Integrating Technology • Section 6 T
his year was an unprecedented year for self-storage owner-operators. The global spread of COVID-19 forced operators of all sizes to develop new operational
procedures to safely accommodate both employees and cus- tomers. Most of the industry’s operators had to implement a number of a new procedures and technologies to adhere to local safety requirement madidates and continue operating. Many self-storage owner-operators were able to continue offering normal office hours by implemented mask require- ments, limiting the number of customers allowed in the office at any single time, and enacting new sanitation and cleaning protocols. Others removed managers from the of- fice altogether for a time, and then slowly began bringing employees back into the office as local ordinances allowed. Still others removed managers and employees from the of- fice and implemented new technologies that allowed facility employees to answer calls and video chats from centralized locations or from their homes. In 2020, the self-storage industry once again showed its recession resilience and out- performed may other sectors; however, self-storage owners had to remain nimble in 2020 and make larger investments in smart technology to help streamline online rentals and pro- vide customers with the option to have a no-contact rental experience.
While the industry certainly saw a dramatic rise in the
number of operators investing in smart security and access products and services to improve and accelerate contact- less rentals due to COVID-19, the pandemic was one of many factors contributing to the increased adoption of smart technology among self-storage developers and operators. Improving the customer experience, capturing more after- hours online rentals, competitive differentiation, improved audit trail and security monitoring, improving operational efficiencies, gathering additional data analytics for revenue management purposes, winning the war for millennial brand loyalty, and a heightened level of site and system security were among the most prevalent reasons storage owners cit- ed for adopting smart technology in 2020 and beyond.
Savvy business owners know that return on investment
(ROI) is the most important thing to consider when contem- plating any major investment into their storage business. When you restore, replace, or rebuild your storage facility by upgrading your buildings and doors, you can increase your rates, double your ROI per month, and even rebrand your business as a premium facility. And replacing unit doors may not take as long as you think. In fact, owners across the country do it all the time to compete with new, modern storage competitors. You can even include all-in-one exte- rior smart locks pre-installed on your new roll-up or swing doors, making it possible to transform your outdated facility into a high-security, smart facility with brand new doors in a weekend. The same is true for new construction; when own- er-operators budget for smart entry and advanced security
technology when developing a new facility, they’re enabling themselves to capture more rentals and set themselves apart from local competitors. This section highlights what products are available, why owners implemented these smart technology products in 2020, and customer satisfac- tion data.
Implementing smart entry technologies translates to
better marketing, higher rent rates, and can be a key fac- tor in accelerating lease-up and increasing revenue for your storage business.
A Note of the Smart Entry and Smart Unit Data: The smart unit data provided in this section was taken from a sample of 150,000 smart units across 350 smart facilities through- out the United States, Canada, and Europe. The facilities in the U.S. are geographically disperse and include data from smart facilities in all U.S. time zones across 45 U.S. states.
I. Smart Access and Security
Technology Products for Self-Storage: The Basics vs. Smart Entry
Security Product Basics The type of security features you’ll need for your business will depend heavily on your facility’s layout. This section fo- cuses on the two most common facility layouts: traditional, drive-up facilities and multi-level, temperature-controlled storage buildings.
Basics For Traditional Drive-Up Facilities The traditional model of sprawling concrete parking lot with drive-up mini warehouses is highly convenient
for
customers, but the most inviting to thieves. If your facil- ity is traditional and also offers motor vehicle, boat, and RV storage, you’re even more of a target. Storage thieves love expensive toys with wheels. As a drive-up storage facility owner, you’ll want to make sure you have these basic secu- rity tools in place:
• Perimeter fencing • Gate and entry access control • Unit locks •Lighting •Cameras
Basics For Multi-Level, Indoor Storage Buildings Multi-level, temperature-controlled storage buildings may be easier to fortify on the outside, but if the inside of the building isn’t also highly secure, it’ll be like fish in a barrel for thieves. Thieves know that more expensive items are more likely to be stored in temperature-controlled units, making them even more enticing. As an owner of a multi-level stor- age building, you’ll want to make sure you have these basic security tools in place:
2021 Self-Storage Almanac 53
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