ŠKODA turns your car into delivery address for parcels
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about how Hyundai’s Digital Key could be used to unlock the boot of a car via your smartphone. Now ŠKODA, part of the VW Group, has come up with a system that turns your car into a delivery address.
The car manufacturer’s innovation team, ŠKODA DigiLab, has developed a system whereby the courier will place a parcel delivery directly into the boot of the ŠKODA. The technology required for remote access to the car is currently being tested in the pilot scheme.
Set up by the car manufacturer in 2017 to focus on the next stage of mobility, connectivity and digitalisation solutions for the car industry, the ŠKODA DigiLab has partnered with two of the biggest online retailers in the Czech Republic – Alaz.cz and Rohlik.cz – to trial the new delivery scheme with the view to bringing the technology to UK consumers in the future.
ŠKODA’s recent strides in in-car connectivity have enabled the brand to bring to fruition the new delivery method, which works by giving the online retailer permission to deliver packages to the car via a mobile app. When an order is placed, the car’s location is displayed to the courier via GPS for delivery.
Using the app, the courier is then granted one-time-only, secured access to open the boot within a pre-defined time frame. They then place the parcel in the boot, subsequently re-lock the vehicle using the app and the customer is notified about the successful delivery.
Security is a paramount issue for the scheme, claims ŠKODA. Data is encrypted and the parcel courier is restricted to opening the vehicle within a short time frame that is defined by the customer.
Says Jarmila Plachá, Head of ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab:
“This pilot project provides a concrete look ahead at how everyday life can be made even simpler and more convenient in future by using state-of-the-art technology. I’m looking forward to further developing this project together with our partners.”
