THE first UK automated parcel tower has been installed at Asda’s Trafford Park.

The new 16ft tall and 8ft wide tower which acts as a parcel vending machine was installed following a successful trial by parent company Walmart in the US.

It allows customers to pick up and return their online orders from george.com and other third party online stores, such as Asos, Missguided and Decathlon in less than 60 seconds.

Stephen Clinton, Store Manager at Asda Trafford Park, said: “We’re delighted to be the first store in the UK to trial the Parcel Tower for our customers. We have seen a fantastic response to the quick service since its arrival instore and we hope it continues.”

In November 2015, Asda launched its ‘toyou’ service, the UK’s first end-to-end parcel solution which uses minute-by-minute tracking and allows consumers to return or collect purchases from third party online retailers at more than 600 Asda stores. Parcels can also be collected and returned from Asda petrol forecourts and Click & Collect points across the country.

Neil Drake, Asda’s toyou - Retail Process, Systems and 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.”

“We know speed and convenience are important factors to customers and partners of our ‘toyou’ service, and we’re always looking for new ways to bring that to them. The parcel towers are the latest example of how we’re using new technology to save our customers time and money.”

Trafford Park’s parcel tower was installed at the end of last week as a proof of concept, it can hold up to 500 parcels and has already served 1,500 local customers.