The innovative ‘While You’re Away’ service will initially be tested with 100 householders located within the delivery area of Waitrose & Partners’ dotcom fulfilment centre in Coulsdon, south London.

The Yale Keyless Connected smart door lock enables the householder to grant access to a Waitrose delivery driver by setting a temporary access code for the lock, which is then sent to Waitrose via a secure app.

The code is then sent to the driver’s device at the time the customer has booked for the delivery and is de-activated once the delivery is complete.

Nigel Fisher, Managing Director for Yale UK, says: “Working with Waitrose & Partners to develop the UK’s first in-home delivery service is an exciting premise for Yale, as we look to understand how smart products can enhance daily lives, as well as protecting your home. Our heritage and priority is in security, but the technologies we’re now working with means we can also collaborate with companies, like Waitrose, to develop services that fit with modern life.”

Meeting demand to make shopping more convenient, the driver will put refrigerated and frozen goods away and leave other groceries on the kitchen counter, or as instructed by the customer. The whole delivery is captured on a chest-cam worn by the driver, with the video available for request for the customer the next working day.

Archie Mason, head of business development from Waitrose & Partners, says: “Rather than waiting for a delivery, this service gives customers the flexibility to use that time differently.” If the trial is successful, then working with Yale, Waitrose & Partners anticipates being able to make the service available to more than 1,000 customers in 2019.