Order fulfilment is perhaps the most important part of a typical transportation and logistics process. Yet, the many steps included in the process make it complex to navigate for even the most seasoned managers and executives.
Some of the biggest challenges in the order fulfilment process are related to streamlining and successfully navigating timely deliveries.
However, implementing parcel lockers can help you deal with this challenge more effectively. With that in mind, let us answer the most pertinent question you may be having at this point: how does a parcel locker work?
What is a Parcel Locker?
Most of us are familiar with how lockers work, right? They are lockable storage boxes that let you store valuable items. So, what’s a parcel locker?
Parcel lockers are very similar but are specifically used for storing packages securely to be collected by carriers, customers staying in apartment complexes, and delivery companies.
Some customers may also utilise parcel lockers located in retail stores, and prefer to collect their packages from there.
Delivered parcel lockers set up for usage by families, college students and apartment residents are very useful and allow individuals to store packages and mail conveniently.
Modern and tech-savvy customers can also opt for smart parcel lockers instead of physical lockers which require them to enter the assigned code to access the locker contents.
While the most common use of a locker has been storage of valuables, they have evolved to being a secure address for individuals to collect and send out packages, without their physical presence.
Types of Parcel Lockers
Now that we know what is parcel locker, let us look at the common types of parcel lockers you can use to streamline your parcel logistics. There are two primary types of parcel lockers you should know about:
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Residential and Commercial Parcel Lockers
Most parcel lockers you will come across are designed for residential and commercial use. Installed in apartment complexes and commercial office buildings, apartment parcel lockers are the most basic type of lockers.
While residential parcel lockers can usually be accessed only by the individual resident assigned to them, commercial parcel lockers can be accessed by individuals, office administrators and building security.
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Industry-Specific Parcel Lockers
For specific industries such as groceries that primarily deal with fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals, parcel locker requirements might look slightly different than the typical physical lockers.
These industry-specific lockers cater to special requirements and may offer a bunch of unique features including temperature-controlled storage.
Aside from these core types, parcel lockers can be of various sizes and capacities, designed to hold packages of different dimensions.
As a result, you can use these lockers for a wide array of applications across industries and geographical locations, with the help of mailbox rental services.
Who Uses Parcel Lockers?
Parcel lockers can be used by almost everyone including parties such as:
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Apartment Residents
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Universities
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Corporate Offices
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Retail Stores
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Co-working Spaces
5 Primary Advantages of Using Parcel Lockers
With the aforementioned overview of parcel lockers and their applications in mind, let us look at some of the key benefits associated with using parcel lockers:
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Fewer Missed Deliveries
One of the biggest hurdles to a typical order fulfilment process is a missed delivery —whatever the underlying reason may be.
A parcel locker can help you work around some of the reasons leading to missed deliveries, such as the unavailability of the recipient at the time of delivery or inaccessibility to the recipient’s exact address.
The delivery executive can deposit packages into the parcel locker to successfully fulfil customer orders.
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Enhanced Security
Whether your parcel locker is locked physically or with a smart lock, packages dropped in it are immediately more secure.
As a result, you never have to worry about parcel theft or delivering the package to the wrong recipients. Smart parcel lockers are even assigned a unique security code to prevent unauthorised access.
By ensuring that your package is more secure, all the stakeholders involved in the process can avoid potential liability risks.
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More Convenience
In a typical order fulfilment process, recipients may often end up tackling multiple calls or messages to coordinate with the delivery executive.
However, with the help of parcel lockers and self-storage delivery, individuals can access their packages at any time and not have to worry about coordinating with delivery and courier executives.
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Cost-Effective
Say you receive over thirty packages every day meant for different people in your office. Instead of designating them as separate packages and wasting more time and delivery costs, you can get them all delivered to parcel lockers owned by you.
This option is much more cost-efficient and reduces the costs and hassle associated with redistribution and sorting.
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Higher Efficiency for Couriers
For most customer orders and packages, you may be looking at multiple delivery attempts or a lengthy coordination. With parcel lockers, you can expedite parcel deliveries by depositing them in a locker, ensuring a shorter turnaround time.
How Does a Parcel Locker Work?
Now that we have covered parcel locker meaning and all the related basics, let us look at the process of navigating deliveries and order fulfilment using parcel lockers.
Parcel lockers can be of different types and dimensions, depending on the vendor designing and selling them. That said, they must choose if they want a physical locker with a traditional lock and key system, or a smart parcel locker that can be accessed using an authorisation code.
Both types of lockers eliminate the need for signing for the package or a personal receipt, making it easier to pick up and deliver packages within a parcel locker, at any time.
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Find & Register/Access the Locker
Firstly, you need to find and register for the right locker based on your requirements. You can find parcel lockers close to your location with the help of a simple online search, or you could also consider contacting a locker provider to check for availability near your location.
Depending on the type of locker you decide to proceed with, you can access it either using an authorisation code or a key.
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Deposit & Retrieve Packages
If you are depositing packages in the locker to be collected, you can do so by accessing the locker and placing the parcel inside. You can then update the recipient about the deposit and let them know the access code so that they can easily access the package.
The process of depositing and retrieving packages from a parcel locker ensures that only authorised parties have access to the package inside.
The process of working with a parcel locker to manage your package is straightforward. Depending on the provider and your locker type, you may also get access to additional security features other than the secure access codes.
You can expect surveillance cameras and tamper-proof locking mechanisms if your parcel locker is located in a secure location such as a commercial or residential building or a retail store.
6 Goods That Cannot Be Delivered to Parcel Lockers
We have now gone through everything there is to know about using parcel lockers for storing packages. Here are some of the other goods that cannot be delivered to parcel lockers, regardless of their type:
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Personal/Confidential Products
Personal and confidential packages warrant an extra layer of authentication or authorisation, making them impossible to deliver to a parcel locker, no matter how secure they may be.
Such goods may warrant discreet shipping or may even require the recipient’s details and signature to authorise the delivery.
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Precious Items
Precious items or parcels containing items of high value are treated the same way as personal or confidential items, preventing their delivery to a parcel locker. These valuable items may require additional security measures and insurance that add an extra layer of hurdle if you are considering a locker delivery.
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Perishable Goods
Some goods and items are perishable and have limited shelf life, such as food items or flowers. Such goods may often require you to implement refrigerated storage or other special environmental conditions, and should hence not be delivered to a parcel locker.
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Hazardous Goods
Any item that can be classified as hazardous should be treated so. Such items should be dealt with carefully, as they can contain harmful chemicals, batteries or flammable materials that should not remain unsupervised. Hence, such items should not be placed in parcel lockers.
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Oversized Items
When a customer is ordering an item, they have to be wary of their locker dimensions and ensure that it can fit inside the locker before ordering. If the item dimensions are larger than the locker, they must redirect the delivery to their address.
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Age-Restricted Items
When you are delivering items that require age-proof documents such as alcohol or tobacco products, you can not get them delivered to a parcel locker. Such items require the recipient to take the delivery in person so that they can comply with legal requirements and restrictions.
Concluding Remarks
Getting your packages delivered to your parcel locker is a great alternative to getting them delivered to your home or office address. Over the years, these lockers have revolutionised the way order fulfilment and eCommerce logistics operate, by giving users a flexible and secure option. As parcel lockers continue getting popular, they have transformed the order fulfilment process along with providing a seamless logistics experience to all the parties involved in the process.
Get a quote from the PACK & SEND website to partner up with a reliable and experienced 3PL service provider and streamline your order fulfilment process.