In-house delivery with new Amazon Key service
As you can see from my wrap-up two weeks ago, Amazon is continuously expanding its delivery services. After some speculation, Amazon have finally introduced a delivery service this week, that gives Amazon couriers access to your home through a digital key, so they can safely place the package inside. This new service and app will be available on 8th November. To be able to use this in-home delivery service, a smart lock and camera is needed and Amazon is selling these items as a bundle with free installation. After the system is set up, this delivery service can be used for over 10 million items at no additional cost.
For in-home delivery to work, couriers scan the barcode on the package which sends a request to Amazon’s Cloud to check everything is correct. The camera then starts recording and the courier can unlock the front door with one swipe on the app. The package is then dropped off without actually entering the home. Afterwards, the door is locked with another swipe on the app. Customers will receive notifications from the app throughout the delivery process and a short video of the delivery or alternatively they can watch a live stream of it. For the meantime, the Amazon Key service is only available in 37 American cities and only handled by the company’s own delivery team.
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UPS to roll out a trial delivery bike service on Canadian streets
On Monday, UPS announced the launch of their trial project in Toronto, Canada. The project involves deploying cargo bikes to deliver packages around the city. Similar projects are already up and running in European cities, such as Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rome and Vienna. But this is a first for UPS in Canada. The bike delivery service will be tested around York University and the nearby area, partly due to its close proximity to UPS’ main distribution hub.
The project is part of a sustainability strategy and as a result it would reduce greenhouse emissions and congestion. If the trial is a success, this delivery service would be deployed in more areas in Toronto and possibly include other Canadian cities. However, no date has yet been given for the start of the trial. Moreover, the length of the project is undetermined but will continue until adverse weather conditions make it difficult to do so, taking the riders comfort and safety into consideration. The bikes can carry up to 50 packages and have the appropriate safety features including headlights, tail lights, turn signals, side markers and hazard lights, as the bikes won’t be permitted to operate in the bike lanes due to their size.
To find out more about this delivery service, click here.
Daimler beats Tesla to the post with the unveiling of new electric truck
On Wednesday, Daimler revealed the prototype of its new electric powered heavy-duty truck, named the E-Fuso Vision One. This announcement indicates a rising rivalry between both car manufacturers as Tesla planned to unveil its trucks in a couple of weeks. This prototype is part of Daimler’s Fuso brand and supports their plans to include electric and hybrid options across its range of trucks and buses. Moreover, the truck highlights the brands position as the leader in electric trucking and the company’s commitment to make every vehicle in the product range electric.
The E-Fuso Vision One can transport 11 tons of cargo over a distance of 220 miles before it needs to be recharged. The load capacity is 2 tons less in comparison to a diesel model, due to extra weight of the battery packs used to power the vehicle. Therefore, the truck would be perfect for shorter trips between cities instead of transporting goods cross-country. In approximately four years, these trucks could be available on the market in Europe, Japan and the U.S.
To read more about this electric heavy-duty truck, click here.
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