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As part of its commitment to expanding its digital automation solutions and services, Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., announced its new strategic collaboration with SoftBank Robotics America (SBRA), a cobotics and automation company based in San Francisco, California. The alliance initiates a new focus on commercializing robotics and integrated automation as part of Canon Solutions America’s larger Workplace Health Solutions portfolio, starting with Whiz, the commercial robot vacuum that works to elevate the health and safety of varying work environments.

The Whiz offering brings together Canon Solutions America’s industry-leading solutions and exceptional professional services with SoftBank Robotics’ global leadership in collaborative robotics, or cobotics, and impactful automation. Building on Canon Solutions America’s existing Workplace Health Solutions portfolio, and expanding on its current automated solutions including welloStationX, Check-In Online, and Parcel Pending by Quadient, the Whiz solution works to meet the need for clean, safe workspaces for those planning to return to the office.

“Our alliance with Canon Solutions America speaks to the speed and scale of demand for robotics under the reinvention of what it means to share and trust indoor space,” says Brady Watkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, SoftBank Robotics America. “It’s a new era for the workplace, one where robotics, automation, and data are helping to safely welcome people back. As one of the largest distributors of workplace solutions, Canon Solutions America is uniquely positioned to integrate continuous, connected, clean technologies into existing ecosystems and enable a successful return to work.”

Whiz represents the evolution of the company’s commitment to offering innovative solutions in the workplace, introducing robotics into the Canon Solutions America customer technology environment. Whiz combines autonomous navigation technology with Whiz Connect cloud connectivity and integrated analytics for a smarter clean and healthier environment. Whiz is powered by BrainOS, a cloud-connected AI software platform for building, deploying, and supporting commercial autonomous robots at scale. Already serving commercial spaces spanning major office complexes, connected campuses, and leading healthcare systems, Whiz’s unobtrusive visibility, HEPA-equipped cleaning, and data-confirmed results are integral for the cleanliness priorities of the modern workplace.

“We are pleased to be partnering with a leading technology organization, SoftBank Robotics, to expand our existing Workplace Health Solutions portfolio, while offering our customers peace of mind that their office space will be frequently and efficiently cleaned and connected for near-time insights to help facilitate the return to the workplace,” says Peter P. Kowalczuk, President, Canon Solutions America. “We look forward to continuing to expand this portfolio by offering new, innovative technology and solutions in the robotics space to our customers.”