In 2020, while most businesses were transitioning to remote work and unemployment was increasing, self-service facilities were tasked with finding ways to continue providing quality storage solutions. While unmanned storage facilities aren’t new, many facilities were implementing new modern business tools including contactless customer support, online services and self-service kiosks for the first time. The verdict is these automated features are here to stay. Sophisticated technology allows remote management and provides customers access to service beyond normal business hours. Customers have the ability to rent units, pay their bills, access gate codes and update their account information 24/7. While unmanned facilities require a larger up-front investment, the lower overhead results in a greater return of investment in the long run.
You may have concerns about an increase in theft and vandalism in an unmanned facility, but the overall consensus is that automated facilities face a similar crime rate as manned facilities do. Since most criminals do their work in the dark, they are most likely to hit either facility at night anyway. The best way to deter illegal activity is to install security monitoring equipment throughout the facility, make sure the entire area is well-lit and use locking gates with key card access. If the facility is in a crime prone area, other measures such as hiring night security should be considered. The next step is to ensure that your facility is properly insured. You should check with your insurance agent on a regular basis, especially if the scope of your business has changed to make sure your coverage is up-to-date.
StorageFirst is a leading provider of comprehensive business insurance solutions for self storage facilities. Visit StorageFirst.com to see how we can prepare and protect your business for whatever lies ahead.
Tom Laden
StorageFirst
