Tesco could soon be delivering grocery orders using a robot. The retailer is reported to have used an automated six-wheeled machine to deliver groceries to an address in central London as part of its wider ‘Tesco Now’ one-hour delivery trial currently taking place in the capital.

The retailer is said to be considering a roll-out of robot deliveries following the successful pilot, helping it compete with the likes of Amazon and its rapid delivery services.  Last year, Amazon made its first ever commercial delivery using a drone to a customer in the UK.

Tesco linked up with tech firm Starship Technologies (see video below) to deliver the service, with its automated robots able to carry items within a three-mile radius of a store or delivery hub.  Customers can track the progress of the robots via a smartphone with the machines fitted with anti-theft systems.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We are always looking at new ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers. 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.”

experience for our customers. We carried out a one-off trial as part of our Tesco Now initiative in partnership with a technology company.