Formic
Highlights
- Integration of the custom backend admin panel with 6+ services
- Development of the cross-platform application for end users
- REST API development and configuration
- Processing and visualization of the IoT-based data
- Custom live streaming system
- AR for previewing robot’s integration and functionality
Challenge
Formic was founded in 2020 to accelerate the accessibility and ease of automation across American manufacturing by delivering Robots-as-a-Service products to its clients. In 2024, the company hit 150,000 robot usage hours and raised $27.4 million in Series A financing led by Blackhorn Ventures.
Formic started its partnership with SoftTeco back in 2022. The client wanted to extend its in-house team with experienced backend developers to optimize the existing data collection and processing system. During our work, Formic also requested SoftTeco’s assistance with mobile app development, since we already had a solid understanding of the system and had all skills and expertise necessary to deliver the needed solution.
Solution
SoftTeco redesigned and optimized the existing data collection and processing system so it can support the growing volume of IoT-generated data. We also took part in migrating the system to the AWS cloud and assisted in the deployment of several AWS IoT services such as Greengrass, Sitewise, and IoT Core. As a result, the backend admin panel supports processing of vast and varied data formats and integrates with 6+ external services, including Salesforce and Datadog.
To facilitate the decision-making process for the clients, Formic uses an internal, offline-only AR application that displays how robots will integrate into one’s environment. The app runs on Unity with the Vuforia Engine library and our team was responsible for its configuration and administration, as well as for the management of animations and 3D models of robots.
SoftTeco also optimized the existing Android application for robot operators and developed a cross-platform application for end users. The application enables remote robot monitoring, tracking of robot usage and system health and live streaming of robots performing configured tasks.
Tech Stack
Backend
Django
Nginx
Pandas
Frontend
React
React Native
Redux
Databases
PostgreSQL
DynamoDB
MongoDB
Cloud Solutions
AWS
How It Works
Formic is a multifaceted solution that combines advanced hardware in the form of Robots-as-a-Service and powerful software to back up robotic automation. Formic clients can remotely observe the robots via an iOS or Android mobile app while operators use a specialized application to control the robots and monitor their performance. SoftTeco developed a cross-platform application for end users from scratch and configured autotests via browserstack to ensure its seamless performance.
Formic uses IoT sensors to collect the data from its robots, including the current robot status (online or offline), the volume of tasks that a specific robot has already completed, etc. To effectively collect and process this data, SoftTeco optimized the backend admin panel and used custom REST APIs to transfer the collected and processed data to the users’ app for effective display. As a result, the client has access to real-time status of robots in use and to the live streaming option that we also developed from scratch.
To help clients estimate how an RPA solution would look and operate in their environment, Formic uses an internal AR application. The app is available to employees only and displays not only how a robot will integrate in one’s facility, but also the way it operates. For that, the Vuforia Engine library was used and our team took part in its configuration. We also managed animations and 3D models of robots and its transfer to the app.
One more thing that SoftTeco did was shifting the client’s data and processes from Google Sheet to Salesforce and integrating the platform with Retool. This integration was especially important since part of the processes was handled in this service and Retool stored such critical data as Opportunities, Contacts, Quotes, and Projects. As a result of the integration, the data from Retool can be easily accessed and managed from Salesforce.
Need a high-performing solution to augment your business?
Let SoftTeco handle your tech challenges and design a software solution tailored precisely to your unique requirements.
Results
With over 5k+ robots deployed and a 99.8% uptime, Formic is one of the leading Robots–as-a-Service providers in the United States and SoftTeco is proud to be part of such an important project. The optimization of the backend system led to increased data processing efficiency, which improved remote monitoring and set the base for the mobile app development for end users. The app, in turn, allows users to track the robot’s performance, its workload, and history of expenses, while operators can remotely fine-tune the robot and ensure that it performs as expected. Our team continues working on the mobile application design and providing support for the implemented backend system and integrations.
