How To Manage A Remote Self-Storage Management Facility?
by Abdul Aziz Mondal Technology Published on: 17 January 2023 Last Updated on: 19 October 2024
Owning a self-storage unit is a great way to make money and provide an essential service to your community. However, managing one can be challenging, especially if you’re doing it yourself. If that’s the case for you, consider outsourcing some of your responsibilities by hiring a professional self-storage management company. Here are some tips that will help you hire such a company.
What Is A Remote Self-Storage Management Facility?
A remote self-storage management facility is a storage facility that is managed remotely, typically through technology. This facility allows customers to access and manage their storage units without being physically present. This can be done through a website, mobile app, or other remote access technology.
The facility can provide customers with various features, such as access control, payment processing, and inventory management. Remote self-storage management facilities are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a convenient and secure way for customers to store their items.
Due to the benefits that remote self-storage management brings to both users and service providers, they are becoming a go-to option for both temporary and long-term storage options. According to Brand Essence Research’s market analysis, the global self-storage market will reach $78.21 billion in 2019 and $123.14 by 2026.
What Are The Benefits OF A Remote Self-Storage Management Facility?
Remote self-storage management facilities offer a range of benefits to both storage facility owners and customers. For owners, remote self-storage management facilities provide a convenient and cost-effective way to manage their storage facilities.
Owners can access their facility remotely and make changes or updates to their facility without having to be present physically. This reduces the need for costly travel and allows owners to manage their facilities anywhere.
For customers, remote self-storage management facilities offer a secure and convenient way to store their belongings. Customers can access their storage unit remotely and make changes or updates to their unit without having to physically be present. This allows customers to access their belongings from anywhere in the world easily and ensures that their belongings are safe and secure.
Remote self-storage management facilities also offer a range of other benefits, such as automated billing, 24/7 customer service, and easy access to inventory information. Remote self-storage facilities are also becoming useful for the residential sector. Hence, their use is gaining popularity, with around 10.6% of families renting such facilities for storing their goods.
Tips For Managing A Remote Self-Storage Facility
While managing a remote self-storage facility, it can get easier by following the right tips. Here are some tips you can consider.
1. Focus on the Customer Service
As a self-storage manager, it’s your job to ensure that your customers have a great experience interacting with your facility. The best way to do this is by focusing on customer service.
Customer service is not just about being friendly and approachable. It’s about enriching the experience of customers at various touchpoints throughout their journey with you. To give this standard of service, you should:
- Provide a clean and safe environment for your clients to store their belongings
- Respond quickly and efficiently when clients contact you with questions or concerns
- Offer multiple storage options so that everyone can find something that works for them
This customer service is vital for ensuring your self-storage facility remains occupied throughout the year. According to data from S&P Global, the national self-storage occupancy in the US was around 91.5% in 2020’s first quarter and grew to over 96% by 2021’s third quarter. This shows that more and more people are hiring self-storage, and by offering enhanced customer service, you can capitalize on this opportunity.
2. Get Help From A Professional Self-Storage Management Company
As important as it is to set up a proper self-storage management system, it’s equally important to get help from a professional self-storage management company. There are many advantages to outsourcing this aspect of your property’s operations:
- A professional storage management company will have the experience and know-how to navigate all the regulations and legalities involved in operating a commercial storage facility.
- A professional company will be able to provide you with an experienced staff who can assist in day-to-day operations and ensure everything runs smoothly.
- A professional company will have access to advanced technology that can increase efficiency and productivity at your location.
3. Install Cctv Cameras
There are several ways you can deter crime at your storage facility. One simple and effective method is to install CCTV cameras. You can also use them to monitor the activity inside and outside your self-storage facility, which can help you decide how best to manage it.
You have two options for installing CCTV cameras, hire a professional or do it yourself. If you choose the DIY route, be sure that you know what you’re doing. The last thing you want is for someone’s surveillance footage of their dog doing his business on the lawn to be made public because they didn’t know how to use their camera correctly.
If hiring someone else seems like too much work, or if this wouldn’t benefit your business, install some cameras.
4. Leverage Technology Whenever Possible
There are some things that technology can do for you that just aren’t possible without it. For example, if your self-storage facility is staffed by one or two people and most of the work involves heavy lifting, then it’s a good idea to look into robotic equipment that can do some of the hard labor for them. Not only will this save time and energy, but it’s also safer than having employees move heavy items around manually.
Another way technology can help with managing a remote storage facility is by automating processes so employees don’t have to waste their time doing repetitive tasks repeatedly.
For example, if an employee checks in a customer at the front desk every day and verifies their ID against a database record before sending them on their way with access codes and gate codes, and then they have to do that same thing again when they come back later in the day. Then there’s an opportunity for automation to handle these tasks automatically, so employees can focus on other things instead.
Technology can also help you personalize services based on your customers. For instance, data shows that the retail industry is leading in using self-storage and occupies 19% of the chunk of the market.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to manage your self-storage facility remotely and make it easier on yourself, then we hope these tips will help. The key is managing your expectations for what can be done online and recognizing the limitations.
Nothing can replace face-to-face contact with customers and employees, no matter how many apps or programs there are. You still need people who understand your business well enough to provide excellent customer service when necessary, which means hiring local experts who live nearby.
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