Amazon Investing Delivering Packages to Your Car’s Trunk Using GPS Tracking
8 May 2015Amazon is on your iPad, your laptop, and now hopes to get into your car trunk. Using GPS tracking technology, the retail giant is testing delivery direct to the trunk of purchaser’s cars in Munich in May 2015. They have teamed up with DHL, the delivery service, and Audi carmakers.
The test run is in response to frustrations from customers who have complained about missed package deliveries. When this happens, they either have to wait for redelivery when they are home, arrange for a neighbor to accept it, or trek to the post office.
How It Works
Drivers for DHL will have the technology to track where your car is, as well as keyless access to the trunk. This access is strictly for the trunk, not other parts of the car, and is on a one-time basis.
Right now it only works with Audi cars that have Vorpsrung durch Technik under their hood and keyless entry. The German phrase means Progress through Technology, a buzzword for the company.
Shoppers, who need to have Amazon Prime, give the driver a general idea where the car is parked and a window of time for delivery that works best. They formally agree to have their vehicles tracked with GPS during that period.
The driver uses a smartphone app to locate the car. He uses the keyless access, available for just the one delivery, and puts the product in the car trunk.
Who Is Eligible?
Right now, you must be an Amazon Prime member who lives in Munich, Germany, drives a late-model Audi, and is willing to be tracked. Only a few of the shoppers who offered to be guinea pigs are actually part of the pilot program.
Audi says it is not worried about insurance claims, feeling that the entire system is highly secure. The driver can only access the trunk, not the main part of the car.
Value for Shoppers
Many shoppers get their deliveries at work because they are worried about leaving parcels at the door if they aren’t home. But many offices have started banning the practice due to too many deliveries cluttering up reception desks. This leaves many shoppers trying to figure out how to pick up their packages.
Amazon has great hopes for the car trunk delivery. But for people who are unwilling to give a stranger access to their car, even if it is just the trunk, there is another option. Amazon has lockers at various locations in the U.S. where the company routinely delivers packages. They are securely held until the owner shows up with proper identification.
Are you a delivery service or company that delivers products to customers? If so, call 1.888.502.3636 LiveView GPS today at to learn about how GPS tracking can help your business thrive.
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