OpenTech Alliance Inc., developer of the INSOMNIAC self-storage kiosk, released detailed kiosk-usage numbers for the first six months of 2007, providing a glimpse into consumer-use patterns and demonstrating the growing popularity of self-service convenience at storage facilities.
 
Self-storage owners have purchased more than 200 INSOMNIAC kiosks to date. OpenTech reported 75 were online as of Jan. 1; another 56 came online during the period ending June 30. During the first half of the year, consumers used the kiosks to rent 2,510 storage units, make 16,457 payments, and purchase 1,456 locks, representing a total of $2,004,344 in self-service transactions.
 
OpenTech data shows 65 percent of kiosk rentals occurred during regular office hours (Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). In addition, 66 percent occurred on weekdays, with 20 percent occurring on Saturdays and 13 percent on Sundays. Regarding kiosk payments, 52 percent were made during regular office hours; 73 percent were made on weekdays; 15 percent were made on Saturdays and 12 percent on Sundays.
 
In 2006, consumers throughout the world booked 560 million plane tickets, rented 600 million DVDs, printed 8.8 billion digital photographs, and purchased $300 billion in goods and services through self-service systems, said Curtis Sojka, vice president of marketing for OpenTech. Were releasing these INSOMNIAC usage numbers to demonstrate how self-service is taking off in our industry, too, and to serve as a benchmark for future reporting periods.
 
OpenTech also announced it has surpassed the $5 million mark in rental fees collected by its kiosks at self-storage facilities across North America, with the most recent $1 million in revenue being collected in just 10 weeks.
 
For more information or to see an online demo, visit www.opentechalliance.com.