Most modern businesses place a high priority on security, particularly when it comes to digitally stored internal information. Security measures are often put in place to thwart hackers seeking to breach a company’s firewalls and either steal information or lock out a company and hold that data for ransom. However not all vital information can be secured digitally. Sometimes the more traditional, physical ways of protecting items are the best. This is why businesses that handle boxes, envelopes, containers, and other physical storage should consider adding parcel lockers to operations. If you’re unfamiliar with parcel lockers or are unsure if you need them, keep reading to determine if you need this additional level of security.
What Are Parcel Lockers?
As the name no doubt indicates, a parcel locker is a locker box for storing parcels – boxes, envelopes, cartons, etc. It can be located in a post office or a courier distribution office. On arrival at the relevant facility, your parcels are securely put in your locker until you pick them up. A timeless, simple, elegant solution for parcel delivery.
In today’s e-commerce economy, parcel lockers are enjoying renewed popularity, not only among consumers but also among businesses. Convenience is a major consideration, of course, as such a system lets you pick up your parcels on your own schedule rather than having to wait for a delivery or have the item delivered when you’re not around to officially receive it.
Parcel lockers are often located in public spaces, including apartment buildings, post offices, or courier offices. They can be secured with keys or more complex security measures, such as two-factor authentication, bio-scan features, identification codes, etc. Additional safety features can include controlled access to the locker area itself, surveillance cameras, and fire-proof spaces. In addition, parcel lockers eliminate the need for delivery people to come on-site. You can have all parcels delivered off-site and picked up at a convenient time by an employee with full privacy and security.
If your business is such that it requires special security personnel, you can install parcel lockers at a security desk or gate for an extra layer of protection. There, security personnel can scan the packages upon receipt, thus taking care of the entire acceptance and notification process. That means your employees are not needlessly interrupted to sign for a parcel. At the same time, delivery people don’t have to pass security at all times of the day.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Parcel lockers can play a vital role in reducing your company’s carbon footprint. Instead of 20 different parcels delivered at different times and locations, couriers can deliver multiple parcels to one location, drastically reducing the number of trips and drivers needed. And more packages delivered at one time means fewer vehicles on the road spewing harmful emissions. So not only is it a cost savings, but on an annual basis, it’s a great contribution to keeping the planet green. A study by the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland found that using parcel lockers deliveries can cut emissions by as much as 51% compared to traditional door-to-door deliveries.
Another, the Green Last Mile Europe 2022 report, shows that the rapid rise of parcels due to e-commerce has caused a surge in carbon emissions. According to the report, “The widest possible roll-out of out-of-home deliveries and awareness could reduce the sector’s carbon footprint by over 90% in just one decade.”
Rafał Brzoska, founder and president of InPost Group, said: “Parcel lockers are the most environmentally friendly form of online shopping delivery. They eliminate emissions of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2, but also significantly reduce the traffic of courier cars on the streets of European cities.”
So embracing parcel lockers is a significant action to bolster your sustainability achievements.
Smart Parcel Lockers Offer Another Level of Security
Parcel lockers are no longer the plain metal boxes with the simple key of the past. Modern smart parcel lockers come with touchscreens for easy operation and specialist software for scanning, monitoring, tracking, and reporting information on your parcels. All packages are stored in the locker on delivery after being logged into the system with details such as arrival time and sender/recipient details. This helps you keep track of all parcels, ensuring that no packages go missing or remain unclaimed. They can then be integrated into inventory management and identify shipping patterns.
Additionally, the parcel locker software scans the parcel for acceptance and sends notifications to the addressee. The recipient is notified of the secure arrival and can arrange for pick-up at any time and any way preferred.
You can use the smart locker for other suppliers too. Do you need lunch delivered for staff and it needs to be kept warm? Is there a meds delivery that needs to be kept chilled? An explosion-safe box for the delivery of chemicals? A ventilated box? You can arrange for these special deliveries with smart parcel lockers.
The Future of Parcel Lockers
Cost savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions are just two of the advantages. But in the near future, it will be possible to combine two unique but useful delivery methods: parcel lockers and drones.
If you need a few of the parcels stored in the locker delivered to you right away, you can combine the smart parcel lockers with a drone delivery service that will bring the packages to their final destination. It’s fast because it does not have to contend with city traffic and can travel from the locker to you in a more or less straight line. In addition, there are no emissions from the battery-powered drone.
Find the Perfect Parcel Lockers Provider for You
Making use of parcel lockers requires careful consideration and some due diligence. After all, it involves a security and privacy compliance component. Here are some key points to consider before you agree to a locker service.
Tip 1: Make a careful assessment of the change in logistics, security, cost, and time when changing to parcel lockers. This is especially a key consideration for companies that do not receive that many parcels. The cost and time savings may not be substantial enough to make the change.
Tip 2: If you consider on-site smart lockers, invite a provider to prepare a full assessment of the current available space and security at present so you can make a decision on the best possible business case basis.
Tip 3: Pick a reputable mail logistics specialist who operates near you or can set up and operate on-site smart lockers for you.
Are you located in or near Cary, Raleigh, or the Triangle in North Carolina? Then contact the skilled team at Anza Mailing Systems. We are happy to assist you in the assessment process to guide you in your parcel lockers decision based on your organization, needs, and budget.
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