Parcel lockers have evolved from a convenient add-on to a critical part of modern fulfillment infrastructure. Businesses across retail, grocery, pharmacy, and nonprofit sectors are turning to smart lockers to solve for speed, cost, security, and customer experience.
In this guide, we’ll explore how businesses actually use parcel lockers—from improving last-mile efficiency to enabling secure, after-hours pickup—and share real-world examples and practical considerations for implementation.
Common business use cases for parcel lockers
Smart lockers are more than a delivery drop point. They offer flexible workflows and can be configured for customer, staff, or operational use. Here’s how businesses are deploying them:
- Click & Collect: Lockers streamline BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store), offering fast, unattended collection. Orders are packed by staff, loaded into the locker, and customers collect using a secure code—no queues, no waiting.
- Returns made easy: Retailers use lockers for returns, giving customers a secure, contactless way to drop off items. This frees up service counters and reduces pressure on staff during peak times.
- After-hours prescription pickup:
Lockers extend pharmacy services beyond staffed hours. Customers can collect prescriptions securely using a one-time PIN or QR code—even after the store has closed.
- Charitable food distribution: Food banks and pantries use smart food lockers to decentralize food distribution, offering recipients a private, flexible, and dignified way to access essential goods.
- Workplace use: Locker systems are also used in offices or logistics hubs for staff pickups, interoffice deliveries, and secure mail handling—reducing reliance on manned mailrooms.
Locker deployment models: owned vs. shared
When deploying parcel lockers, businesses typically choose between:
- Owned and operated lockers: These are installed on your premises, fully branded, and configured to your workflows. You maintain full control over access, scheduling, branding, and customer experience.
- Shared or networked lockers: Used across multiple businesses (like shopping centers or delivery networks). Lower upfront cost, but limited control over branding, data, and availability.
At Click n Collect, we specialise in owned and operated locker systems—helping businesses design, deploy, and manage lockers tailored to their brand, workflows, and infrastructure. While we don’t operate a shared locker network ourselves, we can provide the hardware and software to support organizations looking to build one.
How locker access and workflows are managed
A good locker system fits around your business—not the other way around. Here's how our clients manage access and automation:
- Secure access methods: PIN, QR, RFID, or even app-based access
- Multi-user roles: Separate staff and customer permissions for loading vs. collection
- Workflow flexibility: Configure for returns, multi-temp orders, or oversized item flags
- Notifications: SMS, email, or app alerts with configurable pickup reminders
- Analytics: Real-time reporting on collections, usage, dwell time, and system status
We also support integrations with your existing POS, OMS, or ecommerce platforms—removing the need for double-handling or manual data entry.
Real-world examples
Ready to explore lockers for your business?
Whether you’re looking to scale your click & collect program, improve returns, or offer after-hours pickup, Click n Collect’s smart lockers can reduce cost, improve experience, and free up staff.
Or head to our resources page for buyer’s guides and industry-specific advice.
