If you've ever lived in an apartment, you know how difficult it can be to receive packages. They get lost, misplaced, or dropped in front of the wrong door all the time. Amazon wants to change this with what is essentially a big digital storage unit for your apartment building. Amazon Hub is a new system that's similar to the online retailer's locker units that safely stores packages inside locked boxes so you can retrieve your items whenever is most convenient for you by using a special unlock code.

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According to the Hub webpage, it's built for use by residents of apartment buildings and housing complexes. Indoor and outdoor "hubs" are available, depending on the layout of the apartment structure, and the physical unit starts at 6 feet wide and includes over 20 compartments. When a package is delivered, it is safely stored in a locked box. Residents use the touchscreen keypad to enter a unique code that unlocks the individual unit that contains their package. Residents can pick up packages at any time since the hub doesn't require personnel to operate. Amazon is billing it as "self-service delivery" and a system that can benefit apartment owners by "freeing you and your staff from daily package management."

Hubs are not exclusively for Amazon packages, either. The company says any delivery service can use hubs, meaning residents could get packages from USPS, FedEx, UPS, and others delivered to the locked boxes. It's unclear how those companies would deliver unlock codes to residents, though. Amazon would likely send residents their unlock code via e-mail or through the Amazon mobile app.

Hubs take Amazon Lockers and make them even more convenient by putting them in your building. Amazon Lockers are located across the country and allow customers to send shipments to a locker location so they can avoid missing a delivery and pick up their package at another location at their convenience. Many locker locations are open 24 hours, but others are not, restricting your ability to pick up packages or drop off returns. With hubs, however, there are no time restrictions—residents would only need to walk elsewhere in their building to get their deliveries.

In addition to convenience, hubs seem to be a good solution to the package management problem many apartment buildings have—especially those in big cities without doormen or on-site staff. Packages often get tossed about in these buildings, and it can be difficult to ensure your package isn't lost or stolen before you arrive home to get it. Those who want a hub in their building will have to convince management, though, and Amazon has an online form for apartment managers to fill out if they're interested.