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by ianburrell 913 days ago
How many places get enough packages to need a box? Is it dropped on the street? Who is going to bring it inside? Who is going to take the packages from the boxto the locker that tenants use? Or if they use the box, how going to keep them from swiping packages?

If you are going to do smaller containers, what makes sense is one that fits a standard pallet. Then it can used for deliveries between businesses. Probably don't need a box but smart dolly. Then can use existing trucks and vans.

Finally, why automate it? The delivery services could send a van with a large box containing packages. Most packages are small so a tote would work. I'm sort of surprised they don't do this already,

1 comments

That's why I preempt my proposed solution by saying that many apartment buildings already have Luxer One installed. For this type of a setup, optimizing package delivery seems like the next logical step. Buildings like that already have service people who deal with various package-related tasks.

It wouldn't make as much sense to batch deliver to single-family houses, but apartments—and in some cases gated communities—could process a dropped-off container every morning.

When I look into what goes into managing an apartment building, I notice that there are many similar jobs they do regularly. E.g. taking out large containers with trash at a specific time. This could be a similar process: pick up a container, move it to Luxer One, and plug it into the system. With further Luxer One optimization, it would be possible to automate the task of scanning and notifying tenants. So the added job for humans would be just to wheel in the container, plug it into Luxer One and then take the empty container out before the next delivery.

> How many places get enough packages to need a box?

My guess is all apartment buildings (perhaps 50+ apartments).

> Finally, why automate it? The delivery services could send a van with a large box containing packages

Because we are already on this path. Why add even more congestion during the day to accommodate the rapidly expanding delivery industry, when we could batch deliver at night? I agree, that MVP could rely on human-driven vans, but ideally that would also be automated.