Amazon, the world's largest online retailing company has come up with a new 'delivery model' in servicing their customers.
Exclusive customers who are willing to take home-delivery from the company, even when they are not at home at the time of delivery, can now do so with the advent of Amazon Key-a new age access system.
The Amazon Key is a system that has a lock and camera integrated into it. Using this system, users can remotely control the delivery of the goods by the Amazon delivery associates into their homes.
If members of Amazon's Prime Shopping club pay a sum of around $249, they can get the cloud-controlled camera and lock installed by Amazon.
Now, this is how the system works-
The Amazon delivery associates are required to knock or ring the door bell when they first arrive at the user's house.
If no one answers the bell, they will be required to notify Amazon by pressing 'unlock' in a mobile app.
Amazon then quickly checks its systems to ascertain that the right associate and package have arrived at the right destination.
Once that is ascertained, the camera is used to stream video to the customer who can view the delivery remotely, which makes it possible for him/her to rest assured that his/her home has not been compromised by a stranger.
The above functionality notwithstanding, there are security concerns that are getting voiced by some. There are those that feel that most customers would not be too willing to allow total strangers to enter their homes in their absence.
Amazon's Vice President of delivery technology said that though in-home theft was not something that happens in practice as per trials of Amazon Key, in some cases, Amazon would reimburse customers should any problem arise.
According to the company , Amazon Key is scheduled to get launched on November 8th this year in some U.S. locations and it remains to be seen if this new model actually opens 'new doors' in the online retailing space.