{"id":12225,"date":"2021-09-21T21:08:15","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T21:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/?p=12225"},"modified":"2024-12-10T12:20:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T12:20:32","slug":"university-smart-lockers-colleges-reaping-rewards-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/en-us\/blog\/university-smart-lockers-colleges-reaping-rewards-results\/","title":{"rendered":"University Smart Lockers: Colleges Reaping Rewards & Results"},"content":{"rendered":"

Higher education<\/span> institutions around the globe are earning stellar marks for implementing <\/span>smart parcel lockers<\/span> that improve employee efficiency, boost <\/span>student<\/span> and <\/span>staff<\/span> satisfaction, ensure personal safety, and increase <\/span>package<\/span> security. Here\u2019s how universities are leveraging this intelligent solution for success on their college campus:<\/span><\/p>\n

University College Oxford: A Case Study in Efficiency<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As the oldest <\/span>university<\/span> in the English-speaking world, <\/span>University<\/span> College<\/span> Oxford faced a series of 21st century problems: an influx of packages, a storage room that was being eliminated, and intensive labor required for tracking, emailing, and delivering student packages. One employee task, for example, was manually writing emails alerting students that they had a <\/span>package<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, <\/span>University<\/span> College<\/span> Oxford has over 90 smart lockers installed outdoors for convenient <\/span>student package pickup<\/span>. <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>smart locker system<\/span> automatically alerts recipients that they have a <\/span>package<\/span> along with a barcode or <\/span>PIN code<\/span> allowing for secure retrieval. This means parcels can be picked up safely and securely 24\/7 without face-to-face interaction. Further, managing \u201cstale packages\u201d has virtually been eliminated as more than 90% of parcels are picked up within three days of delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Michael Park, Head Porter, summarizes: \u201cNow, we have an audit trail from the time items are placed in lockers to when they are retrieved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Safe & Secure Parcel Delivery at Lehigh University<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lehigh <\/span>University<\/span> faced a different issue: a safe and manageable solution to the avalanche of student packages flowing into three new residential dorms. Housing 406 upper-class students, the <\/span>Singleton, Hitch & Maida Houses were designed with amenities to foster a superior <\/span>student experience<\/span><\/a>, including air-conditioned suites, a coffee house, and a soon-to-be-built fitness center. Smart lockers were a logical next step.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCreating a safe environment for students \u2013 especially in light of COVID-19 \u2013 and providing overall exceptional customer service is our priority, and we\u2019re always seeking new innovations to enhance the <\/span>student experience<\/span>,\u201d explains Mark Ironside, Assistant Vice President of Business Services at Lehigh <\/span>University<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The visible chain of custody showing where packages are at all times was a key consideration in the <\/span>university<\/span>\u2019s decision to add <\/span>smart parcel lockers<\/span> to these residence halls.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ohio University: Blending Efficiency with Safety<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By installing smart lockers at all three <\/span>campus<\/span> mailrooms, Ohio <\/span>University<\/span> conquered safety concerns to provide contactless delivery of mail and packages while also boosting efficiency for <\/span>staff<\/span> and students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese new smart lockers are saving time, increasing efficiency, and adding convenience,\u201d explains Blaine Gabriel, Director of Campus and Student Mail, Printing Services, Campus Signage and logistics. \u201cFor example, <\/span>faculty<\/span> no longer have to be sitting in their office to receive their deliveries. Instead, they can retrieve their <\/span>mail<\/span> anytime they want. Additionally, we now only have to deliver <\/span>student mail<\/span> and packages to our three <\/span>student mail<\/span> locations. This saves tremendous time for all involved. And, although we didn\u2019t foresee this, smart lockers are making delivering and receiving <\/span>mail<\/span> safer during the pandemic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to installing the smart lockers, Ohio <\/span>University<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>mailroom<\/span> staff<\/span> hand-delivered <\/span>mail<\/span> or other items to <\/span>faculty<\/span> at various <\/span>campus<\/span> locations. Many items, such as certified <\/span>mail<\/span> and <\/span>library<\/span> materials, required the recipient\u2019s signature. Often, more than one delivery attempt was required to obtain the signature. With <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span> by Quadient\u2019s integrated tracking system, drop-offs and pick-ups are automatically logged. By eliminating extra delivery trips and the need for human-to-human contact, the <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span> by Quadient <\/span>smart locker<\/span> system has supported safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as reduced delivery time by up to an hour per day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Florida: Synergy Between Security & Student Satisfaction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With a whopping 4,000 packages delivered in one peak day, the <\/span>University<\/span> of Florida Housing Department realized they had a significant logistical problem. Not only did employees have to manage the <\/span>package<\/span> onslaught, but students could only pick up packages during specific hours resulting in lost packages, delays, and complaints.<\/span><\/p>\n

By installing <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span>\u2019s smart lockers for schools<\/a> and integrating its reporting system, the <\/span>University<\/span> could view the chain of custody for each delivery, speeding up the delivery process and increasing <\/span>student<\/span> satisfaction. The switch also saved mailroom staff a startling 20 hours per week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lockers were originally planned as a test case, but after only two weeks of seeing efficiencies for both parcel pick up<\/a> and deliveries, the <\/span>University<\/span> adopted smart lockers for all 26 residence halls and 8,100 on-<\/span>campus<\/span> residents. Today, the <\/span>University<\/span> of Florida views <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span>\u2019s lockers as a key amenity, highlighting them in its marketing material and even creating a video touting the benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Package: Smart Lockers as a Campus Hub<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With students returning to <\/span>campus<\/span>, there\u2019s an emerging need to create a central distribution center for library books and textbooks, documents, and more. Savvy administrators at Rollins <\/span>College<\/span>, Mount San Jacinto <\/span>College<\/span>, Scripps <\/span>College<\/span>, <\/span>University<\/span> of Colorado Springs, and Indian River State <\/span>College<\/span> have all embraced using smart lockers not just for parcels, but as a <\/span>Campus<\/span> Hub.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rob Zinsky, National Director of <\/span>Higher Education<\/span> at <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span> of Quadient, predicts <\/span>parcel<\/span> lockers will provide the solution for distributing most assets on <\/span>campus<\/span>, giving users the ability to avoid lines and face-to-face contact. He refers to this transformation as a <\/span>Campus<\/span> Hub, \u201can exchange point for different items, outside of <\/span>mail<\/span> and packages.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Innovative uses of <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span>\u2019s smart lockers include:<\/span><\/p>\n