In this episode, Rick Beal and Megan Smith, co-founders of Atomic Storage Group, share their journey of rapidly scaling their company to manage over 90 facilities across 20 states since its inception in 2019. They discuss their backgrounds, challenges faced, and how they successfully balance technology and the human touch in operations. The conversation delves into their hiring strategies, the importance of educational marketing, and the future trends in self storage, including technology adoption, the rise of hybrid management models, and the significance of keeping operations streamlined and efficient.

In this episode, we discussed:

We mentioned

In this episode, the first vendor guest, Matt Engfer, CEO and co-founder of Cubby, discusses how his company is transforming the self-storage industry with modern facility management software. Matt shares his journey from various industries—retail, life insurance, martech—and how these experiences influence his approach in self-storage. The conversation explores critical topics like revenue management, future tech landscapes, and the importance of having a product-led company. The discussion delves into practical strategies for pricing, the value of customer feedback, and the nuances of effective marketing in a need-based industry.

In this episode, we discussed:

00:30 Matt Engfer's Journey to Self Storage

01:19 The Inspiration Behind Cubby

02:56 Challenges in the Self Storage Industry

05:07 Matt's Background and Early Career

10:10 Lessons from Marketing and Tech

27:04 Building a Successful Software Company

32:26 Challenges and Opportunities in Self-Storage Tech

33:02 Exploring White Space in Self-Storage

36:45 Revenue Management Strategies

47:39 Marketing's Impact on Revenue

54:30 Customer-Centric Product Development

If you haven’t already, go download the second edition of our industry report:The State of Technology in Self Storage. We cover a ton of data points focused on how operators should think about putting The Modern Customer at the center of their universe.

Today’s episode zeroes in on using technology to slash expenses and redefine the role of the manager. We'll discuss everything from the latest tech innovations to old tech and DIY budget-friendly solutions that have stood the test of time. Plus, we'll dive into effective ways to incentivize managers in this evolving tech landscape.

Joining us is Raheem Amer, President at MyPlace Self Storage. With a rich background that includes roles such as president of Mini Mall Storage Properties and senior positions at Devon Self Storage and Extra Space Storage, Raheem brings a wealth of knowledge in operations, acquisition, go-to-market strategy, and revenue management. Today, he'll share his insights on leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and managerial effectiveness.

Mentioned

In this episode of the Self Storage Lab, the focus is on third-party management with a special emphasis on branding and marketing strategies. Melissa Stiles, Chief Marketing Officer at Storage Asset Management (SAM), joins the discussion to share her extensive experience and insights. Key topics include grassroots marketing, reputation management, word-of-mouth referrals, and digital marketing techniques. Melissa also elaborates on the role of influencers, the use of AI in marketing, and how to stay updated with evolving marketing tools. Additionally, Melissa talks about the importance of community-based strategies and handling reviews to enhance brand presence and customer experience.

Mentioned in this Episode

Welcome to the Self Storage Lab — where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and how it might impact your business.

In episode 22 of the Self Storage Lab, the team sheds light on how self-storage operators are adapting to the latest in tech. From the latest in kiosk technology to advanced unattended systems, they dive into insights on how operators can make their implementation in manned and unmanned setups work.

Getting nerdy with us today is Beau Agnello, Chief Operating Officer at Go Store It. Beau brings a rich background from his roles at National Storage and Extra Space Storage, where he contributed to product innovation and managed a significant portfolio. Beau emphasizes the importance of enhancing customer experience through technology and shares the data-driven approach Go Store It employs to remain competitive. The conversation also explores the evolution of staff roles, remote management strategies, and lessons learned in integrating new technologies for a consistently excellent customer journey.

Mentioned in this episode

00:23 - Meet Beau Agnello

01:10 - Exploring Remote Management Technology

02:28 - The Evolution of Self-Service Kiosks

04:40 - Customer Journey: Attended vs. Unattended

05:09 - Reframing the Purpose of Kiosks

06:46 - Enhancing Customer Experience with Technology

12:59 - Virtual Management and Security

19:21 - Specializing Roles for Efficiency

22:06 - Data-Driven Insights and Customer Behavior

32:44 - Impact on Business Metrics and Valuation

36:36 - Balancing Cost and Customer Experience

38:25 - Implementing Kiosk Technology: Lessons Learned

39:57 - Understanding Customer Behavior

43:31 - Key Features for Kiosk Solutions

45:19 - Educating Your Team and Customers

49:35 - Exploring Other Technologies

51:28 - Innovations in Other Industries

59:05 - Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Welcome to the Self Storage Lab — where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and how it might impact your business.

In episode 21 of the Self Storage Lab, we’re diving back into the world of AI with all of the recent buzz over the last week. We review key announcements from the Google I.O. conference, including AI overviews in search, and OpenAI's new product developments. The discussion covers how these advancements might affect search behaviors, content strategies, and digital marketing, especially for businesses dependent on web traffic.

The conversation extends to issues of accuracy and potential disruptions in organic search rankings, exploring the broader impact on operations, security, and customer interactions within the self-storage sector.

Mentioned in this episode:

Welcome to the Self Storage Lab — where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and how it might impact your business.

This episode explores the critical transition from manual to automated access and security systems in the self-storage industry. It highlights the drive for automation prompted by competitive market dynamics and evolving consumer expectations, particularly from younger, tech-savvy customers.

Guests Eric Gardner, Director of Marketing at Five Star Storage, and Lynn Sykes, Sr. Vice President of Operations at Storage Asset Management, discuss the benefits of sophisticated access and lock systems, including enhanced customer convenience and security, and the operational efficiencies these technologies offer. They delve into the importance of selecting compatible service partners, the impact of these systems on customer service and the staff experience, and the financial considerations of adopting new access control technologies.

The conversation also touches on the need for thorough training and the integration of new technologies with existing systems to ensure seamless operations and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Episode Guide

01:14 Introduction and Personal Journeys

04:17 Exploring Access Control: Definitions, Changes, and Customer Expectations

05:36 Exploring Access Control Systems: From Manual Gates to State-of-the-Art Technology

08:17 The Impact on the Customer and Staff Experience

14:13 The Data-Driven Approach: Leveraging Insights for Strategic Decisions

17:49 The Impact of COVID-19 on Access Patterns and Technology Adoption

20:28 Remote Management and the Role of Technology in Customer Satisfaction

22:49 Technology Adoption and Measuring ROI

26:28 Budgeting for Technology Upgrades in Self Storage Facilities

32:33 Exploring Customer Reviews and Shopping Habits

33:20 The Importance of Customer Service and Service Partners

35:50 Managing Remote and Hub-and-Spoke Locations

38:39 Adopting AI and Security Technologies

44:06 Innovative Access Control and Security Measures

47:22 Marketing Strategies and Customer Communication

53:36 Preparing for Technology Transitions and Upgrades

57:58 Enhancing the Customer Experience

Today’s episode will be the final episode on our special series covering our report on the State of Technology in Self Storage. We discuss our main takeaways from analyzing over 2 million customer conversations used to optimize day to day operations, and cover topics including patterns in customer inquiries, most frequently asked about unit size and amenities, and much more.

If you haven’t already, go download the second edition of our industry report directly on our website We cover a ton of data points focused on how operators should think about putting The Modern Customer at the center of their universe.

Mentioned in this episode

Understanding Customer Inquiries: Service vs. Sales

Our analysis revealed distinct patterns in customer interactions, primarily divided into service-related and sales-related conversations.

Operational Efficiencies Through Automation

Automated systems are proving to be a game-changer in managing routine tasks, significantly reducing the operational burden on staff.

Trends in Customer Behavior

Our analysis unearthed interesting trends regarding customer preferences and behaviors, which can inform targeted marketing and service offerings.

The Rise of Digital Communication

Digital channels are becoming the preferred method for customer interactions, offering opportunities for real-time engagement and support.

Seasonal Variations and Customer Needs

Our data also highlighted seasonal patterns in customer inquiries, which can help operators anticipate fluctuations and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Looking Ahead: Personalization and Precision

The future of self-storage lies in leveraging data to offer personalized experiences and optimize operations based on precise customer insights.

As the self-storage industry continues to navigate a technology-driven landscape, understanding and adapting to customer needs through data analysis will be key to staying competitive and delivering exceptional service. Our findings underscore the critical role of automation, digital communication, and personalization in shaping the future of self-storage operations.

Hoping to stand out in this competitive landscape and focus inwardly on improving operational efficiency, operators are looking to the integration of innovative technology and the inclusion of customer-centric amenities within their facilities.

Today’s episode will be part 2 of 3, where we'll touch on the state of technology being utilized today throughout the industry. We start by breaking down the different tools available to operators, big and small, to help run their day-to day, plus how automaton can make you a better operator.

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Intro to Technology

We asked ourselves the following questions.

Online Presence Breakdown

The rise of digital marketing has created different touch-points for customers to engage with your brand. Prospects are now further down the marketing funnel when they eventually talk to your store team. They will have already visited your website, read some reviews, and perhaps browsed through your rates. You have to ensure you can service prospects and tenants wherever they are.  

Back of Office Breakdown

The back of office tech stack is the core of running and operating your self storage operations. These tools help an operator easily manage, monitor, and run their stores and their teams. These directly impact operations, revenue, and tenant management and support measures.

Facility Operations Breakdown

Over the last year there’s been a big push on this front. We’ve seen a lot of good stuff at trade shows related to state of the art hardware and software tools. These tools are helping operators streamline facility operations by helping to reduce operating costs and drive a renewed focus on their IN-STORE customer experience.

If you haven’t already, go download the second edition of our industry report “The State of Technology in Self Storage”. We cover a ton of data points focused on how operators should think about putting The Modern Customer at the center of their universe.

We also unpack over 2 million conversations with customers in the past year. We think you’ll really like it.

Stay tuned for Part III where we explore the entirety of swivl’s conversational data trends and how AI is impacting Self Storage today.

Consumer behavior has changed and operators need to rapidly adopt technology to stay current in today's economic landscape. Just last week, we put the final touches to our newest edition of the State of Technology in Self Storage. Building off of two years of data and a mass surge towards AI-driven experiences, the report highlights unique insights to showcase how new technologies are affecting the industry.

This special series will be divided into three episodes, going over the main sections of the report:

Today’s episode will be part 1 of 3, where we will explore the trends we uncovered from our data and, how operators are adapting to what we call, the Modern Customer.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Year in Review

Trend 1: Efficiency Matters

Trend 2: Conversations as Meaningful Experiences

Trend 3: Augmented Intelligence

Trend 4: Breaking Silos

Common Thread: The Modern Customer

Stay tuned for Part II where we explore the technology and customer-centric amenities that operators are investing in to stay competitive.