Echolocation

Hermes has announced that it has become the first parcel company in the UK to fully integrate its end-to-end tracking solution with Amazon’s Echo smart speakers. Consumers will be able use voice commands via Alexa-enabled devices, such as an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, to hear updates on where their parcel is.

Owners of the Amazon devices, powered by the company’s digital assistant Alexa, will be able to track their parcels by enabling the specific skill on the Alexa app. Consumers will receive updates on those deliveries being carried out by Hermes on behalf of retailers, as well as those sent via myHermes.

Online shoppers will also be able to track items they have returned to a retailer.

The integration was engineered within the company’s dedicated Innovation Lab in the centre of Leeds, which is specifically tasked with developing a range of forward-thinking products that will change the delivery landscape.

David Turner, Hermes’ Head of Digital Strategy & Technology Innovation, said: “An important part of our remit is to explore new and exciting technologies that will allow us to enrich the delivery experience. Digital assistants such as Siri, Cortana and Alexa have been developed to drive increased convenience, and our research tells us that there will be a future shift away from screen interactions in favour of conversational interface technology. We are thrilled with our initial release, but we are already experimenting with new interactions and functionality that we will be releasing throughout this year.”