A Custom Software Ecosystem for Smart Parcel Lockers

Project Goal

Coping with parcel deliveries, when residents are not available to collect is a growing challenge for property managers. Cubby Lockers, a pioneer in the locker industry wanted to provide a solution to this problem with their new line of smart lockers.

We needed to deliver a software solution that integrates with their hardware seamlessly and enables tracking, controlling, and taking care of parcel deliveries more efficiently while reducing the internal workload of managing the lockers.

A Quick Overview of the Feature Requirements

Solution

We developed a web-based service using a hub-and-spoke architecture. This architecture employed Kiosks and multiple locations controlled using a central system. Let’s have a detailed overview of the solutions we provided to make this project a success:-

Our team built a locker management module to let the client monitor system health, usage, and control via a secure cloud dashboard. Let’s go through some of the key features we provided to facilitate this smart locker business:

The admin dashboard allows the client to manage the buildings where his lockers were installed. He can use this functionality to add new buildings or manage the buildings where his smart parcel lockers were already installed.

This option allows the client to add the list of residents living in buildings using his smart locker services. He can add the name, apartment number, and contact details of each resident so that the system can send notifications to the concerned resident whenever a parcel is waiting for them in the lockers.

As the client has a team to provide maintenance services, we integrated a feature to manage building managers to automate locker management workflows. This feature is to assign, re-assign or delete the managers for the locker units from the ease of his admin dashboard.

The client was provided with an option to manage the locker units remotely. He can visit this section to view all the installed lockers with the ability to reset the electronic compartments of each locker unit listed on the dashboard. We integrated this feature to track hardware failures on terminals and reset lockers in case of lost pass codes.

The next part was to create a mobile application to work on tabs installed on the Smart locker units. Our team created an Android application that was integrated with the Client dashboard and was equipped with the following features:-

The delivery partners needed to follow a few steps to unlock the parcel compartments with electronic lockers. The first step was to choose the address of the building. The app displays all the buildings listed on the client’s portal, and the delivery partner can select the building’s address to proceed.

Once the building address is selected, the app displays the list of all the apartments present in it. The delivery partner can choose the relevant address from this list so that the system can send a notification to the concerned recipient to pick up his package from the locker.

We equipped the application with a feature to choose the parcel’s size, as the rugged lockers offered by the client have different locker sizes. Once the delivery partner selects the parcel’s size, an electronic locker with the appropriate size opens automatically.

Once the parcels are delivered, a notification is sent to the recipient to confirm that their parcel is ready to collect. The notification also contains a locker number and passcode that recipients need to open the locker and collect their parcels.

Final Words

These were some highlights of the solution we delivered for a smart parcel locker business. Our team is dedicated to delivering technology-based solutions that integrate into your space and processes. If you also wish to build integrated systems for parcel, storage, and food lockers let’s get in touch to get it done.