Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd is using a Butler robotics system from GreyOrange and GROUND at its Ichikawa logistics centre. The system offers a total logistics solution that is shared and used for multiple shipping companies, automating the movement of material to increase efficiency and throughput.
The robotics systems will handle a range of items, reducing time for order fulfilment and cost per shipment, increasing productivity for each of the shared users. The Butler system is powered by GreyMatter™, a software platform from GreyOrange™ that uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to optimise complex operations. It integrates multiple automation systems to synchronise material flow to gain the highest efficiencies.
The shared users include airCloset, a subscription-based online fashion rental service for women; Tokyo Otaku Mode, a leading e-tailer for Japanese Pop Culture; and Waja, an ecommerce site operating three marketplaces - Worldrobe for imported brands, Reason Outlet and Fashion Charity Project.

Nalin Advani, CEO - APAC, GreyOrange said, "With 70% of the population shopping online, Japan is one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world. We are honoured to partner with Daiwa House Group and GROUND Inc to deploy the Butler system to accelerate order fulfilment and consolidation, and ensure consumers get their orders quickly.”
GROUND, the Japan exclusive distributor for the Butler goods-to-person robotics system from GreyOrange, formed a business alliance in mid-2017 to jointly develop with the Daiwa House Group a new generation of ‘Intelligent Logistics Center’ to significantly improve the productivity of logistics facilities.
Hiratomo Miyata, CEO of GROUND said, “The labour shortage in the logistics industry has become a critical issue. Automation of key processes for e-commerce fulfilment is a necessity for companies to maintain a competitive edge. We are pleased to be a part of such innovative initiatives with the Daiwa House Group. We look forward to working closely on supporting their clients and their businesses with the Butler system.”