How to Choose the Right “Smart” <\/i><\/b>Locker<\/i><\/b> Solution to Reduce Operational Costs and Improve the Student and Campus Employee Experience<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Online <\/span>packages<\/span> and deliveries for students have become a major pain point for colleges and universities nationwide. Back in the day, campus mail services were originally designed for the majority of their volume (70%) to be mail and the remaining 30% to be <\/span>packages<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today, with the boom in online shopping this ratio has flipped. In fact, every year, approximately 31 <\/span>packages<\/span> are delivered to every student on a college campus. And there’s no signs of this trend slowing down. In fact, this rate is expected to grow by more than 13% annually.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>global electronic lockers market<\/span> is on the upswing, according to the global “<\/span>Electronic Lockers Market<\/span>” (2021-2025) research report<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span>. The <\/span>industry<\/span> is projected to grow from $718 million in 2021 to more than $1.6 billion in 2028, according to another <\/span>market<\/span> research report<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n During the forecast period, North America is expected to have the highest <\/span>market share<\/span> in the global electronics <\/span>locker<\/span> industry<\/span>. This is mainly because of the increase in the number of parcel deliveries caused by the growth of online shopping across the region.<\/span><\/p>\n As a result, campus mail services \u2013 which often lack space to begin with \u2013 are now overflowing with student <\/span>packages<\/span> on a daily basis.<\/span><\/p>\n That is why many colleges and universities are looking to invest in <\/span>electronic<\/span> university <\/span>smart<\/span><\/a> lockers to solve their package problems as these sturdy <\/span>steel lockers<\/span> improve <\/span>security<\/span> by keeping their contents safe. However, researching and identifying the best <\/span>electronic locker<\/span> systems to hold those <\/span>packages<\/span> can seem daunting. There is a lot of misinformation and marketing jargon out there and most college and university mail centers simply don’t have the time to sift through it all to make informed decisions about the best <\/span>electronic locker system<\/span> to meet their needs.<\/span><\/p>\n Below, we will discuss what colleges and universities should look for in a <\/span>smart locker system<\/span> to quickly identify the best <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers suppliers to meet their package management needs when students and staff return to campus:<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to <\/span>smart locker<\/span> systems, one of the very first questions you want to ask the <\/span>electronic locker suppliers<\/span> is how exactly their <\/span>electronic locker<\/span> systems keep student and faculty <\/span>packages<\/span> safe and secure. For example, do they offer cameras? You should also ask what <\/span>materials<\/span> and <\/span>security features<\/span> they use in the construction of their indoor and outdoor smart lockers<\/a>. For instance, do they offer theft proof steel parcel lockers for <\/span>secure storage <\/span>space<\/span>, or do they use <\/span>plastic lockers<\/span>? Do their <\/span>electronic<\/span> smart lockers help prevent someone from stealing <\/span>packages<\/span> and do they eliminate missed deliveries by electronically logging each delivery and pick-up time? Do they provide full chain-of-custody tracking to ensure <\/span>high <\/span>security<\/span> and reduce package liability and theft issues?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, with Parcel Pending by Quadient’s university lockers, package recipients don’t need to worry about package theft, misplaced <\/span>packages<\/span>, or damage.<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s how it works: a carrier agent or mailroom staffer scans the package at the Parcel Pending <\/span>locker system<\/span> kiosk, and a <\/span>locker door<\/span> opens automatically. The package goes into the <\/span>locker<\/span>, the delivery agent closes the <\/span>locker door<\/span>, and the <\/span>electronic lock<\/span> then locks securely. A notice is sent via email or text message to the user’s phone to inform them that their package is available. The recipient then goes to the <\/span>locker<\/span> at their convenience, enters the one-time PIN or scans a unique barcode that was sent to them to unlock the <\/span>locker lock<\/span>, and the <\/span>door<\/span> opens. They retrieve their <\/span>personal items<\/span>, and the <\/span>storage <\/span>space<\/span> is now available for a new delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to safety and <\/span>security <\/span>features<\/span>, you will also want to inquire about how a <\/span>supplier<\/span>‘s <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers will reduce your operational costs. After all, you will be making an investment into their technology so you will need this <\/span>information<\/span> to help you understand what your return will be. Consider asking about the step-by-step process of how their lockers will work to improve the <\/span>security<\/span> of your mail services. Also, ask specifics about how much time you can expect your mail <\/span>service<\/span> staff to save by using their lockers. You also will want to ask for customer testimonials, references, or case studies to gain a better understanding of your potential ROI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most importantly, <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers should make it quick, easy and convenient for students to retrieve their <\/span>packages<\/span> 24\/7 at their convenience. Students, along with their families and friends who send them <\/span>packages<\/span>, should be able to rest easy knowing that their <\/span>packages<\/span> and online orders will be delivered and remain safe and secure in their <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers until they are retrieved. Likewise, university mail services should no longer have to worry about students rushing to the mail services before it closes to retrieve their <\/span>packages<\/span>. This helps provide a premium <\/span>student experience<\/a> at university <\/span>while reducing staff time.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, Parcel Pending by Quadient’s university <\/span>electronic locker system<\/span> helps to significantly reduce the amount of labor and time required to manage <\/span>each <\/span>package delivery<\/span>. In fact, Parcel Pending by Quadient’s <\/span>access control<\/span> locker<\/span> solution can reduce package management labor resources by as much as a third by assuming all the customer <\/span>service<\/span> responsibilities for mail and package delivery, notification, and retrieval. And up to 80% of <\/span>packages<\/span> can be delivered directly to Parcel Pending’s <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers, freeing up staffers to focus on other tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n Another key <\/span>feature<\/span> to inquire about is customization. After all, you’ll want your <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers to mirror your college or university’s brand image. Be sure to ask any <\/span>electronic locker supplier<\/span> if you can customize the colors and designs of their <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers so that you can match the lockers to your school colors, mascot, or campus setting. Along the same lines, you’ll want to confirm that the <\/span>manufacturer<\/span>‘s <\/span>electronic<\/span> lockers can meet any indoor or outdoor space requirements and\/or package size. Most premium <\/span>smart locker<\/span> manufacturers will offer a wide selection of <\/span>electronic locker<\/span> sizes to accommodate <\/span>packages<\/span> of all sizes.<\/span><\/p>\n Having a safe, secure <\/span>smart locker system<\/span> is great, but you also will want to ensure that your <\/span>manufacturer<\/span>‘s <\/span>electronic locker system<\/span> can easily integrate with your mail tracking systems and offer analytics so that you can glean <\/span>information<\/span> from your <\/span>data<\/span> to understand how your lockers are being used. For example, with Parcel Pending’s university solutions, colleges and universities have <\/span>access<\/span> to robust analytics and dashboards that provide instantaneous summaries that show how their lockers are being used, when stale <\/span>packages<\/span> need to be removed, and track <\/span>locker<\/span> turnover and capacity. You can use all this <\/span>information<\/span> to provide a seamless package management <\/span>service<\/span> to your students, staff, and faculty.<\/span><\/p>\n Smart <\/span>access<\/span> lockers also offer a <\/span>feature<\/span> or two that make them perfect for <\/span>athletic lockers<\/span>. Because these lockers are <\/span>electronic<\/span> and self-<\/span>service<\/span>, <\/span>gym<\/span> managers can leverage them to distribute keys or padlocks to their customers who need to borrow <\/span>secure storage<\/span> tools (e.g., padlocks or <\/span>padlock hasps<\/span>) to protect their personal belongings. In this case, <\/span>gym<\/span> managers can place padlocks or other rental equipment in the <\/span>gym locker system<\/span> for a contactless <\/span>asset<\/span> exchange process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, when looking for the right <\/span>electronic locker supplier<\/span>, don’t forget to go with a trusted brand that has high end-user ratings and satisfaction. This is again a good place to ask for customer testimonials, references, and case studies so you can confirm the <\/span>locker<\/span> supplier<\/span> is a credible, trustworthy partner for your college or university.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, 98% of Parcel Pending’s users said they were “very satisfied” with their <\/span>school lockers<\/span>. One of Parcel Pending’s main competitive differentiators is its customer <\/span>service<\/span> support. Parcel Pending offers professional installation and maintenance along with local <\/span>service<\/span>Safety & Security<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Reduce Operational Costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Customizable Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Access to Analytics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Perfect for Athletic Facilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Trusted Brand<\/strong><\/h2>\n