Asda has installed a 16ft tall and 8ft wide automated parcel vending tower at its Trafford Park store following a successful trial by parent company Walmart in the US.

In a first for the UK, the tower acts as a giant parcel vending machine where customers can collect their online orders in less than 60 seconds and also drop-off returns. It can hold up to 500 parcels at a time.

When customers visit the store, they scan a barcode sent to their smartphone at the Parcel Tower to receive their order. The service is also available for selected third party partners including Asos, Missguided and Decathlon.

Asda said the concept gives customers a quicker and more convenient way to collect parcels. Over 100 of the parcel towers have been installed across Walmart in the US, suggesting more could be rolled out across Asda’s store estate.

Neil Drake, Asda’s innovation manager, said: “It’s great that we’ve been able to work with our parent company Walmart in the US to bring this new exciting technology to the UK, so far it’s been a huge success for them.

“The Parcel Towers are the latest example of how we’re using new technology to save our customers time and money.”

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