Spring 2009

ParcelPal, a new start-up company, has launched a highly innovative home delivery solution that connects your front door intercom to your mobile phone, and allows you to unlock a doorstep drop-box for the delivery driver by remote control, using only the keypad on your phone.

It is the brainchild of Steve Bungard and Simon Humphries, who have both technical and operational experience, and have therefore been well placed to follow through the engineering and practical aspects of the system.

In what is thought to be a first, the system combines various elements that have never been used together before by previous delivery solutions – notably remote access control and drop-boxes. It provides real-time intelligence that is absent from 'dumb' box systems, yet avoids any need for integration with retailers or carriers, or for special instructions to be included in the parcel's address details.

The delivery driver simply presses a front door bell-push in the normal way, and this triggers a call from the property's land line to the recipient's personal phone, which is likely to be at some other location. It will usually be a mobile number, but could also be any suitable direct fixed-line number anywhere in the world.

 

When the recipient answers, his or her voice is relayed via the land line to the door intercom. The driver will not necessarily be aware that a phone call is in progress, and may assume that the recipient is somewhere in the building.

The recipient then explains to the driver via the intercom what to do next. Entering a code on the remote phone unlocks the drop-box for the delivery, and the driver is instructed to insert the package and close the door afterwards. If necessary, he can be asked to swipe a barcode inside the box. The whole transaction is conducted in real time.

In the initial design, the bespoke intercom system (which replaces a normal bell push or intercom) is connected by wire to the house's fixed-line phone, which is used to contact the recipient. Later, a wireless link will be used for this connection.

Bungard says extensive research was done on the length of time delivery drivers are prepared to wait at the doorstep before abandoning a delivery, and the magic figure is about 14 seconds. Fulfilment & e.logistics was shown a live demonstration in which The ParcelPal system connected to the user in six to eight seconds – well within the target time.

The supplied intercom unit includes a separate button that remains connected to the property's existing front door bell, and the two buttons are labelled accordingly. The second button can be blanked off if desired, leaving just the intelligent button for all callers.

ParcelPal will be selling three sizes of drop-box of its own, and will also be offering the system for use under licence by other box suppliers. Bungard says several such suppliers have already expressed interest. He says the company's own standard box size will suit around 95 per cent of all typical home deliveries.

The company is planning to offer two pricing models. Users will be able to buy the box outright for around £150 (with an optional installation fee of £49). Alternatively, the system will be offered on a pay-as-you-go basis with a token £30 setup fee. In this case, there is a minimum ongoing fee of £1 per parcel with a minimum of £3 per week, which includes transaction recording and various other added-value audit features.

ParcelPal is planning to sell the system direct to consumers through its web site, and may also offer it through selected retailers once it is established in the market.

The system will go into limited trials over the summer, and is due for a full launch in the autumn.

• Although ParcelPal was conceived as a consumer delivery solution, a leading carrier has already identified a business application of the technology, and is planning to mount a trial this summer. We will bring further details of this project as it unfolds.

Unattended delivery solutions – the state of the art: click here for our extended feature in this issue of F&E.