Risk guide · Last reviewed 18 August 2026

Hospital Robot Downtime and Contingency Planning

Define detection, task recovery, payload security, manual fallback and support escalation before a robot fleet goes live.

Who this is for

hospital operations, laboratory, pharmacy, nursing, facilities, IT and procurement teams

01 · Planning question

Classify route, robot and integration failures

Define detection, task recovery, payload security, manual fallback and support escalation before a robot fleet goes live. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.

Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.

02 · Planning question

Keep payload custody visible during exceptions

Define detection, task recovery, payload security, manual fallback and support escalation before a robot fleet goes live. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.

Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.

03 · Planning question

Define manual courier fallback

Define detection, task recovery, payload security, manual fallback and support escalation before a robot fleet goes live. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.

Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.

04 · Planning question

Measure response and recovery time

Define detection, task recovery, payload security, manual fallback and support escalation before a robot fleet goes live. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.

Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.

Common failure pattern

A feature list is not an operating plan.

Projects become fragile when routes, users, exceptions, integrations and ownership are postponed until after purchase.

Use the pilot to answer a defined investment decision with agreed evidence—not simply to demonstrate that a robot can move.

Frequently asked questions

What should happen to an active task after a fault?

The system and procedure should identify the payload, secure it, notify an owner and route the task to recovery or manual completion.

Is remote support enough?

No. Sites need trained local actions for immediate safety, payload and workflow recovery.

What should we send for an initial assessment?

Provide the use case, users, environment, payload, route or workspace, systems to integrate, expected quantity, destination market and target timing. Sensitive details can follow under appropriate confidentiality terms.

What should appear in the quotation?

The quotation should identify configuration, scope, interfaces, deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, acceptance approach, support and commercial terms.

Related decision guides

Plan with evidence, not assumptions.

01 · Workflow definition02 · Acceptance criteria03 · Integration and supportSee how projects are evaluated →

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