E-commerce has significantly impacted the American retail experience. According to Mintel’s Online Shopping U.S. 2015 report, 69 percent of U.S. adults shop online at least on a monthly basis, and 48 percent of online shoppers occasionally increase their purchases to receive free shipping. This transition from brick-and-mortar shopping to at-home deliveries has led to shifts in the multi-family housing industry. As more consumers have packages shipped from online retailers, the influx of deliveries has strained property managers and staff who are responsible for accepting and holding deliveries. Without a process in place, this can drain resources, cause congestion at concierge desks and make residents frustrated if packages are misplaced or lost.

To mitigate these headaches, a smart solution used by an increasing number of properties are package lockers, storage areas where delivers can be dropped off and housed until residents are able to pick up their mail when it’s convenient for them. Package lockers allow property managers to focus their attention elsewhere, while still providing secure, convenient storage solutions – property managers can easily grant or revoke access as needed for residents as they move in and out.

If facilities have an access control system with an open architecture platform, property managers can easily integrate the package locker credentials into the system. This makes it easy on residents, as they can use a single smart credential to access the building and other common areas like the package locker. 

Overall, investing in building package lockers is an asset for properties looking to provide resident services that capitalize on flexibility, convenience, and security without maxing out staff resources. For residents, the ease of picking up their packages using the same building credential they’re already used to makes for a seamless experience. Most importantly, it can help residents feel confident and assured knowing their deliveries are safe, secure and available on-demand in the building’s package locker.