The city of Taicang in Jiangsu province has piloted smart parcel pickup machines in the city's residential areas and hospitals. The machines have been warmly welcomed by locals.

The machine is a self-service one with what looks like an ATM in the middle and some lockers on the sides. Couriers log into its information system, choose a suitable locker according to the parcel's size, scan the parcel's tracking number and input the recipient's phone number, then the locker will open automatically. After the parcel has been put into the locker, the system will send a pass code to the recipient by message. The recipient can pick up the parcel by entering the pass code on the screen to gain access to the locker and collect the package.

Many security guards in residences refuse to sign for parcels for residents. The smart machine provides convenience for delivery firms, security guards and customers. It aims to meet the increasing demand for safe places to leave a parcel when there's nobody home to sign for it.

In addition to self-service parcel pickup, the machine offers other services such as payment for phone bills, credit cards, transportation cards and citizen cards; bank transfer; and balance inquiry of bank cards. In the future, it will add more services, including payment for water, electricity and natural gas bills.