Persol X-Tech Completes Autonomous Delivery Robot Last-Mile Delivery Demonstration Experiment
Persol X-Tech has completed a demonstration experiment for last-mile delivery using autonomous delivery robots in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. The experiment involved delivering bento boxes from JA Koka, verifying regional acceptance and operational challenges. The initiative received positive feedback for addressing labor shortages and future essential goods delivery.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:26 (4h 54m after Collected)
Persol X-Tech Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinji Masaki; hereinafter "Persol X-Tech"), a technology solutions business within the Persol Group, which champions the vision of "Work and Smile," conducted a demonstration experiment in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. This experiment aimed at realizing a "new social infrastructure connecting people" through autonomous delivery robots. Beyond technical verification, this demonstration comprehensively assessed how such services could be accepted within local communities and what value they could generate.
■ Background and Objective
Persol X-Tech has entered into a business partnership agreement*1 with Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, JA Koka, and Tehara Sangyo Soko Co., Ltd., with the goal of socially implementing "last-mile delivery services utilizing autonomous delivery robots as new social infrastructure."
As part of this initiative, a demonstration experiment was conducted from January 13 to 30, 2026, where bento boxes manufactured by "Hatsuo," a subsidiary of JA Koka, were actually delivered by autonomous delivery robots.
On January 14, Mr. Hiroki Iwanaga, the Mayor of Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, received a bento delivered by an autonomous delivery robot and observed the demonstration.
Mayor Hiroki Iwanaga of Koka City receiving a bento delivered by an autonomous delivery robot (photographed on January 14, 2026)
*1 Press Release: [January 13-30] Demonstration Experiment for Bento Delivery by Autonomous Delivery Robots Conducted in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture
— Aiming to realize new social infrastructure that connects people — https://persol-xtech.co.jp/news/release/20260107-014407.html
■ Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
(1) Main demonstration content: Delivery and container collection of bento boxes by autonomous delivery robots.
Regular delivery of bento boxes by autonomous delivery robots was carried out to confirm regional social acceptance and operational challenges. User feedback was collected to verify whether the service could provide the same level of service as existing delivery methods.
(2) Demonstration Period
January 13 (Tue) - 30 (Fri), 2026, weekdays 8:30 - 16:30
■ Results and Evaluation of the Demonstration Experiment
*2 Robot delivery was suspended for one day due to heavy snowfall during the demonstration period.
During the aforementioned demonstration period, regular bento deliveries were made along a 2.5km route with JA Koka as the delivery hub. Although there was one day when travel was impossible due to heavy snowfall, deliveries were completed as scheduled in the morning on all other days.
● Delivery locations: 7 locations
● Number of deliveries: 450 items
● Delivery rate: 100%
● Robot delivery rate: 94%*2
Users who actually received bentos via robot delivery provided positive feedback, such as "This is an advanced initiative and I feel it will help address labor shortages" and "Delivery times were stable, so I could use it with peace of mind."
Furthermore, future expectations included needs for essential goods like "I hope it can handle urgent items like medicines and heavy items like kerosene," and practical expectations for robot delivery such as "It would be very convenient if robots could handle deliveries requiring identity verification without face-to-face interaction."
Moving forward, Persol X-Tech will continue to discuss with Koka City, JA Koka, and Tehara Sangyo Soko Co., Ltd. the development of services equipped with "new value that only robots can provide," aiming for the social implementation of robot delivery and the resolution of regional issues through public-private partnerships.
Additionally, in this demonstration, a remote control center was established in Koka City to monitor robot operation and manage its movements. This technology will be applied to create new employment opportunities in rural areas and foster an environment where diverse talent can participate regardless of their residential area or physical/living conditions.
Remote control center constantly monitors the movement of autonomous delivery robots. If automatic avoidance is difficult, operators switch to remote control. Future considerations include responses to unexpected incidents.
■ Comment from Mayor Hiroki Iwanaga of Koka City
Koka City has formulated the "Koka City ICT Promotion Vision" with the aim of promoting initiatives for "realizing a digital society where everyone can feel 'happiness' in their daily lives, leaving no one behind."
I believe this demonstration experiment was truly a catalyst for improving citizens' convenience. Autonomous delivery robots delivering goods directly to their hands, as seen in this experiment—this will surely expand the possibilities for citizens' lives and work styles while maintaining their current lifestyles. We have high expectations for its role in supporting sustainable urban development.
With robots playing an active role.
■ Background and Objective
Persol X-Tech has entered into a business partnership agreement*1 with Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, JA Koka, and Tehara Sangyo Soko Co., Ltd., with the goal of socially implementing "last-mile delivery services utilizing autonomous delivery robots as new social infrastructure."
As part of this initiative, a demonstration experiment was conducted from January 13 to 30, 2026, where bento boxes manufactured by "Hatsuo," a subsidiary of JA Koka, were actually delivered by autonomous delivery robots.
On January 14, Mr. Hiroki Iwanaga, the Mayor of Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, received a bento delivered by an autonomous delivery robot and observed the demonstration.
Mayor Hiroki Iwanaga of Koka City receiving a bento delivered by an autonomous delivery robot (photographed on January 14, 2026)
*1 Press Release: [January 13-30] Demonstration Experiment for Bento Delivery by Autonomous Delivery Robots Conducted in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture
— Aiming to realize new social infrastructure that connects people — https://persol-xtech.co.jp/news/release/20260107-014407.html
■ Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
(1) Main demonstration content: Delivery and container collection of bento boxes by autonomous delivery robots.
Regular delivery of bento boxes by autonomous delivery robots was carried out to confirm regional social acceptance and operational challenges. User feedback was collected to verify whether the service could provide the same level of service as existing delivery methods.
(2) Demonstration Period
January 13 (Tue) - 30 (Fri), 2026, weekdays 8:30 - 16:30
■ Results and Evaluation of the Demonstration Experiment
*2 Robot delivery was suspended for one day due to heavy snowfall during the demonstration period.
During the aforementioned demonstration period, regular bento deliveries were made along a 2.5km route with JA Koka as the delivery hub. Although there was one day when travel was impossible due to heavy snowfall, deliveries were completed as scheduled in the morning on all other days.
● Delivery locations: 7 locations
● Number of deliveries: 450 items
● Delivery rate: 100%
● Robot delivery rate: 94%*2
Users who actually received bentos via robot delivery provided positive feedback, such as "This is an advanced initiative and I feel it will help address labor shortages" and "Delivery times were stable, so I could use it with peace of mind."
Furthermore, future expectations included needs for essential goods like "I hope it can handle urgent items like medicines and heavy items like kerosene," and practical expectations for robot delivery such as "It would be very convenient if robots could handle deliveries requiring identity verification without face-to-face interaction."
Moving forward, Persol X-Tech will continue to discuss with Koka City, JA Koka, and Tehara Sangyo Soko Co., Ltd. the development of services equipped with "new value that only robots can provide," aiming for the social implementation of robot delivery and the resolution of regional issues through public-private partnerships.
Additionally, in this demonstration, a remote control center was established in Koka City to monitor robot operation and manage its movements. This technology will be applied to create new employment opportunities in rural areas and foster an environment where diverse talent can participate regardless of their residential area or physical/living conditions.
Remote control center constantly monitors the movement of autonomous delivery robots. If automatic avoidance is difficult, operators switch to remote control. Future considerations include responses to unexpected incidents.
■ Comment from Mayor Hiroki Iwanaga of Koka City
Koka City has formulated the "Koka City ICT Promotion Vision" with the aim of promoting initiatives for "realizing a digital society where everyone can feel 'happiness' in their daily lives, leaving no one behind."
I believe this demonstration experiment was truly a catalyst for improving citizens' convenience. Autonomous delivery robots delivering goods directly to their hands, as seen in this experiment—this will surely expand the possibilities for citizens' lives and work styles while maintaining their current lifestyles. We have high expectations for its role in supporting sustainable urban development.
With robots playing an active role.