There is provided a system and method for operating at least one electronic parcel compartment facility. The parcel compartment facility comprises several compartments in a number amounting to F, with which mailpieces of at least two user groups A and B having different access rights can be deposited into the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, whereby the parcel compartment facility is in communication with a central data processing unit. The occupation status of the compartments of the parcel compartment facility is transmitted to the data processing unit so that the number Y of different sizes of free compartments of the parcel compartment facility is stored in a memory of the data processing unit. The central data processing unit is also in communication with at least one mail distribution center where destination information about the mailpieces is acquired, whereby the destination information is associated with the parcel compartment facility. An exemplary method comprises specifying a period of time Z between a starting point in time and an ending point in time and storing the period of time Z in a data processing unit of the mail distribution center. The exemplary method also comprises acquiring destination information and sizes of the mailpieces in the mail distribution center using a data acquisition device. The exemplary method additionally comprises determining the X number of mailpieces whose destination information acquired during the period of time Z matches the destination information of the parcel compartment facility by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center and transmitting the number X by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center to the central data processing unit. The exemplary method further comprises comparing the number X to the number Y of free compartments and assigning X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to a first user group A by the central data processing unit if Y≧X. The exemplary method also comprises transmitting a control command for the reservation of the X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility assigned to the first user group A by the data processing unit to a control unit of the parcel compartment facility, and subtracting the number X of reserved compartments from the number Y of free compartments for purposes of determining the number V of available compartments remaining in the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method additionally comprises assigning at least some of the remaining available compartments V to a second user group B, if V>1 and transmitting a control command for a reservation of the compartments assigned to the second user group B from the data processing unit to the control unit of the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method further comprises acquiring user identifications and/or mailing information through a user interface at the parcel compartment facility and associating a user and/or a mailpiece with the user groups A or B on the basis of the acquired user information and/or mailing information. The exemplary method also comprises controlling access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility on the basis of the reservations made for the two user groups A and B and determining a point in time P by the control unit of the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method additionally comprises canceling the reservations of compartments for the user groups A and B after the point in time P and releasing access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to all user groups.