Ground

GROUND Inc., established in April 2015 by CEO Hiratomo Miyata and a team of seasoned professionals, is a logistics technology firm aiming to address the escalating challenges within the Japanese logistics industry, such as labor shortages and the surge in e-commerce demands. Miyata, drawing from his extensive experience as the former general manager of Rakuten's logistics division where he spearheaded the 'Rakuten Super Logistics' project, identified a critical need for advanced technological solutions in the sector. This insight led to the creation of GROUND, with the mission to empower logistics operations through what the company terms 'Intelligent Logistics®'.

The company operates in the logistics and supply chain market, providing solutions to e-commerce businesses, logistics facility operators, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Its business model centers on the development and provision of logistics technology solutions, including both software and hardware, often through partnerships. Revenue is generated from the sale and implementation of these systems. GROUND's core offering is the 'DyAS' (Dynamic Allocation System), an AI-powered software that analyzes order data in real-time to optimize warehouse operations, including inventory allocation, picking routes, and staff assignments. This system aims to significantly improve productivity and reduce the reliance on manual labor.

To complement its software, GROUND provides autonomous mobile robots (AMR) through an exclusive distribution agreement with Butler, a product of the Indian robotics company GreyOrange. These robots work in conjunction with DyAS to automate the movement of goods within a warehouse, bringing shelves to workers and thereby minimizing manual travel and search times. This integrated system of AI software and robotics forms a comprehensive solution designed to enhance the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of logistics centers. The company has achieved notable milestones, including raising significant funding rounds, such as a 1 billion yen Series A in 2017 and a 1.7 billion yen Series C in 2020, to fuel its research, development, and market expansion.

Keywords: logistics technology, supply chain optimization, autonomous mobile robots, warehouse automation, e-commerce logistics, artificial intelligence, logistics software, robotics, inventory management, order fulfillment