Hardware retailers stand to see significant gains from the automation of lawn care by selling robotic lawn mowers and support services. A recent report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. estimates that the global robot lawn mower market reached $1.7 Billion in 2024 and projects a total value of $4 Billion by 2030.
Robot mowers aren’t quite affordable enough for every budget, with most consumer models costing over $1,000, according to Autmow, a robotic lawn mower retailer. However, prices should fall as the market matures. Retailers can get an early foothold by marketing to homeowners, property managers and landscapers.
Convenient lawn care for homeowners
Robotic lawn mowers are great options for homeowners with limited mobility, busy parents and yard care aficionados looking for the perfect cut. While “robot” denotes automatic operation, temper your customers’ expectations with a crash course on how these mowers work.
The main difference between robot mowers and their traditional counterparts is that they require extra setup to work. Modern models, like the Mammotion Luba 2, use GPS navigation that’s easy to program with a companion mobile app. This allows customers to set boundaries, schedules and mowing patterns for perfectly manicured lawns. GPS tech also enables anti-theft protection for those worried about thieves walking off with an expensive mower.
Another perk of consumer robot mowers is that they run on batteries and can recharge in a docking station between mowing sessions. There’s no need to top off fuel tanks, and they’re much quieter than gas mowers.
Still, robot mowers have the same limitations as normal lawnmowers. For example, obstacles left on a lawn may cause the mower to skip spots. While most mowers can avoid obstacles, there’s always a chance that they’ll run over objects. Informing customers of these limitations can help manage their expectations.
Customers on a budget may be interested in cheaper models that use boundary wires instead of satellite navigation. This tech isn’t new, and the setup process involves burying boundary wires around the perimeter of a lawn to keep the mower from wandering off. Unfortunately, these wires are prone to damage and aren’t ideal for large properties. Consider offering a competitive installation service for customers disinterested in a strenuous DIY project.
Enhanced marketing and maintenance tools for property managers
Property managers see lawn care as a necessary business expense rather than an expression of individuality. While property managers share the same aesthetic goals as homeowners, the lawns on their properties also serve as an advertisement to potential residential or commercial tenants. Many smaller rental managers do lawn care themselves since they don’t have the luxury of hiring landscaping crews. This is a substantial time commitment that may affect their other maintenance responsibilities.
Although the initial cost of a robotic lawnmower may seem steep, retailers can highlight the long-term benefits for curious property managers. For example, a rental manager caring for multiple properties across a city may have only enough time for a weekly maintenance visit to each site. By delegating the lawn to a robot mower at the beginning of every visit, the property manager can focus on other tasks like repairing leaky faucets, controlling weeds and trimming shrubs.
Admittedly, property managers may not be as large of an addition to your customer base as homeowners. Still, you can seize the opportunity where possible to offer them expert repair services and customer support beyond what they’ll find on a faceless website.
An efficiency boost for landscaping companies
Retailers need not focus exclusively on mowers for suburban property owners—landscaping firms and groundskeeping departments are worth considering. Small and medium landscaping companies should see robot lawn mowers as an opportunity to improve work efficiency among existing crew members—a tool that helps work run smoothly—rather than a source of job cuts. For example, many landscaping companies have dedicated employees for mowing lawns and fields—a largely repetitive task that occupies the bulk of time on many worksites.
An advantage of robotic mowers is that they free up mower operators to assist with other tasks on a job site. Mower automation allowed some Yellowstone Landscape locations to take on additional clients and crew members.
While large landscaping companies may invest in a fleet of high-end commercial mowers from brands like Husqvarna, Kress, and Scythe, smaller businesses might consider testing the waters with consumer-grade models before jumping headlong into a major investment. Another benefit of selling robot lawn mowers to businesses is that you can provide services for ongoing maintenance or onsite service calls if equipment experiences issues.
While robot mowers are a fraction of the lawn and garden equipment market, they’re an opportunity for residential and commercial vendors to catch the attention of tech-minded customers.
See also: SwitchBot Launches K10+ Pro Combo 3-in-1Robo Vacuum
