Fight package theft with delivery management software

Package theft has become a huge, nationwide problem, giving rise to the need for a new kind or workplace technology—delivery management software. 

There’s no shortage of video clips on the news of people stealing packages from porches. Amazon boxes and FedEx envelopes are sitting ducks for thieves who casually walk up to your door and get away with free goods. Perhaps you’ve been a victim of a so-called “porch pirate” and experienced first-hand the anger and frustration of having packages taken from your front steps.

C&R Research found that 36% of Americans reported having a package stolen at least once in 2019 alone, and Edelman Intelligence reports that 74% of package theft occurs during the day when the recipient  is at work. The problem is so prevalent that Amazon has set up locker systems in Whole Foods grocery stores and other locations with their “ship to store” option, to reduce friction in the delivery process and quell consumers’ fears.

Businesses are helping out, too. In an effort to improve the workplace experience with a better work/life balance, many now encourage employees to have their packages delivered to work. Doing so alleviates the stress of worrying about unattended packages being pilfered from your porch, but creates new challenges for facility management professionals who must now receive, manage, and deliver an increasing volume of packages. Fortunately, delivery management software can help. 

This blog post explains how delivery management software can solve the challenges of managing deliveries and improve the workplace experience for everyone.

Make a better first impression

Wakefield Research’s workplace experience study found that 44% of people surveyed say a greeting at the door is the biggest influence on their first impression of an office when arriving for an interview. The same goes for any type of visitor—a warm welcome is the first step to making a great first impression. But front-desk staff can be preoccupied with manually checking in packages and ensuring they’re delivered to employees. This can impede their ability to properly welcome visitors—or even result in the front desk being unattended when a visitor arrives.

A delivery management system frees front-desk staff to make a better first impression by ensuring packages are checked in upon arrival. Advanced systems enable staff to scan delivery labels, and the information is automatically entered into the system. Automatic alerts can be sent to employees to let them know their package has arrived, so facility managers and receptionists don’t have to track down employees or carry boxes to their desks. Instead, they can focus on ensuring visitors are greeted and checked in properly.

Eliminate package stockpiling

Workplace experience expert Gina Bellaci says that a disorganized office lobby can leave a bad first impression. But with many employees opting to have their packages delivered to work, boxes can pile up quickly, cluttering the lobby and creating a big problem for facility managers. A lobby full of boxes is an eye sore and conveys to visitors a sense of chaos. 

A delivery management system helps front-desk staff keep the lobby uncluttered and organized by simplifying the process of checking in and delivering boxes to their rightful owners. In addition to automatic alerts, reminders can be sent to employees in case they don’t pick up their packages immediately. This can all take place within employees’ everyday workflows, so it’s convenient and unintrusive. In this way, packages don’t get lost or forgotten—and they’re moved out of the lobby quickly.

Track and report on deliveries to improve operations

In many offices, deliveries aren’t logged or tracked in any formal way. UPS drops off packages, and a receptionist puts the package on or behind the front desk. There is no formal record—or if there is one, it’s usually hand-written on paper. Manual delivery logs can contain errors and be damaged or lost, presenting a security risk or leaving organizations liable for lost packages. 

With a delivery management system in place, all deliveries are automatically logged upon scanning. Front-desk staff can require a photo or signature to prove the package was delivered to the employee, which is stored by the system and backed up in the cloud. Facility management can see the status of deliveries or check detailed delivery records at any time. Some systems even offer analytics and reporting features that can help improve operations over the long term.

Avoid the ecommerce overload 

According to Shopify, online shopping is expected to nearly double from $2.3 trillion to $4.5 trillion by 2021. And if it does, the number of packages delivered to the workplace will continue to grow substantially. A delivery management system can help you handle increasing workplace deliveries with finesse. 

But don’t wait until your lobby is so cluttered that your visitors can’t find the front desk! Get the ebook on how delivery management software can help you take control of the inevitable package onslaught.