ELECTRONIC LOCKERS EVOLVED – THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

Capitalizing on the convenience afforded by cloud connectivity, today’s electronic lockers come with many options and features that improve both the user experience and the operational efficiency.

Lockers are simply a box with a door and a lock, right? Perhaps that was true back in the day. But in the twenty-first century, lockers have evolved into something much smarter. Today we engineer intelligent lockers that go beyond secure storage to provide a wide variety of services. These smart lockers serve a multitude of diverse applications, and the list of potential applications is always growing.

With over 120 years of manufacturing and supplying security solutions, American Locker has been at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry. The pioneers of the locker industry first used a metal padlock-and-key system, the most fundamental way of keeping visitors’ possessions safe. With the advent of commercial travel, the need for secure lockers was born. The old slogan, “the key is the check,” harkened to a time where coat checks were staffed at the theatre and a paper ticket issued. The introduction of coin- or token-operated lockers reduced the need for patrons to queue and interact with staff to secure their belongings. Improved efficiency was the driving force for change.

With today’s consumer demand for efficiency and convenience, there is an expectation that every service is available, on demand, 24/7, and is quick and simple to use. Although mechanical lockers are still very much in use at municipal facilities, schools and universities, more and more electronic lockers are becoming commonplace. They are especially suited to applications with high user throughput, or where secure locker management with seamless reporting is required.

Today’s electronic lockers come with many options and features that make the most of cloud connectivity, improving both the user experience and operational efficiency.

Positive Identification – using credit cards to collect items, secure biometric information which includes retina, facial recognition and fingerprint is required. Bar code scanners can also be used to track packages to and from a location. Guest rentals can be activated using RFID badges, electronic cards or bracelets. Cameras can also be integrated, to automatically store images of the collector for increased package security.

Secure Retrieval – consumer retrieval can be via PIN or barcode transmitted by email or text message. Lockers can be rented and opened from a local kiosk, or opened with a configurable PIN keypad on each locker.

Payment Options – locker rental payments can be integrated with retail point of sale (POS) systems, paid for by credit card or cash on a local locker kiosk, or purchased in advance with online reservation systems.

Remote Monitoring – locker rental data can be analyzed online, showing peak demand and locker location and size usage. Full remote support can troubleshoot and gather real-time data.

Electronic notification – consumers can receive remote notification of locker status and shipment arrival, offering them personalized, secure pickup from various designated locations.

The growth in e-commerce and increasing expectations around convenience are driving the growth of applications for electronic delivery solutions. With the growth of e-tailers like Amazon, traditional brick and mortar retailers are increasingly looking beyond tried and trusted methods of reaching their customers. American Locker will stay at the forefront of electronic locker solutions that meet the changing world we live in.

Our years of innovative American manufacturing have led us to create the widest range of customized solutions in the industry.

Invented here. Made here. That’s American Ingenuity.