Self-storage call center and marketing firm PhoneSmart is promoting the use of QR (quick read) codes and mobile technology as a means of efficient self-storage facility operation, referring to the combination as similar to having a self-storage kiosk in your pocket.

The company has built a website at self-storage-kiosks.com to help operators generate and use QR codes that will drive customers to one of several places, including a facilitys website, Google maps page, phone number or billpay site. PhoneSmart has also posted a video demo of the technology in action at YouTube, viewable at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaULdQaF-Ns.

QR codes are similar to barcodes and can be read by any smartphone to direct a user to a Web page, phone number or text/SMS generator. They are easy to generate for free using a number of online services. To capitalize on growing consumer use of smartphones and tablet technology, self-storage operators can add QR codes to facility signage or advertising.

Most self-storage software applications allow facility operators to take payments, reserve units and rent space online. Mobile technology including QR codes and scanner applications allows customers to easily access these virtual services on their mobile devices.

PhoneSmart provides contact-center services, sales training, secret shopping and customer-service audits for more than 700 self-storage properties across North America. Now celebrating its 10^th anniversary, the company has generated more than 750,000 reservations and leads for its self-storage clients through its rollover call center.