Guide · Decision
Parcel software vs parcel lockers: which is right for your building?
Lockers are the obvious answer until you price them. For a staffed desk, software does the same job on the device you already own — and the hybrid option covers unstaffed hours without the full hardware bill.
Disclosure: published by ConciergeDeck, a parcel software vendor. Locker costs are indicative UK installed prices; verify with installers.
The short version
Staffed desk: software. Unstaffed hours: hybrid lockers.
If your building has a staffed front desk, parcel software is the cost-effective answer: roughly £59–£150/month, no hardware, intake at the counter while the courier waits, and signed collection with a full record. Lockers make sense when the desk is unstaffed for long stretches or residents demand 24/7 collection. The hybrid — software in staffed hours, a small locker bank out-of-hours — is what most BTR operators end up with.
- Software
No size limits, no hardware, personal handover, full audit trail.
- Lockers
24/7 access, self-service, but capital cost and size limits.
- Hybrid
Desk during the day, lockers at night — covers both without a full locker room.
The cost
The five-year cost of each approach.
A locker bank for a 150-unit building is typically a five-figure install plus a service contract, and the modules are tied to the building for their working life. Software for the same building is a predictable monthly figure with no capital outlay and no installation. Over five years the software route is usually a fraction of the locker route — and if the desk setup changes, software moves with it.
| Parcel software | Parcel lockers | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | £0 | £8,000–£30,000+ installed |
| Ongoing | £59–£150/month | Service contracts + maintenance |
| Hardware | Existing iOS/Android device | Dedicated locker bank + power/network |
| Oversized parcels | No limit | Module size limits |
| Staffed hours | Full service | Unused |
| Unstaffed hours | Not covered | 24/7 self-service |
The hybrid
When both is the right answer.
BTR schemes with late-arriving residents often run software at the desk during staffed hours and a modest locker bank for out-of-hours collection. The desk handles intake and holds parcels that will not fit a module; lockers cover the overnight collection window. Several parcel platforms integrate with locker systems so the handover between the two is automatic.
- Intake stays at the desk
Logging in takes seconds while the courier is there — no courier-side locker training.
- Out-of-hours goes to lockers
Residents collect overnight without staff.
- One record
Every parcel has one history whether it left via the desk or a locker.
Common questions
Questions about lockers vs software.
Are parcel lockers worth it for a staffed building?
Usually not for the parcel room itself. A staffed desk handles intake, safe holding and signed collection on an existing device for a fraction of the hardware cost. Lockers earn their capital cost mainly where the desk is unstaffed for long periods or where residents want 24/7 self-collection.
How much do parcel lockers cost in the UK?
Installed locker systems typically run from roughly £8,000 to £30,000+ per building depending on module count and installation, plus ongoing service contracts. Parcel software for a staffed desk starts at about £59/month with no hardware.
Can software and lockers work together?
Yes. Several parcel platforms integrate with locker systems, so the desk uses software during staffed hours and lockers handle out-of-hours. That hybrid keeps capital cost down while covering 24/7.
What about oversized or irregular parcels?
Lockers have size limits and odd-shaped parcels often fail to fit, which is why staffed desks still handle them manually even in locker buildings. Software has no size limit.
Do residents prefer lockers or the desk?
It varies. Desk collection is personal and handles odd parcels, but is limited to staffed hours. Lockers offer 24/7 access but add a walk to the parcel room and a PIN/QR flow. Many buildings choose the desk plus a hybrid locker option.
Put ConciergeDeck on the desk
Run a real parcel room for 30 days.
Software-first, no hardware, and if lockers come later the desk record is already digital.