The UK‘s largest supermarket has successfully completed its first one-hour robotic delivery, fighting back against tech giant Amazon‘s foray into the sector.
As part of its one-hour delivery trial Tesco Now, the grocer used a six-wheeled automated machine to deliver a basket of goods.
Developed in partnership with Starship Technologies, Tesco’s robot is able to deliver items within a three-mile radius from stores or delivery hubs, and can be tracked via an app.
The machines are fitted with anti-theft systems which, if a human take control of the machine or if it is tampered with, alerts police and allows them to talk to the cultprit.
“We are always looking at new ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers,” a Tesco spokesman said.
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“We carried out a one-off trial as part of our Tesco Now initiative in partnership with a technology company.
“We learnt a great deal from this trial and we‘ll be reviewing feedback before deciding our next steps.”
Following a successful trial throughout April, Tesco is considering rolling out the service to more locations throughout London.
It promises delivery within the hour on baskets of 20 items or less.
The “go economy” is placing increasing importance on delivery times, and with Amazon pushing into the grocery sector with its Amazon Fresh offering, automated delivery is likely to see a dramatic increase.
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