B2C carrier Hermes has become the first parcel company in the UK to fully integrate its end-to-end tracking solution with Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers.
The announcement means that customers will now be able use voice commands via Alexa-enabled devices, such as the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, to hear updates on their parcel’s location. Hermes’s new functionality will also enable online shoppers to track any items they have returned to a retailer.
The integration was engineered within the Hermes’s dedicated Innovation Lab in the center of Leeds in the UK, which is specifically tasked with developing a range of forward-thinking products that will change the delivery landscape.
David Turner, head of digital strategy and 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 favor 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.”
Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes, said, “It remains absolutely vital that we continue to push the innovative boundaries to create additional value for our clients and the ever-demanding millennial generation. We are excited to see what further innovations 2017 will bring.”
February 3, 2017