not sell unlocking; camera footage and logs sent home fall under PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25; Quebec needs French labels, manuals, software and contracts. 10-item checklist.
For robot makers · CertificationThe two mandatory gates for selling a robot in Canada (provincial electrical approval and ISED radio certification), IC labels and modules, ICES-003, where UL 3300 fits, demo units without a mark, and how it differs from the FCC and the US.
For robot makers · United StatesDriving and border crossings from Vancouver to Seattle and Portland, what the USMCA after-sales and B-1 repair rules allow, parts at the border, US rates with examples and when a US-based provider fits better.
For robot makers · RepairThe six lines on a robot repair bill, how hourly on-site repair, return to factory and hiring your own engineer compare, worked examples at current rates, duty rules for repaired robots and six ways to cut repair cost.
For robot makers · Market entryUS vs Canada in one table (market size, FCC status for new models, ISED, electrical safety marks, duties, time zones, logistics), five questions that decide the first market, whether Canada can be your North American reference site, labour cost by country and common mistakes.
For robot makers · DeploymentOn-site hour estimates by robot type (cleaning, delivery, multi-floor with elevators, warehouse AMR, robot arm, humanoid), calendar time vs on-site hours, a budget template, three worked examples and ten questions to ask before accepting a quote.
For robot makers · InsuranceCGL with products-completed operations, what a certificate of insurance (COI) does and doesn't prove, additional insured and waiver wording, whether a Chinese export policy is accepted, typical limits, and cover by stage from demo to scale sales.
For robot makers · Service partner networkFour public models (national service provider, certified integrators, dealer networks, maker-run depots), authorization levels, technician certification, parts and diagnostic access, warranty labour rates, KPIs, co-branding and a 90-day setup plan.
Guide · Start hereThe whole route in 8 stages: US or Canada first under the FCC Covered List, FCC/UL/CSA/ISED certification, demo units, on-site deployment, after-sales SLA and RMA, spare parts, hire vs outsource, choosing a field service partner. Links every field note on this site.
Guide · Canada industry mapRobot makers, integrators, distributors, research labs and industry groups by city and type, who was acquired or renamed, and how a robot maker entering Canada can work with them. Sources on every line.
For robot makers · After-sales SLAA robot service SLA is five clocks, not one number: acknowledgement, remote diagnosis, on-site arrival, restore and permanent fix. P1–P4 severity, local time and province/state holidays, uptime math, three spare-parts tiers, service credits and a back-to-back SLA with your field partner.
Cleaning robots · VancouverWhere commercial cleaning robots and autonomous floor scrubbers can be serviced in Metro Vancouver: warranty channel vs local field service vs ship-back, wet-season and building issues, parts to keep on a local shelf, what to send before a visit and example costs.
For robot makers · Pre-sales demosA T-14 to T+2 countdown for on-site robot demos in the US and Canada: where the demo unit lives, a 10-question site questionnaire, four ways to staff the demo, the 15-hour time-zone rule, a three-level fallback plan and the after-demo pack.
Delivery robots · Field failuresA part-by-part troubleshooting table for delivery and serving robots: wheels, sensors, e-stops, docks, batteries, trays, Wi‑Fi, elevators, maps and OTA. What can be fixed on site, when to escalate, venue pitfalls and cost examples.
For robot makers · Warranty & RMAWarranty terms between OEM, dealer, service partner and end customer: parts vs labour, warranty labour rates, no-fault-found, advance replacement, DOA, exclusions, claim evidence, customs on warranty parts and damaged batteries.
For robot makers · DeploymentWhat a robot maker should confirm before shipping its first robot to a US or Canadian customer: contract and acceptance, CSA/UL 3300, ISED/FCC, importer of record and batteries, insurance, spares, support across time zones and a 30-day plan.
Guide · Canada providersOEM service (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa), BC integrators, service-robot providers and distributors, grouped by type with sources, plus a neutral decision table. Written by KeepRobots, which is on the list.
Deployment · Site readinessWhat a building must have ready before a service robot is commissioned: network and IT approval, elevator and door interfaces, floors and thresholds, 120 V charging, mapping window, training on every shift, acceptance criteria, with owners, lead times and example costs.
For robot makers · Service strategyIn-house field technician vs hourly field service partner: cost comparison, break-even by robots per metro area, a staged plan for 0–10, 10–50 and 50+ robots, and the hybrid model.
Fleet operations · MaintenanceDaily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual checklists for cleaning robots and delivery robots, intervals from public manufacturer manuals, who does what, and what a quarterly service visit costs.
For robot makers · ComplianceWhat ANSI/CAN/UL 3300 covers (and excludes), how it fits with UL 3100, UL 1740 and CSA C22.2 No. 336, CSA/cUL marks in Canada, OSHA NRTL listing in the US, and when buyers ask for it.
Industry report · 2026English summary: robot deployment trends in the US and Canada, how robot makers from China enter North America, five field-service models and costs, FCC and tariff rules, and ten recommendations. Every figure sourced.
For robot makers · Spare partsNon-Resident Importer or local importer, CARM, HS codes and 2026 duty rates for robot parts, 5% GST, bonded warehouses, ownership and insurance, replenishment times, what to stock and lithium battery rules.
For robot makers · Choosing a partnerCoverage and SLA wording, technician training, parts consignment, reporting, insurance and WorkSafeBC, data/IP, pricing models, co-branding, red flags, a weighted scoring table and first-call questions.
For robot makers · RepairRemote diagnosis, local hourly field engineers, module-level replacement or a full RMA: repair times, cost lines, customs on returns and what the FCC Covered List means for US units.
Guide · North AmericaIn-house team, distributor, nationwide field service network or regional specialist: who each fits, coverage, response, cost ranges, a 10-point provider checklist and real price examples.
For robot makers · CostBLS and Job Bank wage data for the closest occupations, the fully loaded cost of one field engineer, and the real cost per on-site hour compared with hourly outsourcing.
For robot makers · ComplianceSince July 28, 2026 new foreign-produced AMR, humanoid and quadruped robot models can't get FCC authorization. What's covered, what still works, and how Canada differs.
For robot makersRemote support fixes most faults, not all. What North American buyers expect, three ways to cover local service, what each costs, and a 30-day setup checklist.
Wear & service lifeDrive wheels fail slowly and quietly. Here is what wears them out, the service-life range we plan around, and the four signs it is time to change them.
IntegrationThree technical paths to make a robot ride an elevator, what a licensed elevator contractor has to do, and where Technical Safety BC fits in.
Fleet operationsA concrete quarterly spares list for commercial scrubbers and vacuums, split into consumables, wear parts and core components, with the reasoning behind each quantity.
