As the self storage industry evolves, the need for technology assessment and improvement becomes increasingly crucial. This process ensures that self-storage facilities remain competitive, efficient, and responsive to the ever-changing needs of their customers. Let’s explore the significance of technology assessment and improvement in the self-storage industry and how it shapes the future of storage solutions.
Understanding the Role of Technology in Self-Storage
The self-storage industry has witnessed a technological transformation over the past few years. Technology has enhanced storage facilities’ security, efficiency, and user experience, from digital access systems to advanced surveillance cameras. But as with any technological landscape, there’s always room for growth and enhancement. This is why periodic reviews and assessment of your technology is required. Technology continues to advance rapidly, and without frequent reviews, you risk falling behind your competitors. More importantly, your customers demand the convenience technology provides so don’t let a stale tech stack make it easy for your customers to go elsewhere.
The Essence of Technology Assessment
Technology assessment is a comprehensive review of the existing technological tools, systems, and processes in place at a self-storage facility. It evaluates these tools’ effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance in the current marketplace. By identifying areas of improvement, gaps in the system, or potential risks, technology assessment provides a roadmap for future technological investments and upgrades.
Driving Improvement Through Assessment
Once the assessment phase is complete, the next step is strategizing on any improvements found during the process. For example, it could mean upgrading outdated surveillance systems, integrating cloud-based management software, or even adopting artificial intelligence-driven customer service tools. The goal is to ensure that the technology in place not only meets the current industry standards but also anticipates future trends and customer needs.
Benefits of Technology Improvement in Self-Storage
- Enhanced Security: One of the primary concerns customers have when choosing a self-storage facility is security. By regularly assessing and upgrading security systems, storage facilities can provide state-of-the-art protection for their customers’ belongings, giving them confidence their items are safe at your facility.
- Operational Efficiency: Modern management software can streamline operations, from reserving and renting units and managing contracts to invoicing and customer communication. Regular technological improvements ensure that these processes remain seamless and efficient, in addition to reducing expenses through automation.
- Improved Customer Experience: With the rise of digital natives as a significant customer segment, providing tech-savvy solutions like mobile apps for unit access or virtual tours of the facility can significantly enhance the user experience.
- Cost Savings: Although technological upgrades require investment, they often lead to long-term cost savings. Automated systems help reduce labor costs, energy-efficient solutions can lower utility bills, and efficient management software can reduce administrative costs.
Challenges and Considerations
While technology assessment and improvements are vital, it’s essential to use the process to define a long-term strategy to future proof your tech stack. Moreover, it’s crucial to ensure that any new technology adopted aligns with the facility’s goals, is user-friendly for both staff and customers, and offers tangible benefits in terms of security, efficiency, or customer experience.
Final Thoughts
Like every other industry, the self-storage industry confronts a never-ending evolution of technological advances. Customer wants and needs evolve too, triggering the need for storage facilities to implement periodic technology assessment and improvement is paramount. By embracing this process, self-storage facilities can ensure they remain at the forefront of the industry, offering top-notch services that resonate with modern customer’s needs. In the digital age, technology is not just a tool; rather, it’s the bridge that connects businesses to their customers, and in the realm of self-storage, it’s the key to unlocking success.
Do you have a technology assessment and improvement question or any other question related to owning, operating, acquiring, or building a self storage facility? Contact Peter Spickenagel at 248-600-4970.
Peter Spickenagel, President and CEO of Citizen Storage Management, is a nationally recognized expert in self-storage management. A frequent speaker at national conferences, he advises industry leaders and owners on key topics such as Revenue Management, Operational Best Practices, Creative Marketing Campaigns, and technology trends.
