In this digital era, there may be a steady decline in the use of printed mail, but the forecast is not as dreary as some might think. In fact, mailing volumes skyrocketed to a record level of 13 billion letters, cards, and packages during the pandemic in 2020, and demand for snail mail continues to remain strong. Even after a slight dip in mail and package volume year over year, Americans still mailed around 12 billion mail pieces between Thanksgiving and December in the last few years.

The fact that we still send billions of letters and packages every year indicates the durable demand for solutions and products that make mailing easier and more secure. One of the most in-demand mailing solutions is parcel lockers, which offer a centralized solution in a diverse array of scenarios, from apartments and condos to universities or shopping centers.

The beauty of parcel lockers as a storage solution is the sheer breadth of potential customers. Unlike many other products being added by office technology dealers, parcel lockers aren’t just used by businesses and enterprise customers. Examples of the diverse customers for parcel lockers are nearly endless and effectively encompass any use case where there is a concentrated population.

Parcel lockers also align with larger social trends, particularly for younger generations. First, even if Americans aren’t as interested in sending letters as their parents or grandparents, they love to shop online. Online sales — of which a substantial portion are delivered directly to the buyer — have grown exponentially to the point that they account for about 15% of total retail dollars spent annually. The pandemic supercharged this shopping habit, and it shows no sign of slowing down, either. Second, there continues to be healthy demand for residential developments that are perfectly suited to parcel lockers. For example, planned retirement communities, or apartment complexes in major metropolitan areas.

Modern parcel lockers are rather unique as products for office technology dealers. Enterprise customers benefit a lot from them, but they also can put dealers in front of customers they don’t normally get to prospect. They’re not only a perfect solution for a variety of use cases, but an incredible lead-generating tool.