What Is No Contact Delivery?

While no-contact delivery surged during COVID-19, it has evolved into a mainstream consumer preference. Today's customers choose contactless options primarily for convenience and flexibility, with 60% planning to continue using these services long-term.

There are four main types of contactless delivery:

1. Doorstep delivery
2. BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick up In Store)
3. Locker pickup
4. Dropbox delivery

In this guide we’ll discuss these no-contact delivery options in more detail, discuss some of the challenges, and look at how local delivery businesses can set up efficient delivery management systems to handle all these scenarios.

What does no contact delivery mean?

No contact or contactless delivery means delivering items to your customer without any in-person physical interaction. A common example is a food delivery driver leaving orders at the curbside or the customer’s doorstep and ringing the doorbell before leaving. No human contact involved!

Contactless delivery exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains popular even though we no longer need social distancing. There are several reasons why people still like having the option of a no-contact delivery service:

• Privacy: Customers value the protection of their personal information. For example, many women living alone may prefer not to deal directly with delivery personnel.
• Reliability: If you don’t have to be home to receive a delivery, it’s more likely to be on time. Consistency builds trust in the service.
• Security: For people worried about package theft, secure drop-off locations offer both security and convenience.
• Flexibility: the ability to leave packages in customer-chosen safe spots like a porch, garage, or locker, fits varied schedules and living situations.

Four types of no-contact delivery

1. Contactless doorstep delivery

This is what most people think of when they hear “contactless delivery”. The delivery person puts packages on the customer's doorstep, or wherever their delivery instructions indicate. They may ring the bell or knock to let the customer know their package has arrived. 

This is the default option for food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats. It’s also popular for grocery orders and items that don't require signatures or age verification. It’s essential for the delivery driver to take a picture so there is proof of delivery, though.

2. Pickup from a parcel locker

Smart lockers and automated pickup terminals offer customers a great mix of convenience and security. The customer can pick up their delivery at a location and time they choose, knowing that it’s being held safely in the meantime. 

This segment of the market is growing fast. It reached $1.08 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $2.90 billion by 2032. According to Supply Chain Brain, Amazon has over 40,000 lockers in the US, while UPS and FedEx have 45,000+ between them.

3. BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick up In Store)

BOPIS or click-and-collect is a delivery method where a customer orders and pays online, then collects their orders from a retail store whenever they choose. This may involve some contact with store employees, but many retail outlets have lockers or cubbies so that contact is kept to a minimum. 

34% of U.S. consumers use click-and-collect options regularly, for several reasons:

• There are no shipping fees.
• There’s no risk of a missed delivery.
• They can inspect their purchases before taking them home, avoid the need fo returns.
• 85% of click-and-collect customers make additional purchases during pickup visits.

4. Dropbox delivery

Some customers provide their own secure containers for delivery. This might include insulated coolers for food, lockable boxes for packages, or garage access for larger deliveries. This is a less common option, but it works especially well for repeat customers who want maximum convenience.

Challenges for no-contact delivery operations

Contactless delivery is often convenient, but it has definite challenges. These include:

• Customers not knowing when a delivery has been made.
• Deliveries accidentally left at the wrong location or address.
• Disputes about whether delivery orders have actually been completed.
• Package theft. 

These challenges can be frustrating for businesses and customers alike. They cause waste and inefficiency, and a poor delivery experience is bad for customer satisfaction. 

Luckily, in most cases it’s relatively easy to create a no-contact delivery process that works for everyone. In the next section, we’ll look at some examples in the food and beverage industry, before moving on to implementation steps.

No-contact delivery examples from the food and beverage industry

Food delivery services and meal prep companies were early adopters of contactless delivery. They've refined the process to handle temperature-sensitive items and tight delivery windows.

1. Fresh Prep: Reusable insulated totes combine sustainability and food safety

For example Fresh Prep, a Canadian meal kit service, streamlined their contactless delivery by providing reusable insulated totes and having drivers collect empty containers from previous deliveries. This creates a sustainable system while maintaining food safety standards.

2. Harvestly: Giving customers a choice to avoid contact

Harvestly is a California-based fresh produce marketplace that connects farmers with customers in and around San Luis Obispo. For some customers, chatting with their delivery driver is a fun social interaction. For others who are ill or would prefer to avoid physical contact for any reason, Harvestly uses Routific’s automated text messages to let them know when their delivery has been dropped off. 

Strategies for successful contactless delivery

Companies like Fresh Prep and Harvestly use a number of key strategies to make contactless delivery work smoothly:

• Food safety: Insulated coolers or bags with frozen gel packs maintain food quality during brief outdoor periods.
• Clear communication: Make it easy for customers to leave specific delivery instructions during the checkout process, and send notifications as drop-off approaches.
• Proof of delivery: Delivery workers should take photos showing exactly where food was left.
• Customer notifications: These should be sent as soon is delivery is complete.

Automation helps make a lot of these processes easier. Delivery management software like Routific, for example, includes both automatic customer notifications and a free mobile driver app that keeps delivery information all in one place. Proof of delivery can be easily taken from right inside the app and shared instantly with delivery managers or dispatchers.

Setting up no-contact delivery for your business

A no contact delivery system can be relatively easy to set up, with a bit of planning and a good delivery solution that includes a driver mobile app. Here are the key tools you’ll need:

Customer notifications

Clear communication is critical. Since no-contact delivery means no opportunity for face-to-face interaction, you need a foolproof way to let customers know exactly when and their order will arrive. 

Automated customer notifications sent from your delivery software via email or SMS keep customers informed throughout the delivery process. These real-time updates include delivery windows, driver location, and completion confirmation.

A delivery tracking link that lets customers watch their delivery driver approach in real time is becoming a standard in the delivery industry. 

Photo proof of delivery

While photo capture is traditionally used as an internal feature for route planners and dispatchers as proof of delivery (POD), it’s also super useful in the context of no contact delivery. 

When customers aren’t home to receive a package, they often ask for packages to be left in a specific location. For example, if they know their front porch will be in the sun all afternoon, they may ask for a box full of fresh produce to be left in the shade around the side of the house. The ability to snap a quick photo as proof of delivery can help you communicate with customers when you’ve dropped off their package.

Delivery notes for drivers

With no contact delivery comes an increased reliance on delivery notes and instructions. As we’ve mentioned above, customers might have their own preference on how to receive their package. The ability to share notes and delivery instructions helps to avoid confusion and frustration for your drivers. These notes often have valuable information like gate codes and buzzer numbers, and special instructions detailing when and where to leave packages. 

Driver app

A dedicated driver app can set your team up for success. As we’ve seen, with no contact delivery, your drivers need a lot of information at their fingertips. A dedicated app gives drivers access to that information, as well as a ton of convenient features to make deliveries run smoother, such as:

• Easy access to optimized delivery routes.
• A central location for all the delivery instructions. 
• The ability to send notifications or delivery updates to customers or dispatchers.
• A simple way to mark whether a delivery has been made so your team can keep track of progress,
• A place to take photos for proof of delivery.

And they can do it all without making contact with the customer.

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