Welcia Introduces Store Robot "Armo" at Five Locations in the Greater Tokyo Area
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
- Proof-of-Concept Trial Aims to Diversify Promotional Activities and Improve Store Operations -
MUSE Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yasutaka Kasagi; "MUSE") today announced that WELCIA YAKKYOKU CO., LTD. ("Welcia") will begin rolling out the store robot Armo at five stores in the Greater Tokyo Area in August. Welcia is one of Japan’s largest drugstore chains, offering prescription pharmacy services alongside over-the-counter medicines, health and beauty products, food, and everyday essentials.
The proof-of-concept will use Armo's Promotional Unit at all five stores to diversify sales promotion activities and its Scanning Unit at the Welcia Koto Hirano Store to capture sales-floor data and identify out-of-stock items, with the aim of improving operational efficiency.
■ Armo in Action
See how Armo is used in Welcia stores for in-store promotions with the Promotional Unit and shelf monitoring with the Scanning Unit.
Watch the video:
■ Background: Diversifying Sales Promotions and Improving Operational Efficiency
Welcia has pursued a range of measures to make store operations more efficient and improve customer service. As its stores carry a broad assortment of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, health foods, and other products, the company has also been exploring new ways to communicate product information to customers beyond conventional methods.
Since October 2024, Welcia and MUSE have been testing Armo in stores. Armo was used for transport tasks at the Welcia Sagamihara Minamihashimoto Store. The Scanning Unit was subsequently deployed at the Welcia Koto Hirano Store to identify out-of-stock items, together with the Promotional Unit for sales promotion.
In this latest phase, the Promotional Unit will be introduced at four additional stores alongside the Welcia Koto Hirano Store, where Armo is already in operation. A six-month proof-of-concept will be conducted across all five stores.
■ Deployment Details
Promotional Unit (operating at all five stores)
Armo's onboard digital signage delivers product information, campaign messaging, and seasonal promotional content directly on the sales floor, helping increase product awareness and drive sales.
Scanning Unit (continuing operations at the Welcia Koto Hirano Store)
Using onboard cameras, the unit automatically checks shelves for out-of-stock items as it navigates the store. By supporting a task previously performed by store staff, it streamlines sales-floor management and reduces sales opportunities lost to out-of-stocks.
It also helps maintain a sales-floor environment where customers can purchase the products they need when they need them, supporting improved customer satisfaction.
■ Proof-of-Concept Period
August 2026 to January 2027
■ Comment
Yasutaka Kasagi, President & CEO, MUSE Inc.
"We see this initiative as a first step not only toward store digital transformation through robotics, but also toward evolving stores into new platforms for sales promotion and information delivery. While the retail media market is expanding rapidly worldwide, Japan still has relatively few new media channels that can naturally communicate the value of brands and products to shoppers at the point of sale.
By autonomously navigating stores, Armo not only creates new touchpoints with customers; it also combines promotional data with sales-floor data to enable more effective in-store marketing. Going forward, we will work with CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies to co-create new promotional solutions that support new product launches and strengthen brand value."
■ Deployment Locations
Store: Welcia Higashikurume Takiyama Store Address: 1-8-20 Takiyama, Higashikurume, Tokyo | Store: Welcia Ota Kamiikedai Store Address: 4-21-7 Kamiikedai, Ota-ku, Tokyo |
Store: Welcia Machida Aihara Store Address: 3336-1 Aiharamachi, Machida, Tokyo | Store: Welcia AEON TOWN Makuhari Nishi Store Address: AEON TOWN Makuhari Nishi 1F, 4-2-12 Makuhari Nishi, Mihama-ku, Chiba |
Store: Welcia Koto Hirano Store Address: 3-7-19 Hirano, Koto-ku, Tokyo |
■ For CPG Companies and Advertising Agencies
MUSE is seeking CPG companies and advertising agencies interested in participating in proof-of-concept projects using Armo for in-store promotions and product campaigns.
The initiative is open to a wide range of product categories, including food and beverages, household goods, cosmetics, and healthcare products.
Collaborative projects supporting new product launches, brand-building initiatives, and in-store promotional campaigns will be launched on a rolling basis.
Interested companies are encouraged to contact us using the information below.
■ About MUSE
MUSE Inc. was founded with the mission of "Inspiring people around the world through robotics." We focus on the people who use robots, aiming to inspire the innate human qualities of creativity, insight, kindness, and communication. We strive to create products that offer additional value, beyond merely reducing labor or cutting costs, which has traditionally been the primary purpose of robot implementation.
【Company Overview】
Company Name: MUSE Inc.
Headquarters: MC Hatchobori Building, 2-11-7 Hatchobori,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0032, Japan
Founder/CEO: Yasutaka Kasagi
Business: Development and sales of robots for retail stores
Foundation: April 2022
Website: https://www.muse-gr.com/en
Product video: https://youtu.be/PffXiMDTzl0
