Software Soundoff: What Self-Storage Operators REALLY Want

Choosing the right management software for your self-storage operation is critical to setting up the success of the business. The diverse nature of players in the industry has underscored the need for software developers to engage clients in meaningful discussions to better understand what users really need and want in their management software. Understanding what this means from the perspective of a small or single-facility operator, as well as a large player or a multi-facility operator, will provide a holistic point of view.

Windows or Web-Based Options?

A new entrant to the industry will be looking at integrating a solution with minimal investment. Off-the-shelf, Windows-based management software serves this purpose. From the business perspective, evaluate vendors who offer a turnkey solution so that you do not have to integrate multiple solutions. Often, self-storage operators do not anticipate the need for onsite or remote installation, refresher training for the staff on demand, 24/7 technical support, and remote-data backup services when zeroing in on the management software suitable for their businesses.

The added value brought by such services may not be immediately apparent but, in hindsight, will prove to be indispensable to the stability of the business. In the long term, businesses can look to embrace e-commerce and take their self-storage businesses online, allowing customers to make reservations, rentals, payments and more through their websites.

In contrast, established multi-facility players are looking at a different set of challenges because they are well past the details concerning a new entrant into the industry. Multi-facility players are largely looking for ways and means to generate new business, reduce operational costs, streamline their processes, and improve customer service while continuing to remain highly competitive.

Standardization across all locations becomes the key for imposing better operational controls. Financial investment in technology and appropriate infrastructure is not a deterrent here. Web-based management software encompassing a centralized database with local backup architecture goes well with this kind of a setup. A centralized database ensures real-time data is at the fingertips of the managers, facilitating quick analysis and decision-making, and enabling them to rapidly react to market conditions.

Moreover, the information is accessible with just a click of the mouse, regardless of geographic location. Local backup capability prevents the facility operations from coming to a standstill in the event of Internet failure and ensures that facilities can continue to operate in offline mode until the connectivity is restored.

The industry’s leaders have already explored and leveraged the enormous potential offered by Web-based management software. They have embraced e-commerce in a big way to offer online reservations, rentals, account review and payment capabilities to their customers, as well as promote business growth by means of a call center interface option to the management software.