Amazon Working On Ways To Secure Final Delivery Of Packages
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Delivery to car trunks or one-time access to a home are among options under consideration.
As ecommerce heats up, and more and more packages are being delivered, the logistics of that final mile – and making sure that customers actually get their orders – is becoming more important. Amazon is now reportedly working on a couple of options that will help ensure the secure delivery of goods, even when the customer is not present.
According to CNBC, Amazon is in advanced talks to partner with Phrame, a company whose technology could allow packages to be delivered securely to the trunk of a car as an alternative to having the item sit on a porch or in a building foyer. Amazon and Phrame both declined to comment about the news to CNBC.
Phrame makes smart license plate frames that can contain a secure box to hold an extra set of car keys. That box can be unlocked via smartphone using a code that the car owner can share with a delivery driver, according to the report. Using GPS, delivery drivers would locate the customer’s vehicle, pop open the trunk, and deposit the Amazon package inside. The owner would receive real-time notifications when the trunk was opened and closed. Access would allow only verified delivery services access for a specified period of time.
Amazon is also reportedly working on a smart doorbell that could be used to allow a delivery person one-time access to a customer's home to place delivered packages inside the home.
Engadget reported that Amazon experimented with trunk deliveries in a pilot program back in 2015, following up on Volvo's trial the year before. And in September 206, reports surfaced that two companies connected to the shipping giant, smart lock maker August and garage door firm Garageio, were both exploring allowing delivery persons temporary entry into homes to drop off packages.
One impetus for the new options is the rise of “porch pirates,” who steal packages from doorsteps. Another is weather-related damage to packages that sit outside until the customer returns.
"Unattended delivery is the least desirable of last-mile fulfillment options as it leaves the package exposed to all kinds of risk," said Natalie Berg, an analyst at Planet Retail RNG. "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."