In recent years the buzz has been about incorporating the Internet with management tools, adding call centers to increase store traffic and utilizing kiosks. These all add value to the business either by slimming the accounting and record-keeping functions, increasing occupancy and adding customer conveniences.

Many owners have turned to technology to keep their sites safe and sound for round-the-clock business. Integrated electronic door locks and kiosks reducesometimes eliminatethe need for a manned office. These two technologies offer huge yield potential for self-storage.

Lets review how the system works: The tenant enters a PIN at the gate-entry keypad. If the tenant is current, the gate opens and the tenants unit(s) are unlocked. If, on the other hand, the tenant is past due, the keypad will not open the gate, but will display a message instructing him to pay at the kiosk to gain immediate access to units. Once paid, the electronic lock automatically removes the overlock.

Its important to note that this system doesnt create a bailment, because the electronic lock is not the primary lock. The unit is still secured by the tenants lock and key, relieving management of liability.

Jumping Hurdles

Security offers many challenges, but a well-planned system can overcome many of them. For example, customers often prefer convenient services, 24 hours a day. Its not practical to man your facility 24/7, but the electronic lock system teamed with a kiosk can perform many management duties:

Security systems today can help resolve the problems faced when land is scarce and prices are high. Sites may be manned by the new technology, eliminating the need for office and living space. Non-traditional sites can be designed to stand alone or as part of a satellite system of facilities. Other benefits include:

The Satellite Concept

Some owners are incorporating the electronic door locks and kiosk combination in sort of a spoke-and-hub design. A super site is constructed of approximately 80,000 feet including a first-class retail area and apartment. Surrounding this super site about 2 to 5 miles away are significantly smaller sites about 100 to 200 units in size. These satellites are equipped with electronic door locks and kiosks for normal operation. As part of regular job responsibilities, the managers of the super site clean and maintain the satellite sites.

A combination of products is recommended to up the level of security at facilities: well-placed cameras, excellent lighting, commonsense construction and building design, individual door alarms and keypad access gate control.

In addition, the electronic door locking system can provide an active system to continually monitor the site. It monitors the door status (open/closed) as well as the condition of locks, gate position and its own system status. The results of this monitoring may be sent to the security systems provider.

Abnormal results can be managed by one of the technicians remotely, or if the conditions warrant, a service provider can be dispatched to the location to correct the problem. Kiosks work similarly.

The technology is here. As the use of electronic locks and kiosks grows, so too will the methods of lowering human-resource costs, maximizing land use and extracting the most profit from future self-storage locations. 

Tim Seyfarth is president of Phoenix-based Global Electronics Ltd., which provides gate-access controllers, alarm systems, electronic locks and Windows-based access/alarm-system software. For more information, call 602.437.8005; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.global-electronics.com. 

For more information about self-storage security, check out "Security: Choosing Tools, Protecting Your Investment," a 32-page e-book available through the Self-Storage Training Insititute. Click here for more info!