Public Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) and management company, announced that 1 million customers have rented a storage space with the company through its contactless move-in platform, eRental. The digital self-service was launched in December 2019 to help self-storage seekers easily find, rent and pay for a unit in six minutes or less, according to a press release. The tool’s popularity blossomed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It now accounts for half of the company’s million-plus move-ins each year.

In celebration of hitting the milestone, Public Storage offered a prize to its one millionth eRental customer. Higor Diniz of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was offered the choice of $1,000 in cash or one year of free rent at the company’s facility in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he rented a unit. “I just went online and filled it out from my phone. It was pretty easy, and I’m not really a tech person,” Diniz said.

Public Storage also offers a mobile app that allows customers to manage their accounts and navigate through property gates, doors and elevators.

“We put the power of the product into the customers’ hands. Public Storage is at the forefront with the technology that our customers expect, and the eRental program has been a hit with customers seeking convenience and simplicity,” said David Collins, vice president of marketing.

Based in Glendale, California, Public Storage has interests in 2,787 self-storage facilities in 39 states, with approximately 198 million net rentable square feet.

Source: Business Wire, Public Storage Celebrates One Million Contactless Move-Ins