Delivering to your front door is so 2016. Amazon is now looking into ways to deliver securely inside your home, CNBC reported Tuesday.
The Seattle-based company is looking to develop in-home delivery via a smartphone-operated lock that permits delivery personnel one-time access to drop off the parcels, CNBC said, citing anonymous company sources.
Of course, if that weirds you out too much, there’s always your car’s trunk.
Amazon is working with a company called Phrame, which makes license-plate frames for automobiles that contained a locked compartment to store car keys. Unlocked by a smartphone code, Phrame lockboxes could prove a suitable solution for delivery straight to a customer’s vehicle, CNBC said.
CNBC reported that Amazon is still working out the details, but the Phrame-enabled delivery service may be offered free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
In September, Amazon rival Walmart announced its test of a store-to-fridge delivery program in Silicon Valley, whereby subscribers could have grocery items delivered to their homes.
Besides the convenience factor, innovative delivery techniques are being pursued by e-commerce giants due to the persistent problem of theft of unattended parcels.
“Unattended delivery is the least desirable of last-mile fulfillment options as it leaves the package exposed to all kinds of risk,” said analyst Natalie Berg of Planet Retail RNG, reported CNBC. “It’s not just the financial cost but also the impact that a failed delivery can have on brand reputation and customer loyalty. Nothing makes shoppers more irate than missing a delivery.”
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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