Volvo working to allow groceries delivered to your car, even when you aren't there

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

Volvo cites research showing that 60 percent of online shoppers had problems with their deliveries in 2013, and that missed first deliveries cost the industry roughly one billion euros ($1.37B US) in re-delivery costs, as impetus for its "Roam Delivery Service" that delivers packages to your car. The service uses Volvo On Call and Sensus Connect car-connectivity and telematics apps already installed in vehicles, and a digital key with a timed window of operation.

The car owner is notified if delivery to or pickup from the car would be the best option, which they then have the option to approve or decline. If approved, the position of the vehicle is sent to the delivery driver, as well as a digital key that can open the car. Once the delivery has been made, the owner is notified and the digital key is erased, leaving only a time stamp to record when the car was opened and then locked.

The technology will be shown to the public at the Mobile World Congress later this month. There's a video and a press release below with more on the details.

Volvo Pilots Ground-Breaking 'Roam Delivery' Service

Volvo Cars demonstrates the potential of connected cars with deliveries direct to people's cars

- Over half of people (60%) experienced delivery problems through online shopping last year
- Failed first-time deliveries cost the industry an estimated €1billion in re-delivering costs
- Digital keys now make it possible to transform the car into a pickup and drop-off zone

GOTHENBURG and BARCELONA, 20th February, 2014 /PRNewswire/- In a ground-breaking technology move for the automotive industry, Volvo Cars demonstrates the world's first delivery of food to the car – a new form of 'roam delivery' services. The service, which will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress, will allow consumers to have their shopping delivered straight to their car, no matter where they are.

Volvo's new digital keys technology will allow consumers to choose their car as a delivery option when ordering goods online. Via a smartphone or tablet, the owner will be informed when a delivery requires dropping off or picking up from the car.

Having accepted the delivery, a digital key will be activated which tracks when the car is opened and then locked again. Once the delivery is completed, the digital key ceases to exist. The system is based on the functionality of the telematics app Volvo On Call, which also makes it possible to remotely heat or cool the car and see its position or fuel level via the mobile phone.

Earlier this year Volvo Cars launched Sensus Connect, an integrated on board navigation and infotainment experience. Volvo Cars' strategic partnership with Ericsson builds further on the idea of the Networked Society by examining a host of consumer centric concepts around the "Connected Vehicle Cloud" that sees the driving experience revolutionized over the coming years.

Last year, 60% of people shopping online had problems with the delivery of their item.1 Research revealed that people across the globe feel increasingly stressed in their daily lives. In a report from Future Foundation, all of the countries studied showed an increase from 2010 to 2011 when responding to the statement "I'm often under time pressure in my daily life".2

Despite the rise of online shopping, research has also revealed that over a half of people are not at home to receive online deliveries, leading to further hassle and time wasted through failed deliveries.3

'Roam delivery' is one example where Volvo Cars explores the potential of connected cars to create solutions which will simplify the customers' everyday lives. The pilot programme has also revealed 92% of people found it more convenient to receive deliveries to their car than at home.

"By turning the car into a pickup and drop-off zone through using digital keys, it's now possible to deliver the goods to persons and not just places. The test-customers also indicated that the service clearly saved time. And the same thing is valid for delivery companies as well! Because failed first-time deliveries cost the industry an estimated €1billion in re-delivering costs.4 We are now further investigating the technology of digital keys and new consumer benefits linked to it," says Klas Bendrik, Group CIO at Volvo Car Group.

1 http://econsultancy.com/blog/61816-what-can-retailers-do-to-improve-online-delivery
2 Future Foundation, nVision Global Key Trend, September 2011
3 The impact of failed home deliveries on carbon emissions: Are collection / delivery points environmentally-friendly alternatives?, Logistics Research Centre, www.greenlogistics.org.uk
4 BBC.co.uk, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18709348

By Jonathon Ramsey