In February Hermes announced it was working to provide Alexa enabled tracking http://edelivery.net/2017/02/hermes-first-launch-amazon-alexa-enabled-tracking-uk/
Now DPD has announced it is the first parcel service provider in Germany to offer its own application for the cloud-based Alexa system on Amazon Echo and Amazon Dot.
Customers can ask for detailed information about the parcels they are currently expecting such as the day of delivery and the 60-minute time window during which it will arrive. The intelligent personal assistant also provides information about how many stops the parcel courier still has to make before reaching the consignee’s front door.
“Intelligent systems for voice control provide an extremely simple possibility for organising our everyday activities”, said Michael Knaupe, director customer experience and communications. “Amazon’s Alexa is an ideal opportunity for DPD of enhancing the customer experience in parcel shipping even further, and extending DPD’s market leadership in terms of digital innovations.”
Alexa users can now obtain the voice-activated parcel application free of charge from Amazon’s Alexa Skills Store.
The DPD Skill is linked with the Parcel Navigator, DPD’s online platform for the management of parcels meaning that in order to use the full functionalities of the application users have to be registered with the Parcel Navigator and signed in. As an initial step registration via Facebook is necessary, and further login possibilities will be activated in the near future.
In addition to Alexa, DPD also intends to use other forms of artificial intelligence and voice recognition in future. For example, DPD is working on using chatbots for obtaining information about parcels. Typical enquiries such as the delivery time for a parcel or the use of flexible options for the redirection of parcels could be implemented with automated text messages. In addition to a chat on the DPD website, possible options are links with the Facebook Messenger or the integration of DPD chatbots directly on the websites of e-commerce retailers. “We aim to be as accessible as possible to shippers and consignees”, said Knaupe.
Image credit: Amazon
