Ed (CiPiO) and Freek (Holland2Stay) in front of the CiPiO box at Victoriapark Lighting, Eindhoven
Online shopping continues to grow in the Netherlands - and that’s something we see every day in our buildings. With more parcels being delivered than ever before, the question quickly became: how do we make this as easy and efficient as possible for our residents?
At Holland2Stay, improving the resident experience is part of our daily work. One example of this is the introduction of smart parcel lockers in our buildings. Behind this solution is Freek, Head of Operations, who plays a key role in turning insights from residents into practical improvements.
From feedback to action
Holland2Stay manages more than 13,500 homes across 26 cities in the Netherlands. Many of our residents are students and young professionals - a group that relies heavily on online shopping. With large-scale residential buildings, parcel delivery can quickly become a challenge.
Freek explains how this topic first came up: “From previous tenant satisfaction surveys, we noticed that parcel delivery was an area where we could improve in several buildings. Residents shared that packages sometimes went missing or delivery wasn’t always convenient. That was the moment we knew we had to look for a better solution.”
Listening to residents and acting on their feedback is a core part of Freek’s role. As Head of Operations, he manages all Area Managers throughout the Netherlands and continuously looks for ways to optimise daily operations in and around our buildings.
A smarter way to receive parcels
After exploring different options, parcel lockers turned out to be the most practical and scalable solution. In 2023, Holland2Stay partnered with CiPiO, developer of smart parcel lockers and part of VDL.
“The smart locker system works well for everyone involved,” Freek explains. “Delivery drivers don’t need to go door to door anymore, but can place parcels directly into the locker. Residents can pick up their packages whenever it suits them, and the chance of parcels getting lost is significantly reduced.”
The impact of this solution is clear. In buildings where parcel lockers have been installed, residents rated them with an average score of 8.4 in the tenant satisfaction survey. A result Freek is proud of. “When you see feedback like that, you know the effort was worth it.”
What makes CiPiO parcel lockers different?
CiPiO parcel lockers offer several advantages that fit well with Holland2Stay’s way of working:
- All delivery companies (PostNL, UPS, DHL, Amazon, etc.) can use them, not just one courier
- Residents don’t have to be home to receive a parcel
- Less traffic in and around the building, as couriers only stop once
“There are also some nice extra features,” Freek adds. “Residents can even use the lockers to exchange items with neighbours. If I want to return a book to someone in the building, I can place it in the locker, and they’ll get a notification.”
The CiPiO box can be used by all delivery companies - quick & easy
Part of a bigger picture
Parcel lockers are installed mainly in large-scale buildings with 100 or more apartments and are always tailored to the specific location. They can be placed indoors or outdoors and designed to match the building. “In existing buildings, residents and couriers sometimes need a bit of time to get used to the lockers,” Freek explains. “But in new developments, everything runs smoothly from day one. It’s simply part of the building.”
For Freek, this project is a good example of what working at Holland2Stay is all about: “Spotting opportunities, working together with partners, and turning ideas into practical solutions that really make everyday living easier. That’s what motivates me - and that’s what we do it for in the end.”
