“World’s first unattended deliveries using smart access”
Latch has reported today (31 October) that it has completed “the world’s first unattended deliveries using smart access” in New York City. In a blog posted on medium.com, Luke Schoenfelder, Co-Founder and CEO at Latch, said: “This is a big day. Secure, unattended deliveries are finally here.”
Schoenfelder continued: “Beginning Monday morning, thousands of people in New York City are able to order anything they want from our partners online and know that they can return home to their packages without the threat of theft, inclement weather, or the dreaded “sorry we missed you” door tag. This new experience is explosive, with thousands of new customers in New York City alone getting this experience at their building every week now.
“This is no longer a concept. This is no longer a test. This is the beginning of what will soon become the new normal in urban environments and beyond. For the first time ever, customers ordered a product online, a delivery person shows up at their building, uses their unique credential to open the door to the building lobby, and sets the package inside.”
Post&Parcel first reported back in July that Latch was planning to team up with Walmart’s Jet.com for a smart access trial in New York.
Today’s announcement from Latch is timely. Just last week, Amazon announced its new “Amazon Key” service – which enables customers to use a combination of a smartphone app, smart lock and Amazon Cloud Cam to let delivery personnel enter their homes (and also watch and record the delivery taking place).
There are still many people who have concerns about letting delivery personnel into their homes (even if they are accredited and being watched on Cloud Cam). However, Latch circumvents this security fear because it is grants access to the lobby of the apartment building – not the actual apartment. And of course if Latch is pitching to the building managers for lobby access, rather than each individual apartment dweller, it can probably scale up faster.
