Smart technology and smart locks represent a transformative technology that has the potential to drastically change the self-storage industry, benefiting both tenants and operators alike. By combining convenience, security, and data-driven insights, smart technology elevates the tenant experience while providing operators with better data to manage their properties effectively. Here’s how smart technology can accomplish this dual objective: Convenient Access Traditional self-storage facilities often require tenants to carry physical keys or access codes to enter the property of their units, w ..read more

  At the PTI Center of Excellence, a hub of innovation and collaboration that includes state-of-the-art workstations, expansive meeting space, and two lab facilities to advance R&D efforts, team members viewed firsthand how products are developed, tested, assembled, and shipped. The Center of Excellence layout also provides the opportunity for seamless communication between critical departments like customer support and product engineering. This is by design, noted Michael Tanner, PTI’s VP of Operations. “PTI’s products can’t only be great in theory, they have to perform excepti ..read more

“ProEdge optimizes operations, enhances security, and offers streamlined, user-friendly experiences for both operators and tenants. It does not only automate tasks like access control and monitoring, but also provides real-time data insights, improved security measures, convenience for tenants, and greater operational efficiencies for facilities”, says PTI Senior Mechanical Engineer Charlie Haagendrup. PTI’s ProEdge meets the growing demand in the self-storage industry for automated access control and security. It provides a fully automated rental process with easy Bluetooth smartphone acc ..read more

Enhanced Customer Experience Consumers expect seamless and convenient experiences across all sectors in today’s digital age. By investing in technology, self-storage operators can streamline customer interactions, allowing for online reservations, automated payments, and digital communication. This meets customer expectations and enhances overall satisfaction, potentially increasing customer retention while lowering overall expenses for an increased competitive advantage. A key takeaway from the 2023 SSA Demand Study stated that 78% of renters want an “anytime access” experience, with 37% sayi ..read more

The Perfect Storm 1) Interest rates – Since March 2022, the Federal government has raised interest rates ten times to combat inflation. Rates climbed from 3% to over 7% during this period. As a result, new construction has subsided proportionately, slowing overall industry growth. 2) New Construction – In addition to the slower new construction growth, home construction has also slowed. Adding to this fact, the rapid rise in house prices, brought on by inflation, halted home sales nationwide. Home inventory decreased for the first time in years simply because buyers did not want to pay infla ..read more

Whether you inherited an existing system or are starting from scratch on developing your property’s security architecture, here are some key questions to ask prospective access control and security dealers. 1. What are your credentials and experience? If they only dabble in self storage access control and security, “Move on,” said Jarad Bailey, president of Dallas Automatic Gate, an owner-operated dealer in business since the 1980s and longtime PTI Security partner. Bailey notes that operators should ask for the basics: years in business, areas of expertise, licensing, and proper insurance ..read more

Ryan Stewart, PTI’s VP of Sales, noted that tech took center stage at the event. “Operators of all sizes were talking about how imperative it is to incorporate technology into their operations to run them more efficiently and profitably while attracting and retaining tenants.” At SSA Fall, PTI debuted multiple new products and announced strategic partnerships that leverage technology and smart design to create more customized tenant experiences and enhance automation and access monitoring. These included: • HELOX: Bluetooth Electronic Padlock for in unit security. • AP1: PTI’s newest gener ..read more

PTI and SteelBlue Partner to Launch Tech-Forward Turnkey Self-Storage Solution Smart Latch and Roll-Up Door Combo Drives Automation, Increases Unit Security PTI Security Systems, part of ASSA ABLOY and the global leader in self-storage access control technologies, and SteelBlue, innovative manufacturer of roll-up door and hallway systems, are combining their newest patent-pending designs: PTI’s cutting-edge ProEdge Bluetooth smart latch and SteelBlue’s state-of-the-art 9530 Series roll-up door will be available to operators as a two-in-one solution in the first quarter of 2024. With increasi ..read more

This fall, mutual Self Storage Manager (“SSM”) Cloud and StorLogix Cloud customers will experience one of the deepest property management software access control integrations in the industry, eliminating the need for site managers to toggle between the two systems. SSM is a high-performance web-based property management software program for single or multi-facility operators, designed to standardize and centralize operational control across all facilities. Managers can oversee operations from their desktop screens and mobile devices, gaining instant access to real-time information. StorLogix ..read more

The primary argument for an open-source integration platform architecture is obvious. It allows a company to provide what it considers best-of-breed products unified through a single source platform designed to accept any hardware. In theory, this sounds quite attractive. But there are inherent risks with adopting a solution that was not built specifically with specific customer needs in mind and may present challenges with product training and implementation. In the self-storage sector, just as in any industry that relies heavily on technology, one size does not fit all. Some of the main is ..read more