If you had asked me in the 1990s or early 2000s how technology is impacting the self-storage business, I would have asked “What technology?”
“Storage is a concrete floor, a steel wall, and a roll-up door. Yes, I guess we have telephones and fax machines, and a computer, but I spend no time thinking about technology.”
Not so today, right?
Kiosks, electronic doors, apps, online move-ins, AI…what’s next?
Well…fairly soon, if not now, as storage owners we may be making decisions between people and robots.
Right now, Knightscope Inc. produces a mobile security robot that can roam around facilities.
There are several companies using them now.
I can think of a few facilities where I sure wish I had one in the past and one where it could be very helpful now.
I have seen videos where these robots are also programmed to be helpful to customers, quote rates, take them to their units, etc.
Now, I don’t think robots can replace and be as good as the human touch from a well-trained and pleasant manager, but I bet they could beat out some managers I have seen.
What I find interesting about them is the security feature at night.
As an owner, I can be notified if there is a problem. I can see through the robot. There is video being recorded. It can be programmed to notify the police if it sees someone cutting through fencing.
As long as it is charged regularly, it can be almost 24/7.
I just am not sure how many baseball bat strikes it may withstand, though I could be pleasantly surprised.
What I Notice About My reaction To Self-Storage Robots
The reason I am mentioning this is because I noticed at first, my mind was closed. I said, “Interesting, but I would never use anything like that.”
Then I heard “never.”
Never, always, this is how we do it… all those automatic ways of being and reacting are mindsets that create lots of the opportunities we have purchased and are buying now.
This industry, like life itself, is evolving fast.
I may have my thoughts about that, but my thoughts are irrelevant. A fast-changing world is what I find myself in.
So, when I heard the word “never” in my mind, I knew I was going to create this episode.
What is your never, or always, or this is how I do things around your self-storage business?
Consider that this may be your problem.
That mindset may cause your biggest challenges to overcome.
Now, I am not saying you need to buy or lease a robot for your self-storage facility.
But what I am suggesting is when new technology arises, or a new way of running your business is first heard, don’t do what I did, and with the wave of a hand, say “never.”
I bet in the near future, I or some of the people I work with may just have that friendly, or that tough security robot rolling up in a facility.
I look forward to seeing that.
