Spring 2010

After more than two years in development, the ParcelPal unattended delivery solution, which combines a drop-box with an automatic phone system, has been launched formally to the consumer and small trader market.

The company has switched from its original outright sale proposition to a leasing model, with an up-front fitting cost of £99 and a weekly charge of just under £6. 'This allows us to offer an affordable proposition until we can bring production prices down,' says director Steve Bungard.

ParcelPal has also modified the underlying technology. The system incorporates a replacement front doorbell button resembling a standard entry phone intercom, and originally this was going to connect to the householder's land line. However, it now incorporates a complete GSM phone module. 'This makes the system much more adaptable,' Bungard says.

In a further shift in policy, ParcelPal is now targeting an additional group of potential users alongside home shoppers – home traders such as eBay and Amazon Marketplace sellers, who need to despatch goods regularly, but cannot always be at home when the carrier calls to collect.

 

Bungard says the underlying technology, which enables the householder to unlock a doorstep delivery box remotely via the phone connection in order to receive a delivery, is equally applicable to despatch. The company has already signed up one carrier to the system, Sussex Couriers, and expects more to follow, including national parcels companies.

Bungard accepts that not all home shoppers will see its prices as viable for their needs, but points to statistics suggesting that up to 15 per cent of home shoppers make a purchase weekly. 'For them it makes sound economic sense,' he says.