Section 11 • Security The rate of adoption of tenant and operator facing mobile
apps has only accelerated with the effects of COVID-19 on businesses. Social distancing measures and studies around the spread of coronavirus on surfaces have tenants and oper- ators searching for ways to minimize contact with others and shared devices (like keypads). Increased demand and ease of implementation have led to rapid growth with tenant-facing access control app downloads up by 63 percent since the be- ginning of 2020. See Chart 11.5 on page 109.
Apps have become a valuable tool in operators’ response
to the pandemic, but these benefits extend past contactless entry, and this rate will only continue to increase as REITs and other large operators continue to launch and expand their mobile capabilities. Like CubeSmart’s recent tenant app de- ployment, many operations will look to move much of the interactions that were traditionally handled in person to an app that enables convenient anytime, anywhere accessibility.
Anytime, Anywhere Cloud Access Cloud-based software has become ubiquitous as companies look to migrate systems to reliable and scalable offerings that enable access to core business functions from any loca- tion. In self-storage, this pattern is no different as property management software, access control systems, and smart devices have become the standard. In 2020, the percentage of cloud-based access control solutions has grown by 43 per- cent as a percentage of total new systems2.
Operators looking to build a streamlined, highly efficient
model consider cloud-based security a must-have because of its many benefits:
• Remote accessibility through a web browser means that key actions like monitoring site activity, pulling reporting, and adjusting access can all be done regard- less of location. This is especially relevant as companies consider unmanned or semi-manned facilities or as they continue social distancing measures.
• Automated backups mean that your access control setup is always safe from incidents like natural disasters or a computer crash, keeping your operation running smoothly no matter what gets thrown at it.
• Multi-site management gives owners and operators responsible for multiple sites the ability to quickly and easily review access control information through a single platform. This functionality makes it easy to pull reporting, compare site performance, and promptly respond to incidences without needing to be on site.
• Real-time updates and improved support ensure that your portfolio is always running the latest version and can quickly resolve any issue that arises.
110 Self-Storage Almanac 2021
Unit Security – More Than Monitoring As covered earlier, unit-level security measures provide an added layer of protection for the tenant, but they also carry operational benefits and minimize wasted time.
to
• Overlocking can be automated through electronic smart locks. Should a tenant become delinquent, the integrated access control software will automatically restrict access to the facility and remain locked without having to add secondary locks manually.
• Increase collections by restricting unit access even if the tenant tailgates onto the property. The robust smart lock will remain locked until the bill is paid and the restriction is lifted.
• Performing lock checks is as simple as reviewing a webpage with unit-level visibility. Devices are listed out, detailing whether a unit has been left open or unlocked, thus minimizing the time spent walking the entire property.
Security technology is an investment that can yield many
operational benefits when leveraged to its fullest capacity. Going past selecting what products to purchase and how to tie them all together, a security integrator will also help operations get the highest return on these investments. Con- sidering the operational benefits of security technology will help eliminate time spent on manual tasks like walking the floor, visiting a site to review activity logs, and manually over- locking delinquent tenants.
Despite the dynamic nature brought on by increased
competition and the global pandemic, operators still have a full set of tools at their disposal to create a profitable busi- ness. Security technology can play a pivotal role in a facility’s financial health by protecting tenant and facility property while also creating more efficient workstreams. A technol- ogy-enabled operation will be better positioned to ensure their business is agile enough to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.
Sources:
1 – Yardi Matrix National Self-Storage Report, September 2020
2 – PTI Security Systems, New System Sales Data
boost collections
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