Online shopping continues to grow at a rapid pace, and multifamily communities are feeling the effects more than almost any other sector. In early 2025, U.S. e-commerce sales were up 5.3% year-over-year, reaching 15.5% of all retail spending, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. At the same time, global online shopping participation surpassed 2.7 billion digital buyers, reflecting a long-term shift toward online purchasing.
For multifamily operators, regional managers, and asset managers, this trend creates a daily operational reality: higher-than-ever delivery volume, greater pressure on staff, and the constant challenge of managing package piles at apartments. This blog breaks down how the surge in online shopping is reshaping multifamily communities and what forward-thinking properties are doing to keep up.
How Online Shopping Growth Is Impacting Multifamily Properties
As online shopping becomes a default behavior for residents of all ages, multifamily properties are seeing sustained increases in package traffic. National delivery carriers report heavier weekday volume, more same-day and next-day shipments, and a rise in oversized items. All of which hit multifamily mailrooms harder than single-family households.
Holiday periods amplify this even further. Deloitte’s 2024–2025 holiday retail forecast reported strong and continuing growth in e-commerce sales, with digital orders expected to outpace in-store spending during peak season. For apartment communities, this translates into weeks of overflowing lobbies, mailrooms blocked by boxes, and multiple carriers arriving within hours of each other.
And this isn’t a once-a-year problem anymore. The Census Bureau’s quarterly reporting shows that e-commerce sales have risen consistently for the last several quarters. High delivery volume has become a year-round operational pressure point. This means communities must have a reliable system in place, not just a seasonal plan.
Why Package Piles Are Becoming a Serious Operational Challenge
The impact of online shopping on multifamily is most visible in the strain it places on under-equipped buildings. Traditional mailrooms, front desks, and temporary shelving systems simply weren’t designed for hundreds of weekly deliveries.
Without the right infrastructure, communities experience:
- Overflowing Lobbies and Mailrooms
Package piles create cluttered, unsafe conditions. In some buildings, carriers cannot access the intended drop-off area and leave boxes scattered throughout the property instead.
- Lost, Misdelivered, or Stolen Packages
Unsecured package areas increase the risk of theft. When residents can’t find their packages, frustration rises and staff must spend time handling complaints.
Package lockers have risen as effective solutions for security but you may be asking, How Secure Are Package Lockers? Learn more in our blog!
- Increased Labor Burden for On-Site Teams
Leasing teams already juggle tours, renewals, and resident support. Spending hours per day sorting and distributing packages isn’t sustainable. We’ve found that staff can waste up to 2 hours per day on average simply handling packages!
- Carrier Difficulties and Delivery Delays
When carriers can’t easily drop off packages, some deliveries get marked as “attempted” and are delayed or returned. Multifamily managers know this isn’t just an inconvenience; it directly affects resident satisfaction, online reviews, and renewals.
Why Smart Package Infrastructure Has Become Essential
As delivery volume continues to escalate, properties across the country are turning to smart package solutions to control the chaos. For most communities, this means investing in modern systems designed to handle high capacity, provide secure storage, and ensure residents can retrieve deliveries 24/7.
Smart Package Lockers & Rooms
Automated package lockers and rooms give carriers a predictable, secure drop-off point and give residents confidence that their packages are safe.
Lockers resolve the core issues behind package piles:
- No lobby overflow
- No unattended boxes
- No staff sorting labor
- Fast, self-serve pickup
Secure, efficient delivery is essential so it’s no wonder communities are turning to smart package systems to solve the package challenge. Find the best package solution for you in this guide to multifamily package management.
Temporary Add-Ons for Increased Delivery Periods
There is hardly a moment when an Amazon truck or carrier isn’t stopping by your community during the holiday season. During these heavier periods it can be helpful to add additional smart locker towers to your system to optimize delivery without committing to a larger purchase. Flex Lockers by Luxer One are one of the ways you can ensure deliveries run smoothly during these fluctuating seasons.
On-Site Package Management Staff
During peak seasons, especially November and December, many communities supplement their systems with dedicated staff. Luxer Liaisons provide on-site support to keep systems running, ensure compliance with carrier best practices, and prevent the holiday “pileup” effect.
Preparing for the Holiday Delivery Spike
Every year, we see properties underestimate just how intense the holiday surge will be. Our seasonal guide, Prepare for Holiday Package Piles, documents how delivery volume can spike dramatically within a six-week window.
Communities that don’t prepare often deal with:
- Overflowing mailrooms
- Safety and liability concerns
- Rising resident complaints
- Staff burnout
Adding, expanding, or optimizing your package management system before the holiday crush is the best way to stay ahead.
Long-Term Trends Show Online Shopping Isn’t Slowing Down
E-commerce isn’t returning to pre-pandemic levels, but rather it is steadily increasing each quarter. Younger residents, hybrid workers, and remote-first households are ordering more items online, more frequently, and in larger quantities.
That means the impact of online shopping on multifamily is permanent, not seasonal. Modern communities must build for this reality with long-lasting, scalable systems that can adapt to rising resident expectations.
For more industry perspective on operational challenges, see Top Challenges for Property Managers in 2026, which highlights how package management is becoming a top-three pressure point for multifamily teams.
Conclusion: Smart Package Management Is Now a Must-Have
Online shopping shows no signs of slowing, and multifamily communities must plan for a future where package volume is consistently high. By investing in the right mix of package management solutions, properties can dramatically reduce operational strain while providing a far better experience for residents.
If you’re ready to reduce package piles, improve resident satisfaction, and bring long-term efficiency to your community, contact us. We can help you evaluate your current setup and build a smarter, scalable package management solution tailored to your property.
