Rundigo, a contactless laundry service operated by the startup Living and Clothing Company, is rapidly improving its operations by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology across all processes. By replacing manual tasks with AI and robots, productivity has significantly increased, leading to improved financial performance.
According to industry sources, Rundigo is actively incorporating AI into its services. When customers place their laundry in collection bags, the QR code retrieves their registered information instantly through the application. A camera above the work table captures images of the laundry, allowing AI to automatically recognize items and compare them with the customer's order, including any specific requests. This system has reduced the laundry intake time by over 60%.
In January 2024, Rundigo developed the world's first one-touch laundry RFID technology, eliminating the need for laundry barcodes. During the registration and inspection stages, RFID tags automatically identify each customer's laundry, allowing for damage-free management and increased processing speed compared to the previous method of attaching customer information with staples.
The accumulated data also enhances competitiveness. Rundigo continuously collects and analyzes information on the brands, designs, materials, and washing histories of customers' clothing to understand individual laundry patterns and preferences.
Rundigo has also automated the bundling process for dry cleaning and regular laundry. Previously, dry cleaning items were hung for transport, while larger items like blankets required manual bundling, creating inefficiencies. After a 10-month pilot program at its smart factory in Gunpo, Rundigo commercialized its autonomous bundling robot system in October of last year.
The shirt washing line has been automated as well. Workers insert the shirt sleeves into a machine and press a button, completing the sleeve ironing in about 15 seconds. A separate device then presses the chest area to remove wrinkles. The Gunpo smart factory processes approximately 3,000 shirts daily, increasing production efficiency by over 20%.
Rundigo's B2B division, Rundigo Hotel and Business, has introduced the 'Towel Auto Stacker' at its smart factory in Paju. After workers place freshly laundered towels in the loading zone, the robot automatically unfolds and stacks them.
The equipment, developed by Technics based on the accumulated laundry processes and clothing and towel data from Living and Clothing Company, has increased productivity to over 800 towels per hour, approximately 2.5 times higher than before.
Operational efficiency through AI and automation has also led to improved financial results. In April, Living and Clothing Company achieved its first monthly operating profit since its establishment. Rundigo, its flagship service, recorded a 15% operating profit margin, supported by a subscription model and stable demand for regular laundry services.
The focus on profitability is yielding results. Living and Clothing Company reported annual sales of 63.5 billion won in 2025, with operating losses reduced by about 8.5 billion won compared to the previous year, marking a 40% improvement. From January to April this year, cumulative sales reached 22.5 billion won, a 10% increase from the same period last year, while operating losses decreased by 77%. As this trend continues, expectations for an annual profit turnaround are growing.
A representative from Living and Clothing Company stated, "We plan to enhance quality based on customer laundry data while integrating AI technology into our smart factory to improve operational efficiency. Through this, we aim to strengthen our competitiveness as a comprehensive laundry tech company and achieve annual operating profit this year."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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