For years, having a package delivered to your home or office was the only way to receive an item you ordered.

Today's consumers are different than those of the past, though. Today, shoppers want their items delivered as soon as possible – sometimes even that day. And they don't want to be stuck at home waiting for their package to arrive – they want the package to come to them, regardless of where they are.

This can be a tall order at times, but not one companies aren't willing to strive for. According to Daimler, DHL will be testing out a pilot program in Stuttgart, Germany, this fall. The program is called "smart ready to drop" and will allow DHL drivers to locate a customer's smart car and give them one-time access to the trunk to deliver packages.

'"Smart ready to drop' is the beginning of our next drive to further enhance the quality of urban life," explained Annette Winkler, the head of Smart, in a statement.

Drop-off points

7348035690_73473f4edc_z Consumers will be able to give delivery drivers access to their smart car trunk using an app.

The whole process begins with a smartphone app. The customer generates a transaction number or TAN and includes it in the delivery address field of the app.

The driver then uses the same app to receive the delivery address and the TAN, which grants access to the trunk of the car. Once the package is placed in the trunk and the trunk is locked again, access is no longer granted.

This will bring advantages to all parties in the transaction. The consumer will feel comfortable with the package locked in his or her truck as opposed to sitting unprotected on the front steps or sidewalk, and won't get frustrated with missed deliveries. The delivery service will reduce lost profits that arise from missed deliveries as well, Bloomberg pointed out.

Get the packaging right

When employing any sort of delivery system, it's important that the packaging used will protect the item within from damage. Bumpy or winding roads can cause boxes to shift during delivery, so having a packaging material that will successfully absorb shock is essential.

When delivering directly to a person's car, the travel time within the delivery service's truck may not be the only journey an item sustains before reaching its destination. Because of this, protective packaging must be durable and able to withstand long journeys.

To find the right packaging for your operation and your customers who may request deliveries to be made to nontraditional locations, talk to the experts at Pregis, who can tell you the best way to protect your items during shipment.

- See more at: http://post.pregis.com/customized-delivery-systems/dhl-tests-program-that-delivers-packages-to-consumers-trunks/#sthash.FANhZK6g.dpuf