If you own a condo, you know how difficult managing packages at your building can be. Since virtually all the residents in your building receive deliveries weekly — if not daily — a convenient package management solution that reduces the risk of lost or stolen packages is a must-have for your building.
Fortunately, there are many efficient delivery management solutions that you can implement at your condo building to ensure safe and secure deliveries for every resident in your building.
Key package theft insights
With USPS shipping and package volume increasing year-over-year — and clocking in at 7.6 billion in 2021 — package theft is an important issue to address at condos. In fact, 54% of Americans reported getting their packages stolen in March 2022, with the average theft valued at $50.
Package theft impacts every type of condo property, from small walk-ups to sprawling gated communities, so it’s essential to enact measures that help mitigate that risk.
Your options for condo package management
Many smaller condo buildings don’t have a staffed front desk, which means delivery couriers often leave packages in the lobby — or worse, outside the building. Even at larger condo buildings that do have a staffed front desk, accepting and organizing dozens of parcels a day is an inefficient use of staff’s time. And at gated properties, couriers may not be able to gain access to complete their deliveries.
You and your fellow residents want to ensure that packages are not only delivered safely, but are also stored in a secure location that you can easily access at your convenience.
Here are a few ways to do just that:
- Package lockers
- Package rooms
- Offsite package storage services
- Package lockboxes
What to consider when choosing a package management system
Package lockers and package rooms are the most convenient delivery management systems for condo buildings. But which should you choose? This decision ultimately comes down to your community’s needs.
Here are 4 questions to consider when choosing a package locker or package room:
- How much space is available? First, you need to determine the best area for the package locker or package room to be located. This area should be secure and large enough to accommodate every delivery at your property.
- How many residents live in the building? In a high-density community, a package room is the better option to accommodate the large influx of daily deliveries. They’re also better for accommodating large packages like furniture.
- Is it convenient for delivery couriers? If you have a package management system that’s difficult for delivery workers to use, they will often choose not to use it. This leads to couriers dropping off packages on the curb or lobby, which significantly increases the risk of package theft.
- Does it integrate well with other systems? Having a package management solution that integrates well with other systems you already use — like your condo management software and access control system — will maximize efficiency.
Overall, the best package management system for condo buildings is usually a package room because it provides ample storage, is easy for couriers and residents to access, and makes use of existing space in your building.
Your building entry system matters
The key to preventing package theft and ensuring seamless deliveries to your condo starts with your building’s entry system. After all, the first step to delivering packages safely is gaining access to the property.
A smart video intercom facilitates seamless deliveries by ensuring couriers can gain property access without assistance from residents or front desk staff. Residents or the board can assign delivery access codes to popular carriers like UPS, USPS, and FedEx. Couriers can then enter their assigned delivery code on the intercom to gain access. And for couriers who don’t have an assigned code, they can request access directly from a resident, who can let them in from anywhere using their smartphone.
Simultaneously, a video intercom empowers residents and staff to see who’s at the door or gate of your property before letting them in. This boosts security and discourages potential porch pirates from trying to enter and steal residents’ packages.
So overall, a smartphone-based video intercom system aids in the delivery process by:
- Allowing couriers to easily enter the property, or request property access directly from a resident.
- Empowering residents to grant access to delivery carriers from anywhere using their smartphones.
- Giving residents the ability to manage courier access permissions, such as delivery PINs, remotely.
- Allowing residents to send temporary delivery passes to one-time couriers like Postmates and Amazon drivers.
Conclusion
Cohesive delivery management is a necessity for condo buildings, especially those with a lot of residents. The right solution paired with an effective property entry system goes a long way in ensuring that deliveries won’t be lost, stolen, or misplaced.
