Paul Carvell, chief executive of Business Direct, says the company hopes to trial its pioneering ParcelXchange drop box system in the consumer-to-consumer market next year.
The specialist express delivery company is gearing up to launch a trial in the business-to-consumer sector with one fashion and one technology retailer participating.
The ParcelXchange is a bank of "intelligent" lockers that have so far been used by service engineers for "mission
critical" night-time deliveries. They are generally located in garage forecourts but are likely to become an increasing presence in Tesco stores.
Consumers will be able to access the lockers using the credit card they purchased their goods with - similar technology to that used in airport express check-in machines.
Carvell says there is a significant number of "cash rich, time poor" people who would want to use this delivery method.
"There's a group of customers - probably in the tens of thousands - who want to take control of the delivery process. This means they can pick up their goods - usually high value - on the way to work, at lunchtime or whenever, without having to wait in line at a post office."
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