Industrial robotics reveals tale of 2 continents, says data engineer

The factory floors of Detroit and Johannesburg tell dramatically different stories about humanity's relationship with robotics, according to Patrick Okare, a data platform engineer whose career has spanned multiple continents, providing him with unique insights into how different regions approach industrial automation.

“When I was working on enterprise systems in the UK and later in Canada, I witnessed firsthand how robotic integration transforms not just manufacturing processes, but entire economic ecosystems,” says Okare, whose decade-long career has included managing data infrastructures that support complex industrial operations.

“But the conversation around robotics in Africa is fundamentally different from what I've observed in North America.”

Okare’s perspective is informed by his early career at Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency, where he contributed to digital transformation initiatives, and his subsequent work with major North American corporations processing billions of operational records.

This cross-continental experience has given him a nuanced view of how different regions approach industrial modernisation.

“In the United States, robotics adoption is often about optimization and competitive advantage,” he explains. “Companies implement robotic systems to reduce costs, increase precision, and maintain their edge in global markets. The infrastructure exists, the skilled workforce is available, and the capital investment capacity is substantial.”

The African context, Okare argues, presents both different challenges and unique opportunities. His experience implementing data systems that had to function within varying infrastructure constraints has taught him that successful technology adoption requires understanding local realities rather than simply transplanting solutions from developed markets.

“During my time working on government data platforms in Nigeria, I learned that the most elegant technical solution means nothing if it can't operate reliably within existing constraints,” he recalls.

“The same principle applies to industrial robotics. African manufacturers need solutions that work with intermittent power, limited technical support infrastructure, and different economic pressures.”

However, Okare pushes back against narratives that frame Africa as simply lagging behind in robotic adoption. His research reveals that African industrial robotics initiatives often demonstrate innovative approaches to overcoming resource constraints – approaches that could offer valuable lessons to developed economies as well.

“I've seen African manufacturers implement creative automation solutions that achieve remarkable efficiency improvements with a fraction of the capital investment required for full-scale robotic installations. There's something to be said for innovation born from necessity,” he notes.

Okare sees particular potential in what he calls ‘leapfrog robotics’ – the possibility for African manufacturers to skip intermediate automation phases and move directly to more advanced, flexible robotic systems.

His experience with cloud-native data architectures has shown him how emerging markets can sometimes adopt more modern approaches precisely because they aren't constrained by legacy systems.

“African manufacturers have an opportunity to implement robotics strategies designed for Industry 4.0 from the ground up, rather than retrofitting older industrial models. This could actually become a competitive advantage if approached strategically,” he argues.

The key challenge, according to Okare, isn't technological but educational and infrastructural. His work training technical teams and implementing complex systems has taught him that human capital development is often the determining factor in successful technology adoption.

“You can install the most advanced robotic systems in the world, but without skilled technicians who can maintain them, operators who can work alongside them, and engineers who can optimize them, you're just creating expensive monuments to good intentions,” he warns.

Okare believes the future of industrial robotics will be shaped not by which region adopts technology fastest, but by which approaches prove most sustainable and adaptable to local contexts.

“The question isn't whether African manufacturing will embrace robotics – it's how creatively they'll adapt robotic solutions to their unique advantages and constraints.”