Home access courier is part of technology companies' efforts in the sphere of delivery

OPINION: We have all been there. You order something online, then you realize that it will arrive between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays. Weekend plans are ruined and you are trapped at home thanks to the delivery program. A Saturday!

Would not it be convenient if there was a sure way to let a courier enter your porch briefly? Or the trunk of your car? Or garage? Allow the driver to pinch and drop your package safely, then lock the door behind him.

It sounds a bit too good to be true, is not it? Well, yes, here in New Zealand, it's too good to be true. For the moment.

This is because we do not have Amazon Prime. But in the United States, they have tested this scenario with the help of a service called Key by Amazon.

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Privileged customers can use Key by Amazon to remotely unlock their front door to allow pre-approved people – couriers, tradies, dog walkers, cleaners – to return home.

Amazon obviously pushes the service because it wants customers to use it to allow its mail drivers to deliver their parcels faster – every missed delivery hits Jeff Bezos in the pocket, after all.

Amazon actually owns the entire ecosystem. The key is controlled by Amazon Cloud Cam, a user-friendly interface that allows customers to control everything in one click.

Better yet, if you have a connected webcam, you can watch and save a remote mail service when he / she opens your door and delivers your package.

And despite initial outrage that Amazon delivery drivers are letting in their customers, it has been deemed successful enough to expand to 17 other cities in the United States.

Customers must have the appropriate hardware and Amazon Premium members at $ 119 per year.

There is still a long way to go before this becomes the norm. Morning Consult's research suggests that there are many people who need to convince.

A recent survey of 2201 adult Americans shows that 68% of respondents would not be comfortable leaving delivery drivers at home. This is enough.

But the most shocking statistic is hidden in plain sight, as 32% would be happy to let delivery men deliver their parcels.

That would equate to about 73 million American adults – representing a huge market for Key by Amazon.

Google's drone wing gets FFA approval

Clearly, delivery represents an important opportunity for technology companies.

So we should not be really surprised to learn that Amazon was not the only company to celebrate this week promising information on delivery.

Wing Aviation, which is owned by Alphabet (Google's parent company), also received FAA approval last week to begin delivering unmanned aircraft to Blacksburg, Virginia.

This represents an important moment for tech companies because it is the first time that the Federal Aviation Administration grants drones permission to start providing daily commercial products to US consumers.

Wing has successfully convinced Amazon and other independent transportation companies by partnering with the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), an FAA-designated test site for aircraft systems. 39, unmanned aircraft, founded in 2013.

Speaking about his company's recent victory, Wing Executive Director James Ryan Burgess said, "This shows that these devices can add value to our communities.

"They can be a faster, cleaner, and cheaper way to transport things while contributing to the safety of society."

Government officials also seem optimistic about the program. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said: "This is an important step forward for testing safety and integrating drones into our economy."

Wing's approval does not give the company total freedom from the sky. Drones can only work during the day. And all five drones must be monitored and operated by a qualified human pilot. But it's still a significant step forward.

The design of the aircraft that Wing will use is also quite unique. They do not look like drones you see photographers and passionate flying around New Zealand.

Each Wing drone has a wingspan of 1 m and weighs around 5 kg and can carry packages weighing up to 1.5 kg. The drone can climb 400 feet above the ground and reach speeds of up to 120 km / h. It is also accurate enough to safely deliver parcels in a door-sized location.

What should we think about drone deliveries on our doorstep and let messengers enter our homes remotely?

Difficult question. The good news is that the folds will be settled in the United States before they reach our shores. But for the moment, I'm probably on the same side as the 68% Americans who would prefer not to install technology allowing foreigners to go home.

Delivery by drone, on the other hand? Bring it on!