New Technology Allows Christmas Shoppers to Accept In-Car Deliveries

With Christmas less than a month away, a new technology is set to help make online shopping easier by allowing customers to accept deliveries into their car remotely.

The Volvo designed technology will be introduced in Sweden this Christmas and other countries including New Zealand by 2018.  

Volvo in-car delivery works by means of a digital key, which is used to gain one-time access to the vehicle. Owners simply order their goods online, issue a digital key to the retailer and once delivery is made, the car is secured and the key expires.

Shoppers will also receive an automatic notification to their phone of successful delivery and be able to confirm remotely that the vehicle is again locked.

Volvo NZ general manager Steve Kenchington says globally companies are objecting to the large volume of parcels being delivered to their premises with busy mailrooms unable to keep up with staff’s shopping habits.

He says while employees are eager to use a work address to ensure safe delivery, businesses are starting to struggle with the burden and he expects some large companies to start refusing to accept personal deliveries.

“In the UK, there are reports of personal e-commerce deliveries accounting for as much as half all parcel traffic, and as much as 80% during the Christmas peak period,” says Kenchington. “The trend has apparently been causing havoc in company mailrooms, since every package has to be processed.”

“The problem has become so bad that dedicated ‘parcel receiving’ companies have been established, allowing the delivery of online purchases 24-hours, seven days a week, to terminals at supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores for people to collect them.

Kenchington says with figures showing almost 2 million Kiwis shop online, purchasing more than 18 million items each year - it’s inevitable the same situation will unfold here.

“Around 60% of people who purchase something online have problems with the delivery. For those customers not home during the day, the car will become a convenient place to accept deliveries.

“This new technology will not only ease the pressure on mailrooms and make online shopping more convenient for consumers, but could provide a welcome boost for online retailers who may see an increase in custom from shoppers now able to receive goods during the day,” he says.