Are you frustrated with your package deliveries in your condo?
In this blog, our Guest Blogger, Catherine Chen explores the new normal in condominiums package deliveries, 8am to 9pm Every Day!
For those who live in condominiums like me, we have quickly adjusted to the new normals since the beginning of COVID-19: mandatory masks in the common areas, MAX 3 people in the elevator, no indoor gathering with individuals outside one’s household, the list goes on and on.
However, there is a new normal that has been affecting the community collectively, residents, property manager and concierge – a rising tide of package deliveries. Condo buildings had already experienced 60 percent online deliveries increase year over year prior to COVID-19. And now, everyday is Black Friday. The unprecedented volume of packages is one thing. The packages have become more difficult to store with residents ordering such heavy and oversized items as mattress, TV, tables, diapers, dog food and cat litter. The pictures below are snapshots of the current package situation in condominiums.
It’s part of my job to meet and talk to the property managers and concierge to learn this issue in depth and their pain points as well. What I’ve heard in common is, “we receive a lot of packages every day. This is the new normal now.” So how many packages are delivered to condominiums daily? Let’s take a look at the table below — the numbers are based on my interviews with the concierge and watching the package flow in various buildings
| # of Condo Units | Average # of Packages Delivered per day |
| 100 – 200 | 75 |
| 200 – 300 | 110 |
| 300 – 400 | 150 |
| 400 – 500 | 210 |
| 500 – 600 | 260 |
| 600 – 700 | 310 |
Do you know each package takes the concierge about 10 minutes to handle, from signing off on receipts, processing it into its system, notifying residents and finding it in the storage room? When we do simple math, it’s not hard to conclude that the concierge spends a lot of time on packages — although their primary task is to ensure the security and safety of the residents.
Some condominiums are considering solutions like space expansion and smart-lockers, if they haven’t already done so. These existing solutions, however, are not sustainable. You may wonder why.
Smart-lockers were great when they first came out, an amazing invention. They take space, a lot of space. And the locker compartments are limited (32, 64, 128) due to the increasing package volume and odd sizes. Most importantly, couriers refuse to spend time to put packages in the lockers one by one — in particular, Canada Post which counts for nearly 40% of the package deliveries! It’s not something the property manager and condo board would know, unfortunately. When the packages are left on the floor unattended, it leads to potential package theft.
In some condominiums, staff rooms, party rooms and even space in the parking garage were converted to store the packages. When COVID hit, the property manager and condo board suddenly realized, “Oh no, we need more space!” Where to find extra space though? Rooftop?
Interestingly, the real estate developers are aware of the package storage issue. I have met quite a few reputable players in the industry, and was told that they couldn’t leave a meeting without talking about package receiving for new condo developments. And they realized that the designated storage space was no longer sufficient halfway through the construction. Moreover, when they consulted with property managers for the new developments, they were told not to consider smart-lockers for the reasons stated above.
The bottom line is the package receiving issue is relatively new to everyone in the ecosystem. A VP at a large real estate development company said, “we use smart-lockers for now because we don’t know what else is out there – we have nothing to compare to.”
The truth is that online shopping will not slow down in the future. Instead, it’s here to stay. According to FedEx, 100 million packages will be delivered per day by 2026. The question is where to get extra space to store all the packages?
MyShoperon (https://myshoperon.com/) is a Toronto-based startup facilitating safe and secure package receiving for high-rise residential buildings.
We take a multiplayer ecosystem approach to solve the final leg of the last mile delivery problem. Our platform connects trustworthy neighbours to collect packages for each other.
Growth in last-mile deliveries and issues such as missed deliveries and package theft over the next decade could worsen commutes and hurt the environment in the world’s major cities.It’s time to shape the direction of package delivery – one package at a time.
For further inquiries, please contact info@myshoperon.com.
Catherine Chen is the Founder and CEO of MyShoperon, and an alumna of the Founder Institute Silicon Valley.
Before joining the startup world, Catherine, as the first non-lawyer, led the global Information Governance practice at Baker & McKenzie, one of the largest law firms in the world. She advised Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Disney and JPMC. And under her leadership, the team won Innovation in the Business of Law: Integrated Solutions at 2016 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers (North America).
Catherine also worked on high-profile international trade cases in Washington, DC.
