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You�re always in, even when you�re out...with Ahome4it's Neighbour In a Box |
| Written by Andy Holding | |
| Wednesday, 07 February 2007 | |
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Ahome4it has launched an unattended delivery service that enables home delivery to a garage, porch, shed, conservatory or delivery box even when there is nobody at home. The service comes at a time when internet shopping continues to set new records in its performance - £7.5bn was spent shopping online in the 10 weeks prior to Christmas 2006, a 50% increase on the previous year. At the same time, the number of deliveries that were not made first time rose to 24 million or 12% (source IMRG). Huge advances have been made in the ordering and logistics supply chain, but the problem of the “last mile” to the house still exists. Often, consumers are given a date and are expected to take time off work to wait in for the delivery or collection. Alternatively, delivery companies have to run a complex schedule for their delivery fleets resulting in costly and inefficient journeys. Ahome4it’s service relies on an intelligent battery powered Keybox called the NIB, together with the managed release of a time limited access code to the delivery driver at the point of delivery. Home shoppers place the NIB near to their front door and place a key for their storage location in it when a delivery is expected. They also provide Ahome4it’s delivery database with details of an imminent order, so that the release of a key can be matched to an expected delivery – a must, if security and traceability is to be maintained.Ahome4it managed delivery or DIY with SMSThe shopper can choose to let Ahome4it manage the key release or they can choose to do it themselves using mobile phone texting to get a NIB access code. The choice is made by displaying either the “Call Ahome4it” or “Call me” card for the delivery driver to see. Once in possession of the key, the delivery driver can leave the goods in a place that is both secure and protected from the weather until the shopper returns home. The process works equally well for collections too.Environmental credentialsWhilst providing the delivery companies and retailers with a tool to improve their service to the final customer, this unattended delivery solution can also significantly reduce the number of journeys made and miles driven in the urban environment. More deliveries made first time means fewer repeat trips by the delivery companies or trips to collection depots by the shoppers. It also enables the drivers to map a more efficient route around their planned drops because it removes the need to hit tight time windows. For retailers publicly expressing their green credentials, improving first time delivery success rate is critical. The NIB itself is battery powered and needs no connection to telecommunications. Each one carries its own unique software identity and needs a valid access code to open it. Access codes will operate it for approximately 1 hour from time of issue. After that time period, the code becomes useless. The NIB is easy to install and because the owner chooses the location for the delivery, there is no limit to the size of goods that can be managed with the system. No more…..Sorry, but you were out when we calledAndy Holding, Ahome4it’s Managing Director was understandably enthusiastic about this system, “It’s an opportunity to add some intelligence to the final leg of a product’s journey. The NIB is a simple and cost effective way to reduce the number of those infuriating “Sorry, but you were out when we called….” cards that we all fear. All parties benefit from the system; the retailers provide a better home shopping experience, the delivery companies can operate more efficiently and the home shopper doesn’t have to worry about being in.” “If retailers are really serious about minimising the environmental impact of their operations, then systems such as this, which directly reduce journeys and miles driven, have to be adopted.” |
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