Asda is running a three-month trial of delivery boxes, allowing out of home delivery for selected customers. The trial is in conjunction with parcel delivery box specialist LockTin, whose business model rents out delivery boxes for between £5.99 and £7.99 a month.
The initiative is being trialled in Yorkshire, the north east of England, southern England and Wales. It’s open to homeowners that have confirmed they are happy to take part in the trial and have agreed the initiative has been approved by their home insurance company. The retailer hopes to expand coverage of the trial later this year.
As part of the trial the delivery box, which is 900mm x 700mm x 475mm, is installed at the customer’s home free of charge ready to receive Asda groceries. However the retailer says it’s also happy for customers to use the boxes for other third-party deliveries too, although customers are then liable for missing items or damage to the boxes.
Customers order as normal on the website, although there are restrictions on goods depending on the types of goods and capacity of the box. They then fill out the delivery instructions section which includes the delivery box access code and instructions to help the delivery driver find it.
Simon Gregg, VP of Online Grocery at Asda, said: “We are pleased to be trialling an unattended delivery service as we continue to innovate and learn from new initiatives to help enhance our grocery home shopping offer. As things begin to open up again, the boxes provide a convenient way for customers involved in the trial to take delivery of their regular shop while they are not at home.”
Since such orders may include frozen or chilled items the retailer suggests customers remove the items within four hours. It also advises customers to change the access code after each delivery to ensure security. The boxes will be removed at the end of the trial, although Asda has said there may be the option for customers to carry on using the boxes.
