Comparison
Parcel lockers vs a package room
A package room relies on staff to receive, sort and hand over parcels, usually during desk hours. Smart parcel lockers let couriers deposit directly, notify the resident with a pickup code, and allow collection at any hour, with every deposit and pickup logged. Lockers suit buildings where parcel volume has outgrown the front desk.
Last updated:
| Smart parcel lockers | Package room | |
|---|---|---|
| Who handles parcels | The courier deposits directly into a compartment. | Staff receive, store and hand over each parcel. |
| Pickup hours | Any hour, every day. | Usually when the desk or room is staffed. |
| Notification | Automatic email or text message with a pickup code. | Depends on staff logging and contacting the resident. |
| Security | Each parcel is in its own locked compartment, opened only with the code. | Parcels share one room; access depends on who has the key. |
| Record of each parcel | Every deposit and pickup is logged automatically. | Depends on a manual log. |
| Space | Each box is 900 mm wide and 500 mm deep, against a wall. | A dedicated room or part of the lobby. |
| Oversized parcels | Oversize compartments in the same locker bank. | Stored on the floor or shelves. |
| As volume grows | Add Secondary Boxes, up to 480 doors. | More shelving, more floor space and more staff time. |
The problem
Why do package rooms stop working?
Package rooms do not scale with parcel volume. Three things tend to go wrong as deliveries increase:
- Lobby clutter. Parcels spill out of the room and into common areas, and deliveries are missed.
- Staff time. Front-desk and concierge staff spend their day receiving parcels and answering questions about them.
- No audit trail. When a parcel goes missing there is no reliable record of who collected it.
More detail in the hidden costs of lobby package management.
In practice
What happens when a building switches?
Ottawa, Canada · Multifamily: A residential property replaced front-desk parcel handling with authenticated locker pickup.
- Residents Supported
- 550
- Reduction in Staff Involvement
- 90%
- Parcels Managed Monthly
- 600
Fit
When is a package room still the right choice?
A package room can be enough for a small building with a staffed desk, few parcels a day, and residents who are usually home during desk hours. Many buildings keep a small room for exceptional items and move everyday parcels to lockers.
Not sure which side you are on? See what a locker system costs or read the short answers.
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