Guest Post by Alicia Marvin
Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551313158-73d016a829ae Credit: Unsplash
The self-storage business is a profitable one, so its steady growth over the years comes as no surprise. The industry has about 1.5 billion square feet of self-storage space nationwide, with 20% being new additions from the last decade. Currently, there are more self-storage locations in America than every Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, McDonald's, and Subway combined. There are a variety of reasons why the self-storage industry is booming in spite of the pandemic. Generally it comes down to students moving campus, businesses closing, and families downsizing — all of which need the space to manage their extra belongings. Lifestyle changes aside, the self-storage industry is also thriving because of how many businesses are keeping up-to-date with digital trends. So, read on to find out how self-storage businesses are shifting to more digital operations: Automated Customer Service Self-service kiosks are becoming more commonplace in groceries and other business establishments. But in the self-storage industry, it brings on a whole new level of convenience to its customers. It allows for faster transactions through automated check-in and check-out stations, greatly reducing waiting times. Automation is also applicable to a self-storage business's digital customer service. Implementing AI chatbots ensures that customers are attended to even after hours. It effectively accounts for the low-value tasks, like answering basic questions and validating storage details. This allows employees to focus on more complex processes that automation can't handle. Smart Access Control Self-service stations are also accompanied by smart access control technology to keep storage facilities safe and secure. For this reason, self-storage businesses employ devices such as smart locks and smart security systems. They ensure that customers and on-site staff are granted access, while any unauthorized individuals are kept out. But of course, smart access control devices require careful configuration and maintenance. Thus, modern self-storage business owners hire competent IT professionals in their workforce, so that their on-site technologies remain up-to-date and efficient. Improved Cybersecurity Measures Given that so many business processes now take place in the digital space, self-storage businesses are also doubling down on their cybersecurity measures. This is especially important as storage cubicles could hold valuable items. Moreover, a self-storage facility that's run by smart technology could potentially be hacked by cybercriminals. Thus, cybersecurity is a necessity. It’s important to note that this digital trend applies not only to self-storage businesses, but to the business industry as a whole. Companies across all sectors collect and store sensitive data that need to be secured against cyber attacks. This has created a demand for professionals with cybersecurity training and why even online business administration degrees are covering the subject in-depth. Aspiring business professionals can now gain cybersecurity knowledge alongside the usual entrepreneurial courses, such as financial accounting, economics, business law, and statistics. This goes to show that cybersecurity has become a necessity to the modern business industry — and that includes the realm of self-storage. Digital Marketing With digitalization occurring both among businesses and consumers, it's clear that digital marketing is the way to go with lead generation. With the right digital marketing campaign, self-storage businesses can boost their brand's image and pull in more customers. However, the process isn't as simple as with traditional marketing campaigns. It is complex and multi-faceted, requiring companies to invest in SEO, social media, and email lists, which is no small feat. That's why plenty of businesses are choosing to hire a dedicated digital marketer to ensure that their campaign is executed efficiently. For self-storage businesses to remain up-to-date, they must upgrade their systems to incorporate digital technologies. This not only expedites business processes and transactions, it also keeps the company competitive.
Article specially written for storageauthorityfranchise.com
By Alicia Marvin