#Japan #Tokyo #AI Agent #SmartMat Cloud #MARUWA SHOMEI

Innovating Inventory Management with AI

In a remarkable achievement, Esumat Inc. has shared a case study demonstrating how its innovative IoT inventory management service, SmartMat Cloud, has effectively reduced inventory costs for the company MARUWA SHOMEI by around 3 million yen (about 15%) over a period of six months. The successful implementation of this AI-driven optimization agent has not only streamlined stock levels but also maintained a zero-stockout record while decreasing reliance on manual processes.

Background of the Implementation

MARUWA SHOMEI, a subsidiary of the MARUWA Group, specializes in the development and manufacturing of LED lighting solutions for public infrastructure. With a strong commitment to leveraging advanced ceramic technology, the company has been at the forefront of integrating high-output LED lighting into various public projects, achieving notable milestones such as being the first in the industry to bring LED road lighting to market.

However, managing hundreds of inventory items in their Toki factory posed significant challenges. Inventory counts were labor-intensive, leading to inefficiencies and discrepancies in stock accuracy. The risk of stockouts not only disrupted production schedules but also resulted in overtime work and emergency requests to suppliers. Given the fixed budgets and non-negotiable timelines associated with public projects, even minor delays could lead to substantial complications and threaten the integrity of the company's operations.

To address these challenges, MARUWA SHOMEI sought to automate its inventory management and ordering process through the integration of SmartMat Cloud. The company has deployed 661 smart mats, enabling automatic stock measurement and ordering, thus enhancing operational efficiency dramatically.

About the Inventory Optimization AI Agent

The Inventory Optimization AI Agent is a newly integrated feature within the SmartMat Cloud service, launched in November 2025 following a successful beta phase. This cutting-edge technology utilizes IoT weight sensors to analyze stock usage trends and temporal patterns, allowing the AI to automatically detect stockout risks and opportunities for inventory reduction. By continuously providing timely preemptive suggestions to the workforce, the agent supports the optimization of stock levels effectively.

More details on this innovative solution can be found in the Press Release.

Key Achievements After Implementation

The use of the Inventory Optimization AI Agent has resulted in impressive outcomes:

• - An inventory cost reduction of approximately 3 million yen (15%) over six months concerning around 200 stock items.
• - The operational management effort has been reduced by 50-60%, decluttering and optimizing shelf space.
• - Continuous maintenance of zero stockouts and zero delays in delivery, ensuring client satisfaction and trust.

Client Testimonials

Tetsuhiro Morioka, COO of MARUWA SHOMEI, shared:
“The SmartMat Cloud will significantly contribute to addressing the challenges posed by the declining workforce. In our rural company, avoiding manpower shortages is critical as securing young digital talent becomes increasingly competitive. The SmartMat Cloud has provided us with a dependable ‘non-reliance on human systems’. Since implementation, we have achieved zero delays in deliveries, safeguarding the foundation of our business trust.”

Yuichiro Yasui, Manufacturing Manager of MARUWA SHOMEI, noted:
“Our past reliance on ‘this should be enough’ estimations for stock levels often led to stockouts or overstock situations. The desire to optimize inventory was present, yet we struggled to initiate concrete improvements given the complexity of multiple items. Since starting to utilize the Inventory Optimization AI Agent, we receive actionable AI-driven proposals based on historical data, enabling data-backed decision-making. This shift has allowed us to prevent stockouts and stabilize inventory fluctuations effectively.”

Overview of SmartMat Cloud

SmartMat Cloud serves as a cutting-edge DX solution (SaaS) that visualizes real-time inventory through IoT technology, automating inventory management and facilitating process improvement. By automating intricate stock counting and providing real-time inventory visibility, this solution meets the demands of various industries, including manufacturing and healthcare, successfully adopted by more than 1,200 clients since its launch in 2018.

For further information, you can visit SmartMat Cloud.

About Esumat Inc.

Founded in November 2014, Esumat Inc. (formerly Smart Shopping) is dedicated to revolutionizing the flow of goods through IoT-enabled inventory management and DX solutions. They are focused on automating stock management for businesses across various sectors.

Location: 2-9-5 South Wing Higashi Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Representatives: Takayuki Shiga and Hidetoshi Hayashi
Company Website: Esumat Inc.