Parcel lockers: Safer, easier, quicker AND more sustainable

Home deliveries in the UK have been increasing year on year, with the delivery industry processing 4.2 billion parcels in 2021 – up from 1.7 billion in 2013. Currently, 13% of reviews on HomeViews mention parcel delivery or post rooms, with residents’ experiences in this area contributing significantly to their overall satisfaction. However, manually sorting deliveries can be a huge drain on time and resources for property management teams. We take a look at Parcel Pending by Quadient for a smart parcel management solution in use at some of the UK’s top BTR communities.

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THE PROBLEM

74 parcels received per person in the UK in 2021 as delivery numbers continue to rise.
20 million people missed deliveries in the past year – 38% of all UK adults
18+ hours spent by building managers every week on parcel handling
300% increase in parcel theft over the past 3 years – 10 people have parcels lost or stolen every minute
32% increase in carbon emissions from delivery traffic by 2030 without intervention

Parcel theft is a growing problem in the UK, increasing by 300% in the past three years according to UK Police data. 5.5 million people now have deliveries stolen every year, with a peak around Christmas.

Missed deliveries are also a major inconvenience. As many as 20 million people – 38% of all UK adults – missed a delivery last year despite being at home at the time. The scale of missed deliveries for those not at home is therefore even more significant.

A knock-on effect of missed deliveries is the environmental impact of increased emissions since more trips are needed to attempt redeliveries. A recent study by the World Economic Forum on the world’s 100 biggest cities found that, without intervention, carbon emissions from delivery traffic will increase by 32% and congestion by 21% by 2037.

The negative effect on traffic and air quality is even greater for housing estates such as Single Family Homes, where vans must travel around the estate to attempt redelivery.

In properties where deliveries are sorted by property management teams, the time drain pulls staff away from other crucial resident-facing tasks. It takes around four minutes to receive, log, and store a parcel, inform the recipient, and finally distribute it. Multiply this by the number of parcels received per person within a development, then the often excessive amount of time spent managing parcels can be realised. On a 200 unit building that could be five hours per day processing parcels.

“I CAN’T IN GOOD FAITH ALLOW PROSPECTIVE TENANTS TO MOVE IN WITHOUT KNOWING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO LIVE HERE. SECURITY IS THE PRIMARY ISSUE. PARCELS ARE FREQUENTLY STOLEN…”
– Verified resident on HomeViews

THE SOLUTION

Parcel Pending by Quadient – a smart package locker system
Securely receives and stores parcels for collection, eliminating missed or stolen deliveries
Parcel recipients are automatically notified and self-serve from the lockers

Parcel Pending by Quadient is a smart parcel locker solution that provides a fast, secure and convenient way for buildings to receive and distribute deliveries.

The smart lockers can be retrofitted, but are ideally worked into a building’s design from early stages and tailored to its size, resident demographics and other factors. The modular design also allows for the system to be expanded as its use increases.

Parcel Pending by Quadient works directly with property managers, couriers and residents to educate them on the system. Property management can monitor locker usage from their own dashboard, giving them visibility on locker occupancy.

Delivery agents can ensure a secure and successful delivery on the first attempt, saving them time and hassle. Residents self-serve, collecting parcels in their own time without the need for staff intervention.

“…NEW LOBBY IS REALLY COOL, WITH ITS CONVENIENT NEW PACKAGE LOCKER FACILITY.”
– Verified resident on HomeViews

THE RESULT

Building managers and concierge teams spend more time on residents, boosting satisfaction and profitability
Residents enjoy a sense of greater convenience and security for their deliveries
Deliveries are successful on the first attempt, reducing neighbourhood congestion and pollution from delivery vans

Residents in buildings using Parcel Pending lockers enjoy the most convenient and secure parcel delivery experience. Those working from home are not disturbed during important calls and can collect parcels 24 hours a day.

Parcel theft is eliminated and building management teams are freed up to focus on providing the outstanding service BTR residents expect.

Local congestion is also reduced – especially within communities such as Single Family Homes, where lockers can be located at the entrance of the development. The environmental impact of deliveries is significantly minimised.

“THE LOCKERS ARE DEFINITELY A VALUE-ADD WHEN PEOPLE COME TO VIEW THE APARTMENTS. PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS ARE GENERALLY AWARE OF LOCKERS, AND HOW THEY WORK, SO WHEN THEY FIND OUT WE HAVE THEM ONSITE, THEY’RE REALLY PLEASED.”
Joe Cooper, Assistant General Manager – The Keel by Allsop Lettings and Management