In context
In late August 2025, retail automation was moving beyond warehouse back-ends into the customer-facing store environment. This installation at thansen's new store near Oslo marked a notable milestone: the largest self-service in-store AutoStore system to date, signaling a shift toward integrating automated fulfillment directly into the physical shopping experience.
What was reported
AutoStore, together with system integrator Element Logic, launched what they describe as the world's biggest self-service in-store AutoStore system at thansen's new store in Sofiemyr, outside Oslo. thansen, a large-scale retailer of car parts, bike components, and leisure products with annual sales exceeding $200 million, opened the store on August 22, 2025.
The solution combines AutoStore's cube storage technology with Element Logic's integration expertise. The system comprises 30,000 bins and 20 robots, enabling customers to place orders in-store and receive goods within minutes. This setup extends product availability beyond what a traditional store can stock while maintaining accurate handling and a smooth process.
According to thansen's Country Manager Norway, Hans-Andre Sørvik, the system allows the retailer to offer a much larger product range while making it faster and easier for customers to get their goods. Element Logic's managing director for Norway, Mats Bjerkaas, noted that the project demonstrates how automation can be shaped to meet new demands by bringing AutoStore into a store environment.
Why it mattered
This deployment illustrated how retailers can connect store operations with automated fulfillment in real time, expanding capacity and service levels without compromising the in-store experience. The system is designed for scalability, allowing thansen to adjust it as assortment and customer expectations evolve, offering a resilient store model for the future of omnichannel retail.
“For us, it is crucial to continuously improve the customer experience. With AutoStore in-store, we can offer a much larger product range while making it easier and faster for customers to get their goods.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-08-27 · “thansen launches ‘world’s biggest’ self-service in-store AutoStore”