Local retailers fretting over the likely impact of Amazon's arrival in Australia could get some help from the country's biggest bank and one of its ASX-listed tech firms.
Commonwealth Bank and software company GetSwift are integrating their sales and delivery software for retail businesses ahead of the e-commerce giant's expected arrival Down Under.
GetSwift says it has an exclusive partnership with CBA to offer the bank's retail merchants its real-time delivery platform.
The deal will enable retailers who process contactless payments through CBA's so-called "Albert" tablet to use the Android device to queue, route and dispatch deliveries.
Executive chairman Bane Hunter says the technology will turn the vendors into a delivery-ready store.
"For vendors, it's a cost effective way of tackling the threat from Amazon, Foodora, UberEats, Deliveroo and other global technology companies attempting to capture this space," Mr Hunter said.
Delivery drivers on GetSwift's network will also be able to take payment for goods on arrival using the CBA platform, meaning consumers won't necessarily have to pay in advance.
GetSwift estimates the deal will result in more than 257,400,000 deliveries on its platform over the next five years, with an estimated aggregate transaction value of $9 billion.
CBA will also work with GetSwift to develop new technology to improve sales and deliveries, including a payments terminal with a GPS tracker.
